Children's home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report children’s home: SC066458 1 SC066458 Registered provider: Pebbles Care Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It is registered for up to three children or young people who have been assessed as having emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or mental health disorders. Careful referral and placement planning and risk assessing will be undertaken before any child or young person is admitted to the home. This process will examine closely any behaviour that would negatively impact on their well-being or that of other residents. The home offers placements on a short-term, medium-term and long-term basis. The manager is now registered with Ofsted. The manager is currently completing her level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people living at the home have all made measurable progress relative to their time in placement. The care that they receive is tailored to their specific needs and vulnerabilities because staff make it their priority to understand how childhood experiences and trauma impact on current behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risks are well documented and clearly understood. Children and young people do not go missing from the home. This is a good indicator to how settled they feel and the positive relationships that the children and young people have developed with the adults who Inspection report children’s home: SC066458 2 look after them. As one child said: ‘I don’t need to go missing. I have enough free time and I love living here.’ The home would benefit from ensuring that the details of the placing authority’s arrangements for independent return home interviews are recorded on file for each child and young person. A recommendation has been made at this inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s and young people’s physical and emotional health needs are being met. The manager and her staff team are proactive in seeking advice and consultation with specialist services and professionals.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions to and from the home are led by the individual needs of the child or young person. Matching is undertaken that considers the impact on the children and young people already living at the home. A key strength is the consultation that takes place with the children and young people that has seen a very settled home with two recent discharges and admissions. One young person is on a journey of rehabilitation home and another is making a success of semi-independent living.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All complaints and allegations are investigated and escalated when necessary to the local authority safeguarding officer. Despite one child making several complaints, they are not taken lightly and reasons behind this behaviour are looked at in depth. Strategies are in place to protect both the child and the staff. The independent reviewing officer commented: ‘All complaints are followed through. The manager and staff clearly work in partnership with the local authority.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has been registered. She has a clear understanding of what the home does well and has embarked on a journey of continuous improvement. Staff training is relevant to current issues facing children and young people, such as county lines, knife crime and exploitation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are thriving. The quality of care is improving outcomes for the children and young people, enabling them to reach their full potential. All the children and young people are in full-time mainstream education and achieving 100% attendance. Contact with families is promoted and relationships are nurtured and repaired. For two children, this has resulted in contact now being unsupervised.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is mindful of the need to have a well-trained and experienced staff team. There is a good gender and ethnic balance within the staff team that is clearly reflective of the children living at the home. Staffing levels are such that they meet the needs of the children and, where identified, risks can be managed safely. Inspection report children’s home: SC066458 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Good

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) With particular reference to ensuring that there are details of the placing authority’s arrangements for independent return home interviews recorded on file for each young person.  Many children placed in homes may undergo a difficult transition and what should be simple aspects of their care take on a substantial significance in this context. Homes must also meet children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) With particular reference to completing the refurbishment of the second toilet.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences 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

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. Inspection report children’s home: SC066458 4 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’.

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC066458 5 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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