Children's Home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 1 SC417795 Registered provider: Pebbles Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home aims to offer children or young people a family environment where they can settle, relax and find stability in their lives. There is a registered manager in post who holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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 good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2017 Full Good 27/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people experience individualised care that is tailored to their specific needs and vulnerabilities. Young people feel listened to, and staff respond to their worries and apprehensions with empathy and compassion. This has helped the young people to settle down in their home and feel an immediate sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported and enabled to maintain contact with family and friends. Young people’s friendship groups have been maintained and family relationships continue to be nurtured. For young people living away from their home area, this has been particularly significant.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people feel comfortable in expressing their views. All complaints and grumbles are treated seriously and responded to clearly. One young person said: ‘I know how to complain, but I have nothing to complain about.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the young people have attended school or other educational provisions. Progress and achievements, relative to their starting points, have been mixed. Staff are persistent in liaising with schools, colleges and the virtual school service to ensure that young people experience a smooth and timely transition. A young person said: ‘Staff have helped me to write my curriculum vitae and we are looking at options.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the young people in managing their emotions and behaviours that relate to childhood trauma and experiences. Young people have benefited from key-work sessions and life-story work that have equipped them to make better lifestyle choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Specialist help and services are on hand, and these have assisted the young people to understand the risks associated with child sexual exploitation, self-harm and human trafficking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person is progressing well with his transition to independence. Staff work in collaboration with the leaving care services to help young people to prepare for their futures. The young person said: ‘I am getting a lot of help from staff and feeling more confident as I am learning new skills. I am more realistic in choosing where I want to live.’

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

The risks and vulnerabilities of the young people are clearly known and remain at the forefront of staff practice. Well-documented risk assessments underpin the strong and proactive response from all those working with the young people. For some young people, this response has given them a greater understanding of the risks associated with their behaviour.

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

Impact risk assessments and referral matching reports are of good quality and inform Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 4 decision-making on all new admissions to the home. Safeguarding practice in the home is well managed. Any concerns are thoroughly addressed, and action is taken to reduce any incidents. Actions have included enhanced supervision and increased staffing ratios. Effective working relationships with the police have helped to reduce the risks associated with internet safety and sexually harmful behaviour.

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

Young people who go missing and whose activities place them at risk of exploitation experience a well-coordinated response from the professionals involved in their care. Staff ‘go above and beyond’ to ensure that they remain safe. A professional said: ‘I cannot commend the staff enough in their attempts to keep (name of young person) safe.’

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

The manager has sourced up-to-date intelligence and statistical information on issues such as ‘county lines’, violent crime and child sexual exploitation. This information has informed the location risk assessment and been added to individual risk assessments. This has helped the young people to keep themselves safe when out on free time.

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

Any concerns about the safety and well-being of a young person are immediately shared with the placing authority. The manager has escalated concerns to ensure that appropriate action is taken to improve the immediate safety of one young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and has a wealth of experience, having worked and managed the home for several years. She continues to be motivated and committed. This ensures that the young people experience a homely and nurturing environment with high standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced some fluctuations in staffing which have required the use of agency staff and extra shift work for the manager. However, there remains a core staff team, and ongoing recruitment has relieved much of the pressure. Young people have been able to build trusted relationships with the staff. One young person said: ‘I love it here. This is the best home I have lived in and I am staying until I am 18.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a comprehensive induction. More long-standing members of staff have their professional development promoted. Earlier shortfalls in training opportunities have been resolved, and staff are all up to date with their mandatory training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established effective relationships with professionals and external agencies, including the youth offending service, the police and mental health teams. This has ensured that the young people’s holistic needs are being met and that there is a well-coordinated response to known risk-taking behaviours. The manager utilises both internal and external monitoring to evaluate and monitor the quality of care. Any identified shortfalls and areas of concern are acted upon. Care planning and recording activity is of the highest standard, with effective managerial oversight.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 5 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC417795 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Wyther Lane, Leeds, Yorkshire LS5 3BT

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC417795 7 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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Inspector

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