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

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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 social care provider and offers care for up to two children with emotional or social needs. The two children currently living in the home were seen and spoken with by the inspector and were also present at the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager remains in post and has been registered with Ofsted since May 2024. The previous responsible individual, who oversaw the home from May 2020 to March 2025, has left. An experienced responsible individual from within the provider group currently covers the role, with Ofsted processes underway. Permanent recruitment is progressing.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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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

09/10/2024 Full Good 06/02/2024 Full Good 14/12/2022 Full Good 24/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 3

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improvement to be good

The two children in the home are at different stages. One child is entering their second year at the home, while the other child is preparing to move to semi- independent living after over three years in the home. The children have both made progress and enjoyed positive experiences. They have enjoyed many fun activities that align with their interests and hobbies, and they been given opportunities to enjoy trips and holidays.

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improvement to be good

The manager holds high aspirations for children’s educational success. They advocated for one child effectively to receive a specialist assessment, securing a place in a specialist provision through strong multi-agency collaboration. The child’s return to education is progressing at a pace tailored to their needs. Additionally, staff supported the other child throughout their education, helping them to successfully complete final exams and attend their prom. The achievements of each child are championed by staff, who voice their pride, thus supporting the children’s confidence and ambition.

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improvement to be good

The manager has created a positive home environment that meets children’s needs. The atmosphere is homely, and children are involved in decoration choices. The children’s bedrooms reflect their individual personalities and are used by them as safe, private spaces. However, the garden area lacks equipment for play or shared enjoyment, and the staff bedrooms are less homely, requiring maintenance and action to ensure confidentiality of information and to address the institutional elements.

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improvement to be good

Children’s involvement in discussions and their influence on changes to plans or the home are not captured effectively in documentation. This limits recognition of their voice and the impact of their contributions.

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improvement to be good

The manager is not planning the child’s move from the home or using systems to escalate their concerns effectively, such as complaints or advocacy. There is no timetable to introductions, which is a significant gap given the child’s specific needs. The children have memory books that celebrate milestones, but one has not been created to mark the new beginning and ending. Although the manager and staff support the child to safely navigate family time, no action is taken to involve them in the move. These omissions have led to the child experiencing avoidable anxiety and emotional distress. The manager accepted the concerns and took swift action during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 4

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improvement to be good

The two children are generally happy, feel safe and are protected through the actions of the manager and staff.

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improvement to be good

Overall, the use of restraint is considered proportionate and necessary to prevent harm. The five incidents of restraint with one child since the last inspection had oversight by the manager. This identified learning and ensured the use of body maps and conversations with children and staff following the incident. However, one incident was not recorded by the staff member and was missed in the manager’s monitoring, indicating a gap in oversight.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff provide care aligned with the home’s ethos, building nurturing and empathetic relationships with both children. Staff have access to individual plans outlining strategies and risk management. However, inconsistent application of these strategies has impacted on the children and contributed to avoidable incidents.

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improvement to be good

There is therapeutic oversight following incidents of self-injurious harm, with reviews providing clear, documented guidance tailored to the child’s needs. However, reflective advice is not consistently applied. In two incidents, identical guidance to avoid comments that may cause shame or blame to the child was not followed.

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improvement to be good

The manager has effective plans in place to safeguard children and manage missing- from-home incidents. Two episodes involving one child have occurred since the last inspection. These were responded to appropriately, in line with safeguarding procedures. Staff provided nurturing care on the child’s return and held reflective conversations to explore potential risks.

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improvement to be good

Complaints are generally well documented, with appropriate involvement of senior managers and referrals to relevant professionals. However, one incident record included a child’s complaint that was not recognised as such by the staff member or identified in the manager’s oversight

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improvement to be good

The manager identified specific kitchen items that pose a risk to one child and outlined appropriate actions and staff guidance. However, staff lock away other items, and there is no system of monitoring the practice to ensure consistent care. Additionally, the plans lack detail on action needed to reduce or remove these restrictions over time.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are adequately implemented before staff are employed to work in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 5

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good

The manager is dedicated and holds high aspirations for children, leading with empathy and emotional insight. While aware of the home’s strengths, they did not identify several weaknesses found during the inspection.

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good

The responsible individual is experienced and recognises the areas for improvement and is collaborative in their leadership style. They are newly overseeing the home, but there are examples of their leadership style being introduced.

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good

The recent appointment of a deputy manager following a prolonged vacancy, due in part to a previous deputy’s promotion, adds vital support. There is shared ambition for consistent, high-quality care. The manager is positive about the developing relationship and the support now in place to aid their growth in the role.

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good

The recording by the staff and managers is variable in quality, and there are issues with timeliness and completeness. The system of recording is raised by staff as compounding these weaknesses. This impacts on information being communicated effectively between staff.

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good

There has been recent staffing instability, impacting on staff morale. Leaders and managers recognise this and are actively addressing the issue. Their approach includes a focus on training, resetting expectations through collaborative team meetings and support from the therapeutic team. The overarching objective is to re- engage staff and promote autonomy.

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good

The manager ensures that supervision is regular, and staff appraisals are progressing. Overall, staff are feeling more optimistic and recognise the changes being made. 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

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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b) (2)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that moves are guided by clear, measurable plans, regularly reviewed and adapted as needed.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, behaviour support strategies must be reviewed for effectiveness, with oversight to ensure consistent staff application. This includes monitoring that staff are consistent in practice to restrict only specified items from the child and that there are plans to identify what needs to happen for the safe removal of restrictions.

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Requirement Due date

Finally, all recording must be of consistent quality, timely and sufficiently detailed to inform care and assure practice. 1 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 7 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the garden is a welcoming space for children to enjoy.

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Requirement Due date

Any information displayed should be considered to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for the children and a homely noninstitutional environment.

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Requirement Due date

Finally, staff bedrooms should be well decorated and cosy environments where they can relax. Also, they should be spaces where they feel they can talk and not be overheard through walls to maintain confidentiality. 1 October 2025

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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; 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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 1 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC458811 8 In particular, the registered person should ensure complaint, escalation and advocacy processes are used to secure representation for the child and drive wider system scrutiny and action.

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Requirement Due date

They must also act promptly to address delays in receiving plans that support children’s progress, including in education.

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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 9

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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 10 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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