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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 1 SC463431 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children with social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, and they moved there in February 2023. Another child lived in the home between March 2019 and December 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/05/2021 Full Outstanding 29/10/2019 Full Outstanding 10/07/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 3

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outstanding

Children develop strong and trusting relationships with staff at this home. As a result of these relationships, children make progress in all areas.

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outstanding

Children are supported by a committed and experienced staff team. Staff know the children well and take pride in their accomplishments. Consultation with children is excellent, with children’s views on a wide range of topics being included throughout their records.

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outstanding

One child lived in the home for over three years, and during that period, they made excellent progress. One professional described the child as having made ‘massive progress’ and of them being supported by staff to develop positive social skills.

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outstanding

Towards the end of the child’s placement, there were some concerns about their attendance at college and their relationships with peers. Leaders and managers identified these changes and raised them with other professionals promptly. Plans to provide the child with additional support were put in place before a move to a different home was agreed.

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outstanding

Another child has been in the home for a short period of time but is beginning to develop positive relationships with staff. This child has a good daily routine and is consistently attending sessions with a tutor in preparation for a move to school.

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outstanding

Moves to and from the home are well planned, with children’s needs and experiences being carefully considered throughout. For example, how best to support one child in the final weeks of their placement was discussed during a team meeting, with input from the organisation’s psychologist. As a result, the child received consistent and empathetic support from staff and a positive ending.

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outstanding

Staff and managers maintain contact with children after they leave the home, including one individual who left the home over four years ago.

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outstanding

Safeguarding incidents are responded to appropriately and consistently. Staff are inquisitive and persistent in identifying concerns and escalating these appropriately.

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outstanding

Staff demonstrate a proactive approach to safeguarding children, and they balance this with supporting children to take age-appropriate risks. For example, when concerns were identified about a child’s relationships in the community, staff would routinely drive around town to establish who they were spending time with and to ensure they were safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 4 Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s specific risks and needs, and they provide cohesive responses and structure. This enables children to understand boundaries and expectations clearly.

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outstanding

Communication with children is a particular strength of this home, and staff are skilled at establishing strong relationships with children. As a result, consequences are not used at this home, and there have been no incidents of restraint or of children going missing from home.

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outstanding

The missing-from-home risk assessment for one child does not contain specific detail about when they should be reported as missing to the police. However, this has not impacted on staff practice or the safety of children.

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outstanding

When worrying incidents do take place, records show purposeful reflection and discussion with both children and staff. Incidents are managed empathetically, with creative and persistent staff ensuring that relationships with children are repaired and that lessons learned are documented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is dedicated and child-focused. Staff speak highly of her leadership, support and passion for providing the best possible care for children

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been in post since 2013, and the staff team is largely stable and long term. When new staff are recruited, safer recruitment processes are followed, and new starters are provided with an effective induction, training and additional supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager values the continuing professional development of her team, and staff receive regular training that is specific to the needs of the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Risk assessments and care plans are thorough and detailed. Documents are reviewed and updated regularly with comprehensive management oversight. The home’s manager has a robust understanding of children’s risks and needs and escalates concerns to external agencies proactively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is frequent and of excellent quality, with evidence of reflection and lessons learned being considered routinely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Practice is further strengthened by the systematic use of therapeutic input when developing support plans for children. For example, staff meet once a month with a psychologist, who supports the team to reflect on children’s behaviour and develop strategies to support them. Staff also routinely share information and research on specific topics during their team meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 5 Staff and managers demonstrate flexibility in ensuring that children’s needs are met. For example, they cover shifts when colleagues are off work in order to ensure consistency for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that missing-from-home risk assessments contain sufficiently detailed and specific actions for staff to follow. This should include timescales for when children should be reported as missing to the police. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

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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: SC463431 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

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463431 8 regulates and inspects 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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