Children's Home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 1 Registered provider: Plus One South West Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children have moved on from the home since the last inspection. One child has moved into the home, and the inspector spent time with the child during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be 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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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences of leaving the home are mixed. One child left with no planning due to increased levels of risk and concerns for their safety. Another child recently moved on from the home. The staff could not support the child in preparing them for their future as the child spent long periods of time away from the home. However, the staff helped the child to pack their belongings and move and have maintained a positive relationship with them.

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improvement to be good

The child who recently moved into the home was welcomed sensitively by staff. The child has now lived at the home for three weeks, and staff are still getting to know the child. The move was carefully planned by the manager. The child was provided with a copy of the children’s guide, which contains information about the home and the care provided. However, this was not written in a child-friendly way, and their understanding of this information has not been checked.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of children having positive, daily routines. The routines for the child are still being established and there have been some positive improvements. However, strategies for staff to support these routines currently lack clear structure or consideration of the child’s age. Because of this, staff’s approaches are sometimes inconsistent.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive experiences of school. The child currently living at the home is in full-time education. There have been some challenges around the transition between home and school, and as a result, some education days have been missed. Collaborative working between the home and school is robust and ensures the child is supported holistically. This has been instrumental in helping to reduce absences. The child previously living at the home attended school regularly. They recently achieved their GCSE exams, and the staff supported the child to secure a place at college.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to participate in activities linked to their interests. They have recently been bowling and to the arcades and they enjoy playing hide and seek with staff.

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improvement to be good

The staff show patience and commitment in their efforts to build relationships. These relationships are in their infancy for the child currently living in the home. The staff capture the child’s wishes and feelings daily, and the manager ensures these are shared and responded to. For children previously living in the home, relationships with staff were positive, which enabled staff to have meaningful and supportive conversations about topics such as healthy relationships, education and sexual health.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to spend time with friends and family. Staff recognise the importance of family time, and understand the impact that not seeing family had on Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 4 one child’s emotional well-being. When restrictions were in place around this, the manager advocated strongly for the child. Because of this, the child has now seen their family and plans are in place for this to take place regularly. Family members said that they appreciated the support from staff to spend time with their child and are pleased the staff involve them in their child’s care.

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improvement to be good

Some of the care provided supports children to be safe. One child is new to the home; the staff are still learning what strategies are effective to support them to be safe. For another child, responses to risk did not adequately safeguard them.

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improvement to be good

The child who previously lived at the home went missing from the home over a sustained period. Responses from staff were not consistent. Staff made efforts to contact the child and offered activities in attempt to meet with the child during these times. There were significant periods of time where staff did not know where the child was or who they were with. While regular meetings took place to review the risk, the absence of effective planning meant the child remained vulnerable and at risk during this time. Responses for another child have been far more robust, with staff taking effective action to find them.

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improvement to be good

Physical restraint has been used on two occasions for one child. This has been proportionate and least restrictive to protect the child and others. Staff show patience and resilience during incidents and de-escalation strategies are used prior to any restraint. The manager ensures that the views of the child are sought. However, incidents lack management evaluation to aid learning and improve practice.

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improvement to be good

There have been two concerns raised about staff practice. Information was shared in a timely manner with professionals and the relevant external agencies. Robust action was taken to ensure the safety of the child and to support staff. However, managers did not notify Ofsted about these incidents.

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improvement to be good

The manager carries out safer recruitment for permanent staff. On one occasion, the manager had not obtained information relating to gaps in employment for a staff member before they started working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been significant changes to the management of the home during this period. The previous registered manager and responsible individual have both left the organisation. The current manager is new in post and is awaiting registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager shows an ambitious vision for the home and is committed to ensuring that children achieve positive outcomes. She has a strong understanding of how to support Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 5 children. This is reflected in her relationship with the child, who is starting to share their emotions and feelings with her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager provides a supportive environment for staff. She has a strong presence in the home and is available for staff when challenges arise. Staff say they enjoy working in the home and feel supported by the manager. Staff receive regular, practice-based supervision and team meetings are robust, reflective and child focused. Staff receive regular training. However, staff have not received specific training to gain the knowledge and skills to care for younger children. As a result, staff lack confidence and understanding in how to effectively support the child currently living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not escalated concerns or appropriately challenged delays from other professionals. There was a lack of effective planning and subsequent delays in finding an appropriate move on from the home for one child. In addition, there were delays in information being shared for a child who has recently moved to the home. This has impacted on effective care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She has some good ideas for how to improve the care and support provided to children. However, management oversight is inconsistent and the systems in place are not currently effective. The manager acknowledged this as an area of development and is striving to improve it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Relationships with external professionals are positive and collaborative. They provide the child with holistic support to meet their needs. One professional said, ‘Communication is genuinely excellent, they are one of the best we have worked with.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that full and satisfactory explanations for any gaps in employment are consistently obtained and recorded as part of the recruitment process. 16 November 2025

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

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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)(c)(h)) 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 7 In particular, ensure that all staff have the relevant training, skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children effectively. This should include access to training specific to supporting children in line with their age and stage of development.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place to ensure oversight of the care provided in the home. In particular, significant incidents should be reviewed in a timely manner and include an evaluation of staff practice to identify key learning to improve the quality of care provided. This learning should inform care and support plans for children.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that plans clearly outline the responsibilities for staff and the steps they should take when children go missing. These should be regularly reviewed in consultation with the wider professional network to ensure they are robust and effective in keeping children safe from harm.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, consider alternative strategies when responses from staff do not adequately keep children safe and take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of harm. 20 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they challenge delays to children’s care planning or information-sharing and escalate appropriately to ensure that children’s needs are met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is written in a child- friendly manner and that staff ensure the child understands the contents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should ensure that a notification is made under regulation 40 when serious incidents occur in the home, including when children raise concerns about staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure that there are clear plans in place to help staff

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Recommendations

provide children with consistent daily routines. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2682298 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plus One South West Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O Milsted Langdon LLP, Winchester House, Deane Gate Avenue, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2UH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Nicholson

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Inspector

Carly Parry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682298 10 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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