Children's home run by Physis Quantum Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC487794 1 SC487794 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 owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. All the children were seen by the inspectors.

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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: SC487794 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 09/01/2019 Full Outstanding 15/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC487794 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, two children have been welcomed into the home and two have moved on. One child’s stay was appropriately ended to ensure their safety. The other child had a well-planned move with the support of staff. They enjoyed a celebration event and received a memory book of their time living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into the home are welcomed sensitively. Good planning before children come to live at the home ensures the manager carefully considers the children’s vulnerabilities and that all children’s needs can be met. Staff support children to live together well and children have positive and trusted relationships with staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress and experiences of children are good. Staff use a therapeutic approach to understand and respond to the children’s needs. As a result, the children have formed strong attachments with staff. They feel safe and have developed a sense of belonging, through increased confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming, homely and well-presented environment. Photos of children, their adventures and their achievements are displayed throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and comfortably furnished. Staff have created a family room in an outside building to provide the children with a space to meet with those people who are important to them with minimum impact on the other children living in the home. The home provides and maintains a safe and secure environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff value the importance of children’s education. They support children to make good progress with their education and children’s achievements are celebrated. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] was supported by the home to find education in something that they wanted to do.’ This support provides children with the opportunity to reach their academic potential and increase their life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and access local universal services. There is specialist in-house clinical support available to children if they need it. Staff talk to the children and encourage an open culture of discussion around their health. Children are supported to attend medical appointments and encouraged to make their own health appointments, as part of their independence plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear and consistent boundaries. Children have routines in place appropriate to their age. Staff support children to prepare for adult life by developing their independence skills. Children are helped to learn new skills, such as budgeting, shopping, cooking and cleaning. Inspection report for children's home: SC487794 4

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

Staff know the children well and are attuned to their risks and needs. Children’s personal plans are detailed and regularly updated. This ensures that staff have up-to-date guidance about how to promote children’s safety and well-being effectively. Children are supported to understand risk and how to keep themselves safe, and staff support the children effectively to take balanced risk. Since the last inspection there has been a reduction in missing-from-home incidents and there has been no use of physical intervention.

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

Managers have effective systems in place to keep children safe online. Staff carry out daily checks of children’s devices and parental monitoring apps are in place. In addition, staff regularly talk to children about internet safety and how to keep themselves safe online.

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

Children’s views are listened to by staff and managers. Children have lots of opportunities to have their say, through general chats, reflective discussions and direct- work sessions. This allows the children to share and talk about their achievements, reflect on events and learn how to keep themselves safe and manage conflict. These opportunities provide valuable experiences for children to learn how to communicate and listen effectively.

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

There are few complaints made in the home and they are acted on promptly. The managers quickly acknowledge children’s concerns and take time to talk to the children. When needed, comprehensive investigations are completed and children are informed of any outcomes. This ensures that children feel valued and are confident to raise concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is led by a motivated registered manager. She advocates on behalf of children and has a clear vision and high aspirations for them. The manager leads by example and is creating a positive culture among the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care. They use these along with independent visitor assessments and compliance checks to continually assess and improve the quality of care and progress of children. There is a comprehensive home development plan that demonstrates high ambition for the continual development of the home and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by managers. Staff say that the registered manager is approachable and supportive. Managers ensure that staff receive regular supervision and have training to meet the children’s needs. The manager understands the importance of staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff are safely recruited and receive an in-depth induction. There is regular review of their probation. Staff have regular supervision and an annual appraisal. However, the supervision records do not always detail how objectives and actions are tracked or the Inspection report for children's home: SC487794 5 progress being made. Staff receive training in line with children’s needs. Team meetings are regular. Time is spent reflecting on children’s needs and any emerging changes or concerns and how best to respond. Following a complaint from a child, the manager acted promptly to ensure that staff training was updated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work well with external professionals. One professional said, ‘Communication with the home is good. We receive weekly updates about how the young person is doing in their home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in the staff team, resulting in the use of agency staff while permanent staff are recruited. The registered manager has strived to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the children’s care during this time by using the same agency staff, for consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made following 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: SC487794 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 Chartered Accountants, Stone House, 55 Stone Road Business Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6SR

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Inspectors

Julia Tompson, Social Care Inspector Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC487794 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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