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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 1 SC458811 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 operated by a private provider of social care. The home provides care for up to two children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 25 May 2022.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 14 December 2022

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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: SC458811 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2022 Full Good 24/11/2021 Full Good 01/10/2019 Full Good 18/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at the home for almost two years. They have made excellent progress due to the high quality of care provided by the staff team. The child’s social worker described the child’s care as ‘consistent’ and ‘fantastic’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s self-esteem and confidence have increased, which has driven notable achievements since they have lived at the home. Their attendance at school is excellent, and they are captain of a football team. The importance of self-care skills in line with growing independence is integrated into the child’s plans and daily care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently moved into the home. Their views gathered during this inspection indicate that they are settling in well. The child is attending school, and creative plans are in place to help them to increase their attendance gradually and to increase their engagement in learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of the home is that managers and staff understand the children’s needs extremely well. They advocate for the children to ensure that they have additional support when needed. The children have access to advocacy services, but they often attend their own care planning meetings and voice their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The importance of the children spending time with their family and friends is valued and fully promoted. Managers and staff ensure that any restrictions are regularly reviewed with children’s social workers. When the children cannot spend time with their immediate family members, partner agencies are involved to consider alternative life-long links.

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

Staff invest time talking to the children about a wide range of life topics. Alongside internet controls, they talk to the children about how to keep themselves safe online. They talk to them about puberty and adolescence and help them to understand how their bodies work and about sexual health. Staff role model and implement boundaries to help the children understand socially acceptable behaviour.

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

Any restrictions implemented to reduce risk are regularly reviewed. Managers’ knowledge of risk ensures that restrictions are appropriate and necessary. This includes levels of staff supervision and care.

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

In the main, plans are up to date and provide strategies and guidance for staff. Following incidents, staff invest meaningful time talking to the children to understand their views and their feelings, which directly informs care planning.

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

The children know how to make a complaint, and this process is revisited with them when they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. When allegations are made Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 4 by the children, these are thoroughly investigated and, where possible, restorative work is implemented to help children and staff rebuild their relationships effectively.

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

Since the previous inspection, two children’s care arrangements have ended. Despite the registered manager’s efforts to strengthen safety plans for one child and to strengthen support plans for another child, risks increased and their needs could no longer be met safely in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides the home with consistent and strong leadership. Feedback from professionals and staff was overwhelmingly positive about the manager. Staff described them as an ‘amazing manager’ and said that they feel supported and listened to. When the registered manager is absent from the home, there is seamless cover from the interim manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed efficiently and there is an established and stable permanent staff team. Very few staff leave the home and there is no use of agency staff. Staff are supported to progress in their roles. Any practice concerns have been addressed promptly and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager recognises the importance of continual professional development. They incorporate research into team meetings to improve care skills and children’s outcomes. This has included linking research to practice about children’s past experiences to understand the care that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A learning review has been completed by the registered manager to reflect on care arrangements ending. They have identified that when staff have been most challenged, their use of therapeutic interventions have reduced, and behavioural responses have increased. The manager has shared this learning with the staff team to improve future care responses and to reduce the use of restraint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has forged strong partnership links to improve children’s outcomes. When services do not meet children’s needs adequately, the registered manager’s challenge is robust and they take steps to escalate concerns when this is needed. For instance, in line with one child’s views, the registered manager has made a formal complaint to an external agency to improve support provided to one child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 5

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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: SC458811 6

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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: SC458811 7 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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