Children's home run by Phoenix Child Care Limited in North Devon

Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 1 SC066179 Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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 outstanding

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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: 12 September 2023

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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: SC066179 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were present for this inspection. All three children who live in the home were spoken to during the inspection, either face to face or via phone messages. The children enjoy a variety of activities with the team and with each other, including going to skate parks, gaming, photography, trips to a theme park, golf, beach walks and sea swims. Each child has enjoyed a trip away during the summer holidays. Two children have their own pets in the home, which they care for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The carers who form the team love and care for the children. They want them to achieve in all areas of their lives and have worked hard to build trusting relationships. The team has supported each child to develop self-care and independence skills in line with their age. The children help with cooking, look after their pets and take an active part in decisions made about the home, and one child travels independently to college. The strong and secure relationships with team have enabled all the children to feel supported and gain confidence to make progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has left the home since the last inspection. This was a planned ending and was made as positive as possible, with a goodbye meal and onwards support to their next placement. Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. The assessments completed before they moved in were thorough. They considered the individual needs of the child arriving, as well as those of the child already living in the home. Information was gathered from the child, the local authority and all previous carers or family members as appropriate, to enhance knowledge of how to meet the child’s needs. The moves in are planned and considered. The team has continued to support all the children with consistent expectations and boundaries, which has resulted in their relationships developing in a positive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Direct work is carried out with all the children. The work is well researched, consistent and targeted to the individual child’s needs. There is a pattern of work and topics are covered and then repeated to ensure children can absorb, remember and practise techniques they have learned. Direct work is not just done on paper, team use role play to support the children’s learning. These fun techniques are a great way to impart skills to the children on how to manage emotions and build relationships, in a way that does not make them feel embarrassed or pressured. One child has a bedtime story read to them every night; this nurturing care has supported them to have better sleep routines. The direct work with the children is in line with their individual care plans and has resulted in children being able to manage their emotions better and having increased confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are supported to achieve educationally. One child has made significant progress from their starting point. They had not been in education for over a year and now attend school full time. The team has worked closely with the school to ensure any barriers to learning are addressed and overcome. One child is at college and has Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 4 aspirations for the future to work in animal care. One child has been provided with online learning and outdoor activities by their school instead of attending. The home continues to work hard to fill in the gaps in learning and support educational development. Although they are not in school, they are engaging in structured learning time in the home, producing work they are proud of. There is no current plan or timeline for them to go back into school.

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

The children talk to their carers about things that are worrying them, and they know they will be taken seriously. In turn, carers respond without judgement and record their work in a way that is child-centred and kind. The way in which the team respond to the children when they are feeling unable to cope with emotions has seen self-harm incidents and suicidal feelings significantly reduce. The team ensures that additional specialist support for the children’s mental health is offered immediately, to further support their emotional and physical safety.

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

There has been one recorded episode of a child going missing. The plan in place is clear and was followed. The team involved were proactive in ending the incident and involving external professionals to ensure the child’s safety. The manager has had full oversight of this episode and has appropriately commented on what could have been done differently to return the child home more quickly.

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

Physical restraint has been used since the last inspection. There is comprehensive recording of each incident and management oversight is clear and appropriately critical. This learning is taken into reflective conversations with the carers involved to learn and enhance practice, to minimise the risk of further incidents. There are lengthy discussions with the children to support them to understand what has happened and how they feel about it. The work carried out by the manager and team following these incidents has meant there has been no use of restraint since July 2024.

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

The children have access to the internet. Carers are alert to potential concerns and areas where the children may become unsafe while online. Phone checks are carried out with one child. One child has a team member with him when playing online. Targeted direct work and discussions are ongoing with the children about the possible areas of harm when using social media. The children are supported to understand how to engage with others online and how to recognise signs of risk and keep themselves safe.

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

Allegations about members of the team are shared with appropriate agencies and handled fairly and quickly. The allegations have been handled sensitively to reduce the impact on the children and the wider team. All relevant professionals are informed and consulted throughout the investigations. There is appropriate senior management oversight. The outcome of one allegation has seen a proactive response which has impacted on the safeguarding training of the wider organisation. Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager of the home is confident and ambitious in her commitment to change the lives of the children in her care. She has created a culture of high aspiration for the children and high expectations of the team, who share her positive culture for the home. The team speak incredibly highly of the manager and say she is approachable, compassionate, focused and determined to provide the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team shares the manager’s vision for the children and the home. The manager is clear with her expectations of practice and the team feels inspired and motivated to do their job and do it well. The manager uses research and resources to assist and underpin the practice of her team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervisions and team meetings are regular and effective. The focus of safeguarding is clear, not just on what the children are going through, but on safeguarding in a wider context. There is a focus on whole-team training and individual team development. The team are listened to and feel valued, with regular and thorough supervisions. Reflective team meetings are used to enhance practice through clinical support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s ability to reflect, to recognise areas of strength and weakness and then change practice as a result is noteworthy. There is clear and comprehensive management oversight of every aspect of the home. The manager monitors the care provided and reflects on incidents, then adapts practice immediately in response. The reflection is of high quality and she strives for the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager advocates on behalf of the children and will not allow anyone who works with them, in or outside the home, to label them, blame them or see them as anything else other than the unique and amazing individuals they are, who deserve the very best in all aspects of their lives. Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must challenge services effectively to create a clear timeline to ensure one child returns to school. 28 February 2025

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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: SC066179 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

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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

Hannah Spencer-Townesend, Social Care inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 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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