Children's home run by Physis Quantum Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2585407 1 Registered provider: Physis Quantum 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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in May 2024. The new manager is suitably skilled, experienced and qualified and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home and were present during 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: 2585407 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Good 18/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2585407 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from well-planned moves into and from the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved to live with their families and two children have been welcomed to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress because of the care and support they receive. For example, the progress one child has made has resulted in a court order relating to their care no longer being required. Another child is learning to drive. Children enjoy a range of experiences including taking part in charity events and volunteering in activities such as puppy training and dog walking. The children enjoy taking part in activities together and have a summer holiday planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care. The children benefit from a bespoke model of care which includes therapeutic and clinical support. Each child is involved in developing their own in-house care plan and goals. Children’s progress is considered holistically and is regularly reviewed. Children are helped to take part in statutory meetings about their care and this ensures their wishes and feelings are heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. All children are up to date with their medical appointments and health reviews. When children struggle with attending appointments, staff are creative in helping to ensure their health needs are prioritised. For example, a dentist visited one child at the home to help reduce anxiety about their forthcoming treatment. As part of developing children’s independence skills, staff support the children to make their own health appointments and make healthy food choices. There are clear expectations in place, specifically regarding the use of vapes. Two children vape, however, there are clear rules around this which the children follow well. The staff also support the children to understand the risks of vaping, through one-to-one sessions and group discussions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted and this helps children to achieve. All the children who have lived at the home since the last inspection have made significant progress with their learning. Children attended an end-of-year celebration day at school where they received certificates and awards for their achievements. Teaching staff provided positive feedback at the celebration event. One teacher said a child was ‘one of the best students in the school’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their friends and family, even when family members live a distance away. Where appropriate, family members are welcomed into the home. The staff work hard to build and maintain relationships with parents and family members and to model positive adult relationships to the children. One parent said, ‘They keep me up to date and send me weekly reports, so I know how my child is and the progress they make.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2585407 4 The home is warm and welcoming. Soft furnishings throughout and photos of the children give it a homely feel. The children benefit from a large garden. Children have personalised their bedrooms to their individual tastes. The staff take great pride in the home.

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

Staff know the children well. The children have individualised behaviour support plans and risk assessments which identify associated risks for each child. Plans include clear guidance for staff which they follow well to ensure that risks to children are reduced.

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

Staff support children to understand and take age-appropriate risks. The staff help children to understand and develop strategies to reduce the risks of using smartphones, accessing the internet, navigating public transport and being out and about in the community. The independent reviewing officer for one child said, ‘[Name of child] is so insightful and reflective about risk since living in the home.’

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

When children make complaints, they are listened to and are kept up to date about how their complaint is being investigated. This helps children to feel confident to raise concerns and know that they will be heard. Additionally, the children are supported to access advocacy support, with two children making use of this service.

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

Staff work hard to help children to navigate relationships in a positive way. When relationships between children have been difficult, staff have responded well and have acted to reduce risk and support children.

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

The staff team uses a therapeutic approach to support children to manage challenging behaviours, including using restorative work to further help children. Consequently, there have been no physical interventions or consequences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is ambitious for children, who are responding well to the effort he is making to build relationships with them. Children spoke positively about the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The development of staff is prioritised. The manager has used a creative approach to getting to know the team, including going for a ‘walk and talk’ to help create a relaxed environment for staff. The manager has started to make improvements, including creating a role checklist for staff linked to their personal development plans. Progress against the plan is reviewed in monthly supervision and will be included as part of their annual appraisal.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes help to ensure that children are cared for by suitable adults. New staff receive an induction and training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Increased professional supervision during their probation helps staff to reflect on practice. Staff are well trained. There are plans to return to in-person training and some of the managers will be involved in delivering this. Inspection report for children's home: 2585407 5 External professionals are positive about the manager and staff, highlighting good communication and the dedication of staff in prioritising the needs of the children to help them make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection.

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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: 2585407 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Physis Quantum Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: DPC, 55 Stone House Road Business Park, Stone Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6SR

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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2585407 7 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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