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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC403234 1 SC403234

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Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties. However, the provider states in the home’s statement of purpose that care is offered for up to two children. The registered manager is exploring whether an application to reduce the number of children that the home is registered to care for needs to be submitted to Ofsted or whether arrangements to care for up to three children will be implemented.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since September 2018. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Inspection date: 21 February 2024

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2023

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Inspection date: 21 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 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: SC403234 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

The registered manager is committed to, and passionate about, the care of children. They have taken action to address the requirements and recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. Furthermore, learning has been identified to prevent similar shortfalls in the future. As a result, no requirements or recommendations have been raised at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has been supported to move out of the home. The registered manager advocated for the child and sought agreement for them to celebrate their birthday, Christmas and New Year at the home before moving out. Leaders and managers challenged external professionals to ensure that clear moving-on plans were agreed. When the child moved out, staff provided ongoing support to them to help them to settle into their new home and ease their anxieties.

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Findings from the inspection

The child sent a postcard to staff to thank them for their support and stated that living in the home was ‘the best time [that she] could have asked for’. Staff made a scrapbook of the child’s time in the home, which provides the child with a nice keepsake of the positive memories that they have shared with staff. The child has remained in contact with staff, and the registered manager is confident that the child is receiving the support that they need.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has been supported to move into the home. Before children move in, they are encouraged to visit the home and meet with the staff who will be looking after them. This helps children to develop an understanding of what it will be like for them to live in the home. Leaders and managers also seek to understand the reasons for the child moving to the home and reflect on the care and support that they have previously received so that support plans are well informed and tailored to the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff training compliance is high. Staff are provided with specialist training opportunities to help them to meet the individual needs of children. Reflective practice sessions are also regularly held with the home’s psychology team. This helps staff to reflect on children’s needs and the care that they provide. Staff know the child who is currently living in the home well and can identify the progress that they have made in the short time that they have lived there.

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Findings from the inspection

As the child has developed positive relationships with staff, the health concerns that were impacting on their life have improved. This has led to increased school attendance and the child being more able to participate in the activities that they enjoy, such as going shopping and having beauty treatments. The child is also supported to spend positive time with their friends and family. The child speaks Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC403234 3 positively about their future, including gaining their GCSE qualifications and getting a part-time job.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond in a caring and nurturing way when children are upset or frustrated. Staff listen to children and support them to express themselves safely. As a result, there have been no significant incidents of concern.

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Findings from the inspection

When children raise concerns about staff, they are shared with the relevant professionals to allow for a swift and effective multi-agency response to help keep children safe. Concerns are investigated and clear actions and outcomes are agreed. Following the conclusion of investigations, children are provided with feedback to ensure that they feel listened to and protected. During this inspection, a child raised concerns about a member of staff. The registered manager is aware of these concerns and has taken appropriate action to report them and arrange for reparative work.

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Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment checks are in place to help the registered manager 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

The environment in the home is mostly warm and homely. New furniture has been purchased for the staff office, which is ready for refurbishment to take place over the next few days. The child living in the home has not fully unpacked all of their belongings. However, the registered manager explained that the child is waiting for another bedroom to be refurbished and personalised for them, as they have expressed a preference about the location of their bedroom in the home. Again, this is planned to take place over the next few days. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC403234 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/01/2023 Full Good 10/08/2021 Full Good 17/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC403234 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare 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: SC403234 6 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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