Children's home run by Phoenix Care & Education Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Care and Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run home and provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2021 Full Good 20/08/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Full Good 21/11/2018 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with the staff that care for them. Children say that they are happy living at the home. They enjoy a range of activities and one child has been on his first holiday. This means that children have positive experiences and relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with children to encourage them to be involved in planning and decision-making. Children complete monthly feedback forms which are reviewed by the manager. Where possible, children’s requests are met. For example, one child chose a specific staff member as their key worker. Children also provide feedback in staff members’ appraisals. This ensures that children feel listened to and valued.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is a priority for the manager and she works closely with schools to ensure that children attend and achieve. Two children attend school and, although there have been some difficulties, they are both making progress. One child who recently moved in is not currently attending education. However, the manager has escalated this to make sure that the child has access to education that meets her individual needs. This will ensure that children are given the foundations that they need for the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend quality time with their families. Children value the support given by staff. Children who live together have good relationships and regularly enjoy activities together. However, the manager has not carefully considered historical information when making decisions about which children will move in.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and have access to services relevant to their needs. When children struggle to attend appointments, the manager seeks advice from professionals. This means that children’s health needs are not overlooked. However, one child’s medical consent form was not clear. This has the potential to delay medical treatment if it was required.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is nicely decorated, warm and welcoming. However, one of the living rooms is being used for staff to sleep in and there are locks on communal doors. This means that children are not always able to access communal areas in their home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has only very recently moved in. However, there is not a placement plan in place or a clear way for staff to record what they are learning about the child. This means that important information needed to develop and inform the child’s plans is being missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 4

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff understand children’s individual risks. Staff follow detailed risk management plans. The manager is confident in escalating concerns in order to safeguard children who are at risk of exploitation. One social worker said, ‘The manager is proactive at looking at intervention and thinking differently. I am impressed with how the staff are able to re-engage [name of child]. He is as safe as possible right now.’ This multi-agency approach supports the child and minimises risks.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing, staff keep detailed records. Staff actively look for children and share information received with relevant agencies. Children engage in their return home interviews and conversations with staff. However, there is no management oversight. This is a missed opportunity to identify any learning.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say they are aware of the complaints procedure and know who they can speak to if they are worried or upset. Children feel safe living in their home.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children who self-harm or misuse substances receive appropriate support. The manager is quick to respond appropriately and ensures that staff have the relevant training to support the children. Children also have access to appropriate services and engage with them.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraint is only used as a last resort. Records are detailed and include debriefs with staff and children. The manager has reviewed the records of any physical intervention. This ensures that staff and children learn and reflect, and reduces the need for further restraint.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is currently completing the relevant leadership and management qualification. The manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs. The manager has high aspirations for each child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support that they receive from the manager. Staff receive regular and effective supervision and training. This means that staff have the skills and knowledge to support the children well.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff understand the importance of multi-agency working. They are knowledgeable about other agencies that are available to support children. The manager is confident when requesting information or escalating concerns in the best interest of the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good monitoring systems in place which provide her with good oversight of the care provided. The manager regularly seeks feedback from other professionals and uses this to see how improvements to the care of the children can be made. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 5 There have been some safeguarding incidents that have not been reported to Ofsted or that have been reported late. Although staff responded appropriately, this reduces the oversight of the regulator.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that there are suitable levels of staffing in the home. However, the full names of staff working in the home are not recorded in the home’s rosters. This means that there is no clear record of who was supporting each child and does not meet regulation. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.6

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to managers ensuring that staff do not sleep in communal areas.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that locks are removed from internal doors. 5 November 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The manager needs to ensure that the full names of all staff and hours worked are recorded on the rota, including the manager. 5 November 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 5 November 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 7 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates to managers taking all known information into account when deciding if children can move in.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that relevant consent is on file for children who may need medical treatment.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also relates to children’s placement plans being started without delay and updated with necessary information regularly. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 5 November 2022

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that evaluation of incidents, including missing from home incidents, is undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff, or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

p.7

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Phoenix Care & Education Ltd, 22-24 Balfour Road, Bootle L20 4NZ

p.8

Inspectors

Kerri Lynch-Mahoney, Social Care Inspector Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1228091 9 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9