Children's Home run by City Care Southwest Ltd in Plymouth

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 1 Registered provider: City Care Southwest Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in February 2025 and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and was present throughout the inspection.

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed most of the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. Planning is in place to address the remaining shortfalls. The progress made in relation to two requirements cannot be reviewed, as no recruitment has taken place and no children have moved into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of care planning has improved. The aims of the child’s placement in the home are defined, and staff are provided with clear direction. There is a focus on helping the child develop their independence, resilience and awareness of positive relationships. Mechanisms to monitor the child’s progress have recently been devised and are due to be implemented.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spend time with the child. This has allowed them to build open and supportive relationships. They take opportunities to have both planned and ad hoc conversations that are relevant to and inform care planning. Conversations are meaningful and educational, and they are carried out with sensitivity and care when necessary. The use of direct work tools, such as worksheets and videos, promotes good engagement from the child. The child is encouraged to read written records of these conversations.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s views are sought in relation to care planning and the running of the home. Their involvement in deciding how staff can support them effectively in managing their behaviours has produced an accessible and child-friendly plan that incorporates their wishes.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have appropriately raised concerns about other professionals failing to meet the child’s needs. They are strong advocates for the child and they strive to gain support and services that will benefit the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have good knowledge of the risks the child faces. Risk assessments are thorough and consider the potential impact of risk. The missing-from-home protocol does not set out clear steps for staff to take when the child goes missing. However, staff take appropriate action to locate the child and bring them home safely. During the inspection, the manager updated the protocol to reflect the actions that staff take.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers speak to the child when they return home from being missing. They encourage the child to reflect on their actions and the reasons behind them. Staff engage the child in ongoing conversations about these behaviours and risks. However, managers do not always engage staff in reflective conversations following incidents. This limits opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 3 The manager has reviewed the use of restrictions in the home. Assessments that consider the impact on the child, as well as plans for reducing the restrictions, are now in place. Agreements and permissions for monitoring and surveillance have been sought and agreed.

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Findings from the inspection

One staff member said leaders and managers are supportive and are always available when they are needed. Staff now receive regular supervision sessions. They are encouraged to reflect on their practice, the quality standards, the child’s needs, and their overall practice and well-being. There is a strong focus on training and development. When staff request training, the manager commissions it, recognising the team’s need to continually learn and develop.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager knows what is going on in the home and has a positive relationship with staff and the child. They collate important information from the week and share this with staff on a weekly basis. The level of written management oversight of the home and staff practice has increased. This is primarily on missing-from-home incidents and some important conversations between staff and the child. However, there is a lack of analysis and evaluation of staff practice and outcomes for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

A concern about staff practice has been appropriately and promptly addressed. An investigation was carried out to ensure that they are safe to work with the child. However, the process of this decision-making is not formally recorded. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 5

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that robust evaluation and analysis of all available or required information take place before a decision is made for a child to move into the home. 2 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 2 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 6 the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they are assured of the suitability of all staff who work in the home by reviewing all essential documents. This includes agency workers.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that 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)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they record clear oversight and actions on documents about 2 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 7 children and use this oversight to monitor staff practice and outcomes and progress for children.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, following incidents of concern, the registered person must ensure that staff have reflective conversations.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that they monitor and review staff practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: City Care Southwest Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Plumer House, Tailyour Road, Plymouth PL6 5DH

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2818155 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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