Children's home run by Plymouth City Council

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC454900 1 SC454900 Registered provider: Plymouth City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home operates as a short-breaks service and is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with complex needs who require at least one-to-one care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has no registered manager. The former manager who registered with Ofsted in June 2022, resigned following the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 24 January 2023. Following this monitoring visit, we have made a new full inspection judgement in line with our inspection framework. The children’s home’s new full inspection judgement is: requires improvement .

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit follows a full inspection in January 2023 when the home was judged inadequate. This visit is to follow up on the progress made towards meeting the statutory requirements and compliance notice that were issued as a result of that inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the January inspection, the registered manager has resigned. A previous senior manager for the home has returned from maternity leave and is overseeing a programme of improvements. Good progress has been made towards meeting all the areas identified as shortfalls at the last visit. This senior manager has an in- depth knowledge of the home and a strong track record for providing a consistently good service for children at this home over many years. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC454900 2 The responsible individual informed Ofsted of their intention not to operate the home until the improvement plan is fully implemented. Consequently, no children were present for this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The home has been refurbished, cleaned up, the decor refreshed and new furniture purchased. The older-style fixtures, fittings, aids and adaptations have been removed and replaced. The work is nearing completion; the improvements are apparent. As a result, the actions on the compliance notice are met.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have worked with a fire safety specialist to ensure that all fire safety requirements are implemented. Personal evacuation plans have been reviewed. Going forward, a process of monthly review of evacuation plans is to be implemented. Specialist equipment has been purchased for the safe evacuation of a child in case of emergency.

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This monitoring visit

Care planning information has been reviewed and where required, updated. Staff training in care planning will be refreshed, as will staff training in handling medication. Further training opportunities around neurodiversity are planned.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment records have been checked and all staff have Disclosure and Barring Service checks in place.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted is satisfied with the progress made against the requirements. There is confidence in leaders to make the required changes and to positively develop the service going forward. This is largely due to the return of the home’s previous manager. The home will receive a full inspection in due course, when the recommendations made at the previous inspection will also be reviewed.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Inadequate 16/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC454900 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s life-story records are collated in a way that is meaningful for children and are kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, consider staff training relating to autism spectrum disorder. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC454900 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plymouth City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth PL1 3BJ

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Inspector

Michelle Oxley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC454900 5 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

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

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