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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning and Care Holdings 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 owned by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since May 2022. A manager applied for registration with Ofsted and was interviewed in 2023, but they subsequently withdrew their application. A new manager has been in post since January 2024 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

Date of last inspection: 23 October 2023

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 February 2024

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. The inspector 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: 1256771 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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Findings from the inspection

Some actions to address the requirements and recommendations that were made at the last inspection have been taken. However, several actions remain ongoing and require further work. These requirements and recommendations have been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Although the manager is new to the role, they have started to take action to improve the quality of care that is provided to children and the support that is provided to staff. Staff can identify these early signs of improvement. Most notably for staff is the manager’s increased presence in the home and their availability to provide staff with support and guidance to help them meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the persistent shortfalls, senior leaders are hopeful that the new manager will engender change. Staff supervision sessions are being held regularly, alongside team meetings and reflective practice sessions. As a result, staff are now being supported to reflect on children’s needs and how they can be helped to achieve positive outcomes.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to keep themselves safe in this home. When concerns about the actions of staff are raised by children, they are reported to the relevant external professionals and appropriate actions are taken. When outcomes are identified, feedback is provided to children. This helps leaders and managers to consider the children’s views and wishes and act on them to ensure that children feel listened to and protected.

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Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment checks are carried out to help leaders and managers to determine the suitability of staff to work with children. When discrepancies between checks are identified, leaders and managers use professional curiosity to clarify the inconsistent information.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in incidents that staff find challenging to respond to. Staff are finding positive ways to support children and help them to express themselves safely. As a result, children have not gone missing from the home and restraint has not been used.

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Findings from the inspection

However, staff do not find children’s plans helpful in supporting them to meet children’s needs. Staff said that children’s plans are disorganised and unclear. As a result, the approaches taken by staff to support children are not always consistent and staff struggle to apply their training to their day-to-day practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not reviewed and updated plans effectively, nor have they reviewed the quality of care that is provided to children. Consequently, staff do not have a comprehensive holistic understanding of children’s needs or how to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 3 support them effectively. Children’s plans lack detail, and areas where children would benefit from additional support are not always identified or swiftly acted on.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have access to an independent advocate to support them to voice their views and opinions about their care. This helps children to be more involved in the decisions that affect their lives. Furthermore, children are supported to develop their own sense of identity. Children enjoy spending time with adults, their family members and with their friends in the community.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s educational attendance is sporadic. When children do not attend school, staff try to engage them in structured learning activities. However, this is not always successful.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health outcomes are mixed. They are encouraged to make healthier choices and attend health appointments. However, some health concerns are not responded to effectively and children are not helped to access the necessary healthcare services that they need. As a result, health concerns persist.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide children with positive messages with the intention of helping them to access the support that they require. However, these conversations are brief and lack sufficient guidance for children. The additional help that children require is not identified and subsequent actions are not well informed. As a result, children’s progress has stagnated. Oversight from leaders and managers has not yet been sufficiently effective in improving the quality of care that is provided.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s bedrooms are not maintained to a good standard of cleanliness. Staff speak about supporting children to develop the life skills that they will need in the future. However, when these skills are not demonstrated by children, staff do not take sufficient action to help them. The concerns about the environment also extend beyond its cleanliness, as there is damage to walls and wardrobes that requires repair. Furthermore, the staff office remains unchanged, with office furniture and laminated guidance for staff on the walls. This further detracts from a homely environment. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/01/2023 Full Good 05/10/2021 Full Outstanding 10/12/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 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

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

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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; and

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should use monitoring and review systems to help staff to meet children’s needs. Staff should be supported to reflect on the care that they provide and identify when children would benefit from additional support and guidance. Furthermore, staff should be helped to apply their training to the day-to-day care of children.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that the quality of care review report is completed and shared with the relevant people within the specified time frames.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 6 The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff can support children to meet their individual health needs effectively. This includes ensuring that staff can provide children with well-informed advice, guidance and support to meet their health needs.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that staff can identify when additional support services may be required to help children achieve positive health outcomes.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 1 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 7 that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that children’s care plans are clear and accessible for staff. Furthermore, the registered person should ensure that staff have a comprehensive understanding of these plans and are able to use them to inform the day-to-day care that they provide.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, homely and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In particular, staff should support children to maintain their bedrooms to a good standard of cleanliness. In addition, the registered person should ensure that staff work areas are tidy and present a homely rather than institutional appearance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children who are not in full-time education are supported to engage in suitable structured activities that promote their development and learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning and 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

Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1256771 9 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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Inspector

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