Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 1 SC386428 Registered provider: Plus One South West Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. The home can provide care for three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted and has managed the home since June 2024.

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Information about this children's home

There was one child living at this home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Good 23/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Good 11/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child moved out of the home. Following this, the home underwent an extensive refurbishment over a period of eight months. A new child was welcomed to the home in June 2024.

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improvement to be good

Staff promoted a positive ending for the child who moved out of the home. The move was based on the child’s expressed wishes and was well planned over a long period of time, ensuring the welfare and well-being of the child was paramount. The move was a success, with the child experiencing a positive outcome.

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improvement to be good

A child who has recently been sensitively welcomed to the home has been supported to quickly build important relationships with staff and develop a sense of belonging. Staff invest time in the child and intently listen to them so they gain an understanding of the child’s needs and can promote their welfare. The child has made positive progress in a short period of time, and has already experienced positive outcomes in many aspects of their life. Staff speak with pride about the child’s unique talents and ensure that these are celebrated.

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improvement to be good

Staff, through effective liaison with the child’s local authority and virtual school, have successfully secured a new educational provision for the child. Staff understood the importance of getting this right to improve the child’s attendance, better suit their needs and support them to do well and progress. Staff are also supporting the child to continue to build on their key independent life skills and encourage their autonomy.

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improvement to be good

The staff ensure that the child enjoys a good range of social, educational and recreational activities that reflect the child’s interests and help them to build their confidence and self-esteem. Activities include horse riding, attending a gym, baking and arts and crafts. Staff understand the importance of the child having these positive experiences and how they support them to grow socially and emotionally.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance that the child places on spending meaningful time with their previous carers. Staff have formed a good relationship with the carers. They support the child to have regular contact with them and overnight stays, helping to ensure that they enjoy valuable time together. Staff are aware of the positive impact this has on the child’s emotional well-being.

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improvement to be good

Staff have quickly gained an understanding of the support the child needs to help keep them safe and protected from harm. Staff ensure that they maintain clear and important boundaries that promote safety and encourage acceptable behaviours. Nonetheless, Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 4 when incidents have occurred, staff have not always responded promptly or effectively to protect the child and safely manage the risks posed to the child.

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improvement to be good

Incident records are detailed and include a full chronology of events. However, the lack of management oversight has not helped staff to understand how they could change their practice and help to minimise the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. Despite this, incidents have decreased, physical intervention has not been used to manage the behaviour of the child, and the child has never gone missing from the home, which is positive.

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improvement to be good

The child said that they felt safe living in the home and have staff who they can trust and share their concerns, thoughts and feelings with. Staff are able to have delicate and sensitive conversations with the child. Staff take time to listen to the child’s worries and fears, and then swiftly take suitable action to relieve them and bring about a positive outcome for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the individual vulnerabilities of the child, especially with regards to the risk that using the internet may pose on them and the risk of exploitation. Staff have regular discussions with the child regarding healthy relationships and online safety to support the child to learn how they can keep themselves safe. Risk assessments identify the child’s main risks and set out clear guidance on the action that staff should take to address and help reduce the risk of harm to the child. The assessments are appropriately reviewed and updated when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not provided effective support to the new manager with regards to fulfilling all their managerial duties. The leaders and managers did not actively monitor the quality of care provided, and had not identified where a child’s safety and wellbeing was not promoted due to poor staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When incidents occur, leaders and managers fail to evaluate them and have effective oversight. They have not identified any areas where lessons need to be learned, improvements need to be made, or where staff practice needs to be challenged to help keep children safe following an incident. In addition, discussions with staff after an incident are not always held to review practice and ensure the wellbeing of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that appropriate authorities have been notified of significant events relating to the welfare of the child living in the home. Leaders and managers failed to identify where one incident should have been reported to the local authority’ designated officer to help protect the child and ensure that staff were safe to work with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager ensures that the child’s plans are robust and fully identify the child’s individual needs. Plans reflect the local authority care plan for the child and are updated Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 5 to reflect any changes that occur. The child’s voice is considered, and plans clearly detail the child’s achievements and talents and identify the progress the child is making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers ensure that the physical environment is maintained to a good standard. Damage to the property is promptly repaired to ensure that a safe and secure home is provided for the child. The child’s artwork is displayed throughout the home and their bedroom is personalised and reflects their interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is fully resourced by experienced staff to meet the needs of the child. Staff receive effective, child-focused supervision and training to help them to develop and meet the specific needs of the child. Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that they notify all appropriate agencies when an incident of a serious nature occurs and take effective action to ensure that children are protected from the risk of harm. 27 September 2024

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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

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

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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;

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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 27 September 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 7 and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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) (2)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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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: SC386428 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Plus One South West Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Mount, 21 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8QT

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Inspector

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC386428 9 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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