Children's Home run by Phoenix Care & Education Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Care & Education Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a small private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2021, and there has been no registered manager in place since September 2024. A new manager was appointed in August 2024. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for four children.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Good 07/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have created a safe environment in which the children feel listened to and can express their wishes and feelings. Children have positive relationships with the staff, who care for them. Children are supported well by the manager and staff, who hold them in high regard.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the children’s individual needs. This helps staff meet the needs of the children well. One social worker said, ‘This is the most settled that [name of child] has been.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff maintain good communication with the children’s families. This provides the children with a support network in which they feel safe to maintain family relationships. One social worker said, ‘There has been an increase in family time, and this is supported by staff.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities both inside and outside of the home. Activities include imaginative play with Lego, visiting the local airfield to watch the Beluga planes, bowling, watching video clips, playing computer games and going for walks. This helps to support the children’s hobbies and interests.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to become more independent and develop new skills, based on their age and understanding. Staff support children to complete tasks around the house, including cooking, baking and shopping, which helps to promote children’s independence skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote children’s education. There is good information-sharing between staff and the children’s education providers. The manager remains persistent in their attempt to fully engage children in education. One social worker said, ‘The staff are doing there very best to support in any way they can.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a relaxed atmosphere in the home. Children’s bedrooms are individualised. However, the home environment requires some repair work to be completed, which includes some redecoration and a window frame to be repaired. General maintenance work is currently being completed in the garden.

p.3

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff communicate regularly with children about any safeguarding concerns and risky behaviours, which helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 4 Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that consequences are proportionate and restorative in nature. Staff have developed positive recognition strategies based on the individual children. For one child, this is ‘Today I am proud of’ notes.

p.3

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

There is good multi-agency working. The managers work closely with professionals to ensure that the children receive appropriate support. One social worker said, ‘The staff team are proactive in their communication.’

p.4

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

Staff are provided with regular training; this includes identified areas of training to help them meet the specific needs of the children in their care. Training topics include first aid, fire safety awareness, safeguarding, medication, autism awareness, emotional regulation and sensory development. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs.

p.4

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

The children are all in good health and staff actively encourage them to attend health appointments. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of one child’s complex health needs. This has been further enhanced by specialist training. However, on one occasion medical advice was not sought in line with one child’s relevant plans.

p.4

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

There have been occasions when the use of physical intervention was necessary. The manager evaluates physical intervention records, ensuring that interventions are proportionate. However, reflection is not completed with the children or staff. This means that there are missed opportunities to understand any lessons which might be learned.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been no registered manager at the home since September 2024. There is an interim manager in post, who has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager is working towards gaining a relevant leadership and management qualification.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated, caring and ambitious, and advocates for the children. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. Staff say that they feel supported by the manager. One member of staff said, ‘The managers go above and beyond to provide guidance, training and advice.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular team meetings and receive regular supervision of their practice. This provides opportunities for the staff to reflect on and to develop their practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes a six-monthly quality of care review. This includes the wishes and feelings of children and key stakeholders and family members. However, the manager does not take into consideration in this report the feedback from staff working with the children. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to fully evaluate the care provided to children effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 5 The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. However, the location assessment does not include consultation with relevant people. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that 25 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 7 they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any incidents of physical restraint are recorded in line with regulation 35. Children and staff must also be given the opportunity to understand and reflect on physical intervention incidents.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.7

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that medical advice is sought in line with children’s relevant plans. 25 July 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 25 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that the home is well maintained to a high standard and any damage or maintenance issues are identified and rectified in a timely manner.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.8

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when conducting the review, consultation with relevant people is considered. 25 July 2025

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in regulation 45 specifically relating to the opinions of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

p.8

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: 2651807 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix care & education Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Phoenix Care & Education Ltd, 22–24 Balfour Road, Bootle L20 4NZ

p.9

Inspectors

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Samantha Kean, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2651807 10 regulates and inspects to 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10