Children's home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Hyndburn

Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 1 SC456271 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have social, behavioural and/or emotional needs.

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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: declined in effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/05/2018 Full Good 02/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/09/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 3

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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, 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 protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 02/08/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. This information should be clear for all staff in young people’s internal placement plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulation 5(c)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety, both inside and outside the home, to the extent that any good parent would. Staff

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Recommendations

should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm, in all areas relevant to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9) Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both young people who live at the home have experienced a high number of placement breakdowns previously. However, they have developed positive relationships with staff at this home, which has helped them to settle well and engage. The parent of one young person described the home as providing the most stable placement their child has experienced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From their starting points, young people have made good progress, particularly in reducing high-risk behaviours, such as going missing from home. Young people are helped to lead healthier lifestyles. One young person was underweight and poorly nourished when they were admitted to the home. With support and education from staff, the young person now eats a nutritious diet and has moved into a healthy weight range.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Progress in education is variable. One young person has begun to engage in education for the first time in several years. His attendance is steadily increasing, but is not yet on target. Another young person has experienced some disruption with education placements, but has positive plans for further education, which staff are supporting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good evidence of meaningful consultation with young people. Young people are encouraged to share their views on areas such as menus, activities and day-to-day matters in the home. Following a comment from a young person that they found their care plan confusing, the registered manager developed a young person’s version, which is more accessible and user-friendly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive effective support in preparing for independence. An individualised plan is in place for one young person who is due to move on from the home to a semi- independent setting. Staff are working with the young person to assist her in developing skills and confidence. However, there are shortfalls in the support this young person is receiving from their placing authority, in terms of their preparation for independence, which the registered manager could challenge in a more robust manner.

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

There is clear evidence that young people are safer due to the care and support they receive. Risks in areas such as going missing from home, substance misuse and child sexual exploitation have significantly decreased for both young people since their admission. This is evidence of young people’s good progress and increased safety.

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

A parent commented, ‘I have nothing but praise for this home. They have provided [X] with a safe place to live and [X] has now settled in very well. I can’t thank them enough for the support they have offered.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 5 Staff carry out regular direct work with young people to support their learning about safe behaviours and personal safety. However, some areas are more effectively addressed than others. One young person described how she had learned how to keep herself safer. The young person said, ‘I have better friends now. I keep in touch with staff when I am out, and I come back on time. I am more sensible, and I look after myself.’

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

A requirement was made at the last inspection in relation to the quality of risk assessments. The registered manager has made some improvements, which means that all areas of risk are now assessed. However, some further improvement is required. There are some examples of unclear information and areas where guidance for staff could be clearer. It is evident from young people’s progress that these shortfalls have not had a negative impact on them. However, the shortfalls must be addressed to help ensure that young people’s safety and well-being continue to be promoted.

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

At the point of their admission, there were significant concerns regarding frequent and lengthy missing-from-home episodes for both young people. Young people have made significant progress in this area. One young person has not been missing since their admission and the other has significantly reduced this behaviour. Clear guidance is in place for staff with regard to the action they must take if a young person is missing. Chronologies show that staff take appropriate action when young people are missing and following their return.

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

Young people are encouraged to develop safe and appropriate behaviours. The staff team has a good understanding of young people’s individual anxieties and potential triggers for the escalation of negative behaviours. Clear, individualised guidance enables staff to support young people in a positive and consistent manner. As a result, there have been no incidents where staff have been required to restrain the young people who currently live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in place who has been registered with Ofsted since October 2017. The registered manager has positive relationships with young people and staff. Feedback on her leadership is consistently positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following a requirement made at the last inspection, the registered manager has improved the admission process. She is now able to demonstrate that thorough assessment and matching take place, so that only young people whose needs can be met safely will be admitted. This reduces the risk of young people being negatively impacted or placements breaking down.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed systems to better evidence her engagement with external partners. This helps to ensure more effective communication and partnership working. The registered manager works positively with external agencies, but is able to challenge them on behalf of young people who are not receiving the support they require. Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 6 There is a stable staff team. Staff turnover is low, which means that young people benefit from having stability and consistency. Staff benefit from receiving a range of training courses that relate to their role and the individual needs of young people they support. Since the last inspection, a number of staff have gained nationally recognised qualifications and several more staff are due to complete these in the coming weeks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A number of requirements were raised at the last inspection. The registered manager has taken action to ensure that these are addressed. In addition, systems for monitoring quality have been reviewed and improved. This helps to ensure that young people’s progress and care standards are consistently monitored so that the manager is able to identify and address any shortfalls. Effective quality monitoring means that young people benefit from receiving a constantly improving service.

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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

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: SC456271 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Edge End Lane, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire BB6 7QD

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Inspector

Marie Cordingley: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456271 8 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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