Children's Home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 1 Registered provider: Plus One South West Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company which is based in the south-west of England. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 3

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improvement to be good

The child has built important relationships with staff. Staff know the child well and have worked hard to promote their welfare. For example, they invested time in taking the child out in the local area, where children of similar age would be. The child was able to engage with peers and develop healthy friendships, which has had a positive impact on their well-being.

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improvement to be good

The child is not consistently engaging in formal learning and attendance is low. Not enough is being done to support the child to attain good progress and improve their attendance. The registered manager has recently challenged the agreed timetable for the child, which could promote higher attendance. However, to date, the same educational provision exists. As a result, the child’s educational outcomes are poor.

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improvement to be good

The child is in good health and staff promote this. However, although the child has access to local health services, they often decline to go. Staff continue to rebook appointments and have key conversations with the child around the importance of attending. The child receives support from an in-house psychotherapist who offers therapeutic support to enhance the child’s mental well-being. The psychotherapist also supports staff and delivers bespoke training around the child’s individual needs so that staff can better support the child.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys spending time with their family. Staff promote this and have formed positive relationships with the child’s relatives. Staff understand how important the child’s family members are to them and do all they can to ensure that this meaningful contact continues, where appropriate. One family member said that staff are doing a good job and doing their best for the child.

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

The child has developed trusted relationships with staff who they can speak to if they feel worried. Key conversations staff have had with the child evidence staff listen to the child, hear their concerns, and give appropriate support and advice to help keep them safe.

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

Staff have invested time talking to the child to understand triggers for behaviour they need staff support with. These triggers are clearly recorded and help to ensure that staff respond in a manner that enables the child to manage their feelings safely. There have been no occasions where staff have needed to use restraint to keep the child safe.

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

There have been two occasions when the child has gone missing from the home. These incidents happened within two days of each other. The manager and staff were quick to respond to this spike in behaviour. Staff managed the incidents well, Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 4 and records capture the conversations the staff have with the child about keeping safe. As a result, there has been no further occasions when the child has gone missing.

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

Staff know and understand the child’s risk of being criminally exploited. Personalised up-to-date risk assessments have been developed which address the child’s exposures. Clear directions set out what action staff need to take to minimise these risks. Evidence shows good progress for the child in this area and the risks have significantly reduced as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are confident and consistent in their leadership of the home. The home is managed efficiently and there is an established and stable staff team. The registered manager has a vision for the home moving forward that focuses on understanding the child’s life experiences. Training has started to ensure that all staff are trauma informed to positively enhance outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use learning from events to inform staff practice. The child’s thoughts and wishes are always sought. The in-house psychotherapist is utilised to help address areas where improvements are necessary and supply additional training to staff so that they can enhance the care and support the child experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff express their joy and passion for working at the home. They value the support leaders and mangers offer them and have access to a psychotherapist to support their development and enhance their well-being. Staff receive regular and effective supervision that focuses on them and the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a warmth about it and feels homely. The physical environment is well maintained, any damage is promptly repaired to ensure that the look and feel of the home is preserved. The garden contains a pond which the child helped to rebuild. The child chose fish to buy for the pond and ensures that they are well looked after. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the expectations set out in the child’s plans are met. Leaders, managers and staff must support the child to achieve higher attendance in their educational provision. 31 May 2023

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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: 2682298 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plus One South West Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Mount, 21 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8QT

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Inspector

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 7 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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