Children's home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people in the home continue to make very good progress. One young person who has been resident at the home for some time continues to do well. Their education attendance remains high and staff are providing additional support to encourage improvements as they progress to their exams. Additional external education has now been redirected, as staff and the young person acknowledged the effect it was having was becoming less significant. This in itself demonstrates the progress the young person has made. Staff have now negotiated with the school so that additional provision is given. This is in accordance with the syllabus. The young person has achieved an offer from college and staff are supporting the young person to make career choices which will determine which course she chooses.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact with family and those important to the young person has been very successful as a result of staff working aggressively with social workers to enable lengthy and good quality contact at Christmas. This has improved the contact with other significant relatives and made a substantial difference to the young person’s ties with family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, another young person is now living at the home. Planning of the transition to the home was very good. There was good liaison with the social worker. The young person was introduced using tea visits and planning of her own room so it was ready when she arrived. The transition time was intentionally short which took into account the young person’s needs and behaviours. As a result of this personalised plan, the young person is become settled quickly and making good progress. A pathway plan is currently being compiled. During discussion with the social worker it was explained that due to frequent changes in the young person’s placement and education it was currently under review. It will be in place by the young person’s review in March. The home’s manager will also ensure that the pathway plan is in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Before coming to this home there had been little educational provision. Now, she enjoys home tutoring every day which is being increased. This is significant progress in a short space of time, supported by nurturing staff and managers who understand her needs and behaviours well and use their knowledge and expertise to promote a peaceful and calming environment for her to learn. The young person has visited colleges with staff and has an application pending to continue her education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have responded well to one incident in the home and appropriate staffing levels have been instigated. These are continually reviewed, with the aim of reducing them as soon as possible, understanding the necessary constraint this puts on the young person. Staff work well with the social worker and other agencies to review risks and have appropriate plans in place. They also understand what works well in responding to the young person’s behaviour and as a result she is becoming quickly settled. She has a good relationship with the other resident, who has grown in confidence and maturity through being in this home, and is able to provide advice and guidance as a caring sibling. This promotes the home’s family atmosphere. Young people live in a home in a safe environment which has staff who understand how to keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work well with other agencies in relation to supporting young people with their individual needs. One young person is preparing for a difficult experience. Staff are taking steps to ensure they are fully aware of what is taking place, arranging appropriate contact with agencies so the young person is fully prepared and supported. This is a repeated strength of the staff within this home. Their desire to make sure young people can achieve their full potential is inspiring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have also worked very hard at progressing contact for this young person. At times this has proved difficult and staff have sometimes come to a dead end. However, although at times frustrated, they acknowledge when they need to take a step back so they can make further and more positive progress at a later date.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people take part in a wide variety of experiences. They have opportunities to volunteer with animals and also take part in local groups such as gymnastics. This in turn improves young people’s self-confidence and promotes their independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers at this home regularly review the quality of the care being provided. Since the last inspection, changes are being considered to the way supervisions are carried out to make them more effective and to balance operational availability and quality. Incident books are checked regularly and the manager is preparing the review of quality of care. Development plans are in place for the home and feedback is regularly sought from those that live there and those that are engaged in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Training has also been improved and there are now clear schedules and additional courses to deal with new concerns, such as radicalisation and extremism. Training certificates also now demonstrate what skills have been utilised and developed during the course. Staff and managers also respond when remedial action is required at the home. For example, work was being carried out to repair a bedroom door and wall. Steps had also been taken to arrange for a worker to attend to repair a light switch that had been damaged. The independent inspector had identified that the Electrical Installation Certificate had expired. The manager explained that visits had been arranged to have this renewed but had been let down by the contractor. This is now a priority and has been scheduled by the manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, one recommendation was raised which asked the provider to promote the homely and domestic environment by taking steps to reduce the number of documents that young people had to sign. Although the time between inspections has been short, the staff at the home no longer ask young people to sign for money they receive. This has been very well received by young people. In addition, through discussion at this inspection, the staff are also looking to reduce the number of times young people have to sign other records, such as key-working sessions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The registered provider is a limited company. This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties or mental disorders, excluding learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Improved Effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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