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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 1 SC458812 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

This children’s home provides care for one child and is run by a private company that operates several children’s homes in the region. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2022 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Good 12/11/2019 Full Good 26/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in this home for extended periods, which helps them to make progress. One young person who had reached adulthood was supported to return to their family successfully. A card given to staff by the young person describes their positive care experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who has lived in the home for over a year is making gradual and sustained progress. Nurturing care has increased their sense of safety and security. Their need for reassurance at night has reduced and they have developed a healthy sleep routine. A specific behaviour linked to the child struggling with their emotional well- being has stopped.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s educational needs are supported through effective partnership working. Their time in education has increased and they are now attending full time. Education is valued and promoted in the home. Postcards sent from the school to the child during the school holidays, and certificates showing their achievements are displayed in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child accesses a range of activities outside the home, many of which give them opportunities to develop a connection to their local community and increase their sense of belonging. They enjoy looking at photos of themselves participating in fun activities and events. Planned activities allow the child to interact with other children, but focused support is needed to help them to achieve their wish to develop friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning for the child to spend time with their family is not progressing well. Arrangements do not always ensure that they have a positive experience, which has led to reduced family time.

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

Recently, incidents in the home have reduced. Stability in staffing arrangements has improved the continuity of care provided to the child. Daily care is informed by calm and nurturing approaches. Staff communicate with the child effectively to help them understand what is expected of them, and to promote positive behaviour.

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

However, strategies are not always effective to help calm the child when they are most distressed. Some incidents are prolonged, and some incidents involve injury to staff. Restraint is used but this is not always effective to prevent harm. At times, the use of restraint is not appropriate.

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

In the short period that the manager has worked in the home, they have reviewed incidents to understand the patterns and trends. They plan to use this information to promote a preventive approach and to inform future care planning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 4 The manager has reviewed the need for increased supervision of the child by staff. They are ensuring that these arrangements are only implemented for as long as is necessary and proportionate. Other restrictions need further review. This includes developing strategies to help the child to manage a balanced diet, rather than keeping snacks shut away from them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager left the home in August 2023, and a new manager is in post. A planned transition to introduce the new manager into the home and to reduce disruption to the child has been successful. Feedback received from staff describes a positive working environment, where the child is at the centre of their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes in staffing arrangements negatively impact the child’s care and progress. Managers have responded to this and the use of staff from other homes has reduced. Permanent staff ensure that the child benefits from continuity of care. The child said that it is the staff that they like most about living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home environment meets the child’s needs but improvements in some areas are needed to create a more homely feel. In addition, maintaining the garden area will ensure that it can always be used for the child to enjoy activities. Recommendations to improve the home environment are repeated themes in the independent visitor’s reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers demonstrate a good understanding of the child’s background to meet their current needs. However, some specific needs are not well understood. Clarification from professionals is needed to understand diagnoses recorded across plans. In addition, language used to describe the child’s behaviour is not always helpful in understanding the child’s current needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is passionate about improving the quality of care. They plan to develop staff’s skills and the knowledge they need to continually improve the child’s experiences and progress. The manager is supported by an established deputy manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 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, The 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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 12 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a homely environment is created. In addition, the outside area should be maintained to ensure that it can always be used for the child to enjoy activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should, in line with the child’s individual health plan, ensure that staff have the skills to be able to help the child understand and change negative behaviours relating to their diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  The registered person should ensure that information about the child is always recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Information must also be clear for staff to help them understand children’s needs well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 6

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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: SC458812 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

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458812 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 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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