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. It 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

There has been a change of manager, and they became registered with Ofsted on 19 May 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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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

06/02/2024 Full Good 14/12/2022 Full Good 24/11/2021 Full Good 01/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two children living in the home were seen and spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are strong. The children demonstrate a positive response to the nurturing and emotionally attuned care that staff provide. There is an overwhelming sense that the staff really care and want to do the best they can for the children. Staff became the most animated in discussions when talking about the children. They individually shared how supporting, advocating and caring for the children are aspects they love about their role.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the welcoming and comfortable home. The lounge serves as a warm and inviting area, featuring large sofas and a substantial dining table that acts as the heart of the home. Children use this space often, enjoying conversations, creative art projects, tutoring sessions, and baking for others. It is also the venue for shared evening meals, which the children often help in preparing, and serves as the gathering place for post-dinner board games that engage everyone in the household. Children are encouraged to participate in decisions regarding the décor of the home. During a recent redecoration project, one child expressed pride in their involvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively recognise and promote the talents of the children at every opportunity. One child’s artwork is on the walls throughout the home. In addition, photos celebrate the children’s birthday parties, holiday experiences, and various enjoyable activities they have participated in, such as comic conventions, theme parks, and live concerts. Personalised memory books also document these special moments. The children’s bedrooms are decorated to reflect their individual interests through personalised memorabilia, photos, and equipment related to their hobbies, whether it be guitars, keyboards, video games, animated series, or trading card games. Staff discuss their shared interests with the children, illustrating how these connections support the development of positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with practical and emotional support to maintain their relationships with important people, family, and friends. The staff actively encourage the development of the children’s independence and decision-making skills, while also gently fostering the preservation of positive relationships. For one child, this approach has enabled them to participate in decisions regarding the timing and location of family visits, as well as to travel by bus, thereby creating opportunities for enhancing their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals involved with the children unanimously shared that the team’s communication and engagement represent a significant strength. The registered manager plays a crucial role in ensuring effective representation during multi-disciplinary meetings, advocating for and challenging decisions on behalf of the children. A social worker highlighted how the staff's interventions successfully reversed a decision to Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 4 relocate a child from the home. They provided evidence of the additional independence skills necessary and the detrimental effect on the child's education as they approached their final year of GCSE studies, emphasising the support required to maintain positive attendance. There are a couple of instances where children have faced delays. One child lacks an appropriate educational placement and has declined to attend their current school for an extended period. There is also uncertainty regarding a medical decision,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

necessitating a second opinion. The manager has made attempts to resolve these issues; however, they have not utilised the available escalation and complaints procedures.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. There have been no missing-from-home episodes or safeguarding referrals. There has been no use of restraint because staff implement the home’s therapeutic model of care effectively. Staff nurture children and help them effectively when they are upset or/and anxious. The ethos and statement of purpose align with the care provided.

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

Staff support and guide children in a way that keeps them safe, while also recognising they need to be supported to take risks appropriate to their age and level of understanding to gain independence. Staff talk openly with children helping them to understand risk and identify ways to reduce it.

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

Leaders, managers and staff provide an environment for the children that is safe and secure and protects them from harm and risks. For example, effective technology and monitoring systems in the home help to address the risks associated with online activity. This is fully documented and reviewed in risk assessments, which are understood by staff.

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

There is openness in the staff group. During team meetings, staff feel safe to challenge each other and to talk about how strategies of care have impacted. They strive individually and as a group to ensure that the way children are cared for is kept alive and current.

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

Management oversight is documented for all incidents. This is professionally written, reflective and responsive to risk. Actions identified are proportionate and focus on improving the care of children. Overall, the manager carries out these assessment updates and uses their understanding of safeguarding and scrutiny of practice to address any learning with staff, who are responsive and enjoy the learning culture. After one incident, a member of staff spoke with a child about what happened. Having overseen this interaction, the manager encouraged the member of staff to reflect and consider how a child might feel when questioned about why they have self-harmed. The manager reiterated the need to use a curious but nurturing approach. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 5 Complaints made by children are taken seriously, and safeguarding processes are fully adhered to. Staff understand when to seek support from senior managers to oversee

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

complex situations, and they feel supported and able to contact the on-call managers if in doubt. Investigations are thorough and proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the responsible individual know the children well and understand their individual needs. They ensure that there is an adequate number of appropriately skilled staff. There is stability in the staffing, and staff work collaboratively to provide consistency of care. When change happens, this is usually due to natural progression. Staff joining the workforce have undergone safer recruitment checks. They report the induction and training to have been exceptional to their individual development and they are now enrolled on further training to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff use comprehensive, individualised plans that include strategies confirming how to support the children. Team meetings are used to reflect on the effectiveness of the plans and provide opportunities for staff to share experiences with additional support from a therapeutic practitioner. Plans do not consistently capture the progress that children have made in a way that is specific and measurable, and children’s contributions or views are not captured effectively. This makes it less obvious when goals are achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel fully supported by the current manager and feel that the change of managers has been professionally managed. Supervision sessions and appraisals are regularly held with staff and are recorded in writing. The discussions are reflective and support staff overall to provide effective care to children. When more-focused discussions are required, they take place at appropriate times and are recorded on separate documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new in post; but having worked in the different roles in the home, they have a thorough understanding of the sufficiency needs and a positive relationship with staff and the children. Their oversight is effective and supportive. For example, in response to one incident and a child’s individual needs, the manager has taken effective actions and amended rotas to ensure that a female staff member is in the home. This ensures that the child’s needs are met, and they are safe and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose and the manager’s review of the quality-of-care documentation capture the home’s ethos and functioning well. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)) 8 November 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s records for each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. The progress that children make should be clearly documented. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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 7

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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

Ashley Arkless, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 8 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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