Children's Home run by Phoenix Children’s Homes Limited in Plymouth

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private provider of education and social care. It is registered to provide care for up to two children aged between eight and 18 years.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

A manager is in post. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2604092 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home has been without a registered manager since October 2021. Insufficient action has been taken to address this by the provider. A lack of registered manager negatively impacts the quality of care provided to the child. At all previous inspections, shortfalls have been identified in the leadership and management of the home and repeat requirements have been made.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There has been a poor inspection history since this home registered with Ofsted. There is a pattern of children’s needs not being met by carers and care arrangements ending due to this.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Significant instability in staffing arrangements. New staff do not always have the experience and skills necessary to support children with complex needs. In addition, managers cannot evaluate the quality of care effectively. This is largely due to inconsistent recording. Records do not always show the actions taken to help the child when they are distressed.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

While warm interactions between the staff and the child were observed, daily records show that when the child is upset staff often respond to the presenting issue and fail to address the child’s underlying needs. Staff do not consistently respond to the child in line with their support plan. This limits the progress made by the child. A repeat requirement relating to the quality of care provided to the child is made.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Partnership working is not effective to ensure that the child is helped and protected. Managers said that this has contributed to the decision to end the child’s care arrangements. The frequency of safeguarding incidents in the community has reduced, but the potential for serious harm has increased. Staff respond to serious incidents but do not always feel equipped to manage situations effectively. The systems in place to challenge external agencies when responses are not considered adequate to meet the child’s needs are not effective.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has taken effective action to reduce the frequency of medication administered on an ad hoc basis. During this inspection, records were either not available or did not show staff using the strategies discussed by the manager to ensure that this medication is always necessary.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

While some actions have progressed for the child, including the child attending school and them having access to advocacy services, other actions have not. This includes a review of family time arrangements to ensure that they are always safe and meet the child’s needs. In addition, interventions to help the child to increase their understanding and ability to stay safe online have not progressed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 3 The child enjoys different activities in and out of the home with staff. Opportunities for the child to interact with peers and develop friendships outside of the school environment are limited. Focused support is needed to help the child to understand how to build and sustain friendships with other children and improve their experiences.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that staff are provided with the adequate supervision and support that are needed to continually improve the child’s experience and progress. Staff supervision records completed by a manager of another home have not been shared with the home’s manager. Supervision records were not available during this inspection, and team meeting records do not focus on the care of the child in this home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to operate this home in line with its statement of purpose. Following this inspection, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 13 which requires the provider to appoint and register a manager. In addition, a decision was made that to restrict further admissions to the home. Ofsted will continue to monitor the home closely.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.4

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)) 24 November

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; 24 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 5 ensure that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.5

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(ix))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This directly relates to the registered provider ensuring that care helps the child to develop strategies to manage their emotions when they feel overwhelmed, and that they are helped to increase their understanding of risks online.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 24 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 6 The registered provider must ensure that care is monitored effectively to ensure that the child's daily needs are met.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered provider must ensure that the manager has the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child through meeting the requirements specified in regulation 28 relating to the fitness of the manager for registration as required by section 11 of the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 24 November

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the child is supported to understand how to build friendships with other children. They should be able to spend time with their friends in the local community, their home area, and by having friends visit them at the home, in line with the child's plans, age and understanding. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 38, paragraph 8.7) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Support Hub, Unit 5, Chinon Court, Lower Moor Way, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6SS

p.7

Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2604092 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8