Children's home run by Physis Quantum Limited in Shropshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 1 SC443708

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Registered provider: 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

The home is privately owned by a small, limited company and provides care for up to five children. The home provides therapeutic care for children who have experienced, and/or are at risk of, child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in November 2022. She holds a level 4 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 5 September 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. Inspectors have 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: SC443708 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

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the previous inspection, no children have moved out of the home.

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The care of children

The quality of relationships between staff and children has improved. Staff build positive relationships with children, which has a positive impact on children’s experiences and progress. Children told the inspectors that they feel safe and that staff provide a good quality of care. Furthermore, children said that they feel listened to and that staff take an active interest in their development. As a result, children feel respected.

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The care of children

Some staff have left the home, which has meant that some important and meaningful relationships that were built with children have ended. However, the registered manager and staff have worked hard to create stability in the home. For example, staff have provided more consistent boundaries. Children told the inspector that they felt settled, and they acknowledged the support staff gave to them. This means children are receiving the continuity of care that supports their needs.

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The care of children

Children’s records contain relevant information and are recorded clearly in a way that will be helpful to children if they want to view their records in the future. These daily records have improved to capture more of the child’s journey and experiences.

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The care of children

Children now have up-to-date pathway plans to support them when they move. This means that children are aware of and consulted about the arrangements being made for them. Staff are more proactive to help children to prepare at their own pace for any move from the home. This includes supporting children as they move to live independently. As a result, children develop better emotional resilience to manage without staff support.

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The care of children

The home is decorated and maintained well, and the quality of the fixtures and fittings remains of a high standard. However, not all staff are consistent in checking and supporting one child to keep their bedroom clean and tidy.

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The safety of children

Staff now show more professional curiosity and vigilance to keep children safe. For example, staff ensure that they conduct routine checks to monitor children’s electronic devices when there is a potential risk of online exploitation. This practice has reduced the potential risk of vulnerable children being harmed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 3 Staff ensure that medicines are administered safely to children. They keep accurate records of the administration of all medication in line with the home’s approved protocol. This means that children’s health and well-being are no longer compromised.

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The safety of children

The registered manager and staff are quick to act when children experience an emotional crisis. They take appropriate action to keep children safe and use several measures, such as therapeutic discussions and professional curiosity, when they identify that children are at risk. For example, staff are responsive and nurturing to support children’s emotional well-being when in a crisis.

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The safety of children

Staff ensure that individualised risk assessments are detailed and include guidance about how to manage and reduce risks to children. However, staff do not always ensure that risk assessments accurately reflect the correct information. For example, one child’s risk assessment had not been updated in relation to self-harm incidents. This has the potential to leave staff without the relevant information about children in their care. Furthermore, some assessments contained unnecessary information about potential risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager quickly identified the strengths and weaknesses in the home when she was appointed. She implemented an action plan to address the shortfalls from the last inspection. This leadership approach means that shortfalls are acted on quickly, which improves children’s progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager and staff have worked hard to ensure that they engage in specific training to support children effectively. This has recently included training to improve the staff’s understanding of self-harm awareness, online safety and child sexual exploitation. This provides staff with additional knowledge and skills in how to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Safer recruitment in the home is stronger. The registered manager ensures that the recruitment process explores the full employment history of staff before they start working in the home and that all necessary checks are completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Internal monitoring systems have been improved and are now effective. For example, the registered manager ensures they consistently review and monitor staff development and learning. Furthermore, the registered manager provides better oversight on safer recruitment processes to ensure that all staff working in the home are suitable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff benefit from an environment that encourages learning and development. Discussions in supervision sessions demonstrate effective challenge when needed and consistent support. New staff receive regular supervision to help them understand their roles and responsibilities and to develop their practice to safeguard children. This means that staff progress and professional development are always monitored effectively. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 4 Partnership working is very good. The registered manager recognises the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships with partner agencies. In addition, she uses this learning to continually review children’s care to support them and create positive experiences for children. Feedback from professionals is complimentary. A therapist told the inspector, ‘I have no concerns regarding safeguarding. Staff ensure any safety issues are addressed quickly, like

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

when [name of child] went missing from care. Staff followed processes to contact police and provided the local authority with prompt updates.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has written a detailed quality of care review of the home and has submitted it to Ofsted. This report focuses on the care provided by staff, the experiences of children, the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children and the feedback from children and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All six requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Progress has been made in respect of all requirements, and there is an action plan in place to address the other areas for improvement. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/09/2021 Full Good 25/02/2020 Full Good 17/10/2018 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure staff regularly update all children’s risk assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraphs 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive and meets the children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraphs 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC443708 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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