Children's home run by Physis Quantum Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 1 SC487794 Physis Quantum Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a privately owned company. It provides care for up to three children. The home specialises in providing care for children who have been, or are, at risk of child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

There has not been a registered manager in post since 2 January 2020. A new manager was appointed to the home in August 2022. She has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

In September 2021, Ofsted imposed a condition of registration that the provider must inform Ofsted three months prior of any intention to admit children to the home. This was because there was no manager in post, an insufficient number of staff in post, and there was no intention to admit any children.

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This monitoring visit

On 27 October 2022, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit due to receiving information that children were living in the home. Serious and widespread concerns relating to the safeguarding arrangements for children and the leadership and management of the home were identified. In addition, the home was in breach of a condition of registration because children had been living at the home since 6 September 2022. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice to suspend the home’s registration on 28 October 2022 and raised 10 requirements.

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This monitoring visit

On 31 October 2022, the provider informed Ofsted of their intention to admit children in three months’ time.

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This monitoring visit

On 14 December 2022, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review the notice to suspend the home’s registration and the progress made against the requirements. The suspension notice had been adhered to and no children were living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 2 Three requirements had been met. As a result, the notice to suspend the home’s registration was lifted and the three-month condition remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess whether the provider can safely admit children to the home and to review the progress made against the requirements. This visit found no serious and widespread concerns relating to the safeguarding arrangements for children and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made some progress in developing a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, her approach to providing effective monitoring and oversight of the home has yet to be tested, as currently there are no children living in the home. The manager has made some improvements to the service. As a result, several requirements have been met. Three requirements have been raised at this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have developed new tools for auditing and monitoring the operation of the home. These tools are currently untested as there are no children living in the home. These monitoring systems will be implemented once children move into the home. The manager and responsible individual will use these to address any shortfalls and make future improvements.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that staff are recruited safely. Furthermore, staff have completed a short intense introduction programme. This means that only suitable adults are allowed to work with vulnerable children and provide quality of care to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff benefit from an environment that is beginning to encourage learning from identified shortfalls and improve practice. Staff told the inspector, ‘The manager has been transparent when speaking about the home’s recent inspection history.’ These discussions and meetings strike a healthy balance between effective challenge and support. Furthermore, staff receive supervision to help them understand their roles and responsibilities and to develop their practice to safeguard children. This means that staff’s progress and professional development are now being monitored more effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and responsible individual have reviewed and updated children’s risk assessment documents. The documents will provide clear information and give priority risk ratings. This will provide clearer guidance and focus for staff in relation to risks to children. However, the effectiveness of the risk assessments cannot be tested at this time as no children are living in the home. This will be considered at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and the manager have created a new format for evaluating risk at the point of deciding when children can move into the home. This format now takes account of the views of the clinical professionals, education professionals and managers. In addition, it refers to risks and the needs of other Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 3 children living in the home. Furthermore, staff training and skills are considered to ensure that children’s vulnerabilities are supported.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have updated their review of the premises and this now includes all known local geographical information that was highlighted at the last full inspection. The manager demonstrates that she has made attempts to obtain feedback from the relevant professionals to ensure that all risks are assessed.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and managers have received bespoke training in the organisation’s therapeutic model of care. However, some members of staff have not received mandatory training in relation to online safety, risk management, children going missing from care, and reporting and recording. Furthermore, the manager has not completed some aspects of her standard training. This has the potential to limit the knowledge and skills of the staff and the manager and compromise children’s progress and development. The registered manager acknowledges this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has submitted their quality of care review to Ofsted within the required time frame. However, this report does not contain the relevant information to demonstrate effective oversight of the home, and feedback from children, parents and external professionals is omitted from this report. This leaves the regulator without the full information needed to review the manager’s assessment of the quality of care.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose is not up to date. This document does not provide correct information regarding the changes in the staff structure. This means that Ofsted and local authorities do not have the most up-to-date information about the care provided.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has removed the condition which required the provider to give three months’ notice prior to admitting children to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2020 Full Good 09/01/2019 Full Outstanding 15/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/10/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 24 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the manager has the required training to manage the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is restated. 24 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s 24 February 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 6 home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the manager provides a clear review of the quality of care that addresses the shortfalls identified as part of their monitoring.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the service. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 14 and 15, paragraphs 3.5 and 3.6)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Physis Quantum Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: DPC, 55 Stone House Road Business Park, Stone Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6SR

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Inspector

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC487794 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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