Children's Home run by Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care for up to two children. The home states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children who have experienced trauma in their early years. At the previous inspection, two children were living in the home. However, one child has since moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

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Information about this inspection

The inspector looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The child living in the home is making progress from his starting point. He is developing an understanding of his emotions, building friendships and establishing a healthy sleep routine. The child enjoys playing online games with his friend and going out on activities in the community with him. The child’s healthcare needs are being met, and progress continues to be made with his educational attendance. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and how to support him. As a result, positive outcomes are being achieved.

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The care of children

Staff have developed positive relationships with the child. Interactions between the staff and the child are warm, kind and friendly. The child appears to be comfortable in the home, and staff reciprocated good humour and tactile play during the inspection. Staff spoke with passion and commitment about the child’s progress. They know him well and are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to care for him.

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The care of children

The environment is warm, homely and well maintained. The home is nicely decorated and has pictures on the walls of the child doing activities with the staff. There are lots of sensory furnishings in the home, and there are plans to convert one room of the house into a sensory space for children. The child’s bedroom is personalised, with pictures, soft toys and a mural on the wall.

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The safety of children

Staff are aware of the needs of the child and the strategies they need to support him. No restraints have been used since the last inspection, as staff are using more positive strategies to help keep the child safe. Staff are supporting the child to recognise his own emotions and respond to them in a safe manner.

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The safety of children

When challenged by the child, staff remain calm and talk to him to help him identify how he is feeling. Staff use humour with the child and explore how they can support him more effectively. Debriefs with the child seek to help him understand what happened, and what could be done differently in the future. Consequently, the child is supported to express himself in safer ways when he is feeling worried.

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The safety of children

When children have been missing from the home, staff follow the agreed procedures and protocols. However, on one occasion when a child returned home, staff’s response was not welcoming. When concerns were raised by the child about the responses from staff, staff did not identify or report the concerns to leaders and managers. As a result, concerns were not shared with the relevant professionals and Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 3 staff were not supported to improve their practice. Following this inspection, the registered manager said they would take action to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have reflected on the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. In response to the concerns about the safety of one child, who was often missing from the home, the registered manager implemented further safeguards to help protect the child. Leaders and managers also reflected on the process for identifying the needs and risks of children before they move into the home. However, this learning has not yet been applied, nor has it been shared with the staff team to enable them to use this learning to develop their practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are provided with training opportunities to help them meet the needs of the child effectively. The registered manager also held a workshop in a team meeting to help staff identify and respond effectively to contextual safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Supervision sessions provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and their well-being, and how they can develop their skills. However, the sessions lack reflection about the needs of the children and how these can be met. As a result, learning opportunities are missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff enjoy working in this home. They said that leaders and managers are supportive, and they are committed to the care of children. The registered manager and staff team are passionate about the care being provided to the child currently living in the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/03/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure staff have a sound understanding of how to identify and report safeguarding concerns. In addition, staff should be caring and nurturing when a child raises concerns, and when they return home after a period of being missing. 24 April 2023

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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— 24 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 6 promotes their welfare.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff are supported to reflect on, and learn from, their experiences and the feedback provided by others. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Support Hub, Unit 5, Chinon Court, Lower Moor Way, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6SS

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Inspector

Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2538055 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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