Children's Home run by Pebbles Care Limited in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 1 SC481305 Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children with emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 10 September 2020. A manager is now in place and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

p.1

Inspection date: 15 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 1 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 15 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 15 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection on 1 September 2021, the provider has appointed a manager. The manager took up this post on 13 December 2021. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted, but has submitted an application and this is under review. Although the manager has plans to address some of the shortfalls found at this interim inspection, to date, there has been no improvement to the standards of care provided by the home. Furthermore, four of the nine requirements made at the previous inspection are unmet and are repeated. As a result, Ofsted has issued a notice restricting accommodation at this home and three compliance notices.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff are able to recognise and respond to risks to children. For example, on one occasion, staff did not ensure that alcohol was removed from accommodation arranged for a child. Their inaction in this situation meant the child was able to consume the alcohol. The resulting behaviours could not be managed by the staff and led to police intervention to ensure the safety of the child.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not always apply their training to situations where a child’s behaviour is becoming aggressive or violent. Leaders and managers do not make sure that staff have the necessary skills to manage children’s complex and disruptive behaviours. There are occasions when the actions and/or inactions of staff have been responsible for aggravating incidents and children have suffered harm. As a result, one child was arrested and is facing criminal charges.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are unable to manage children’s competing needs. Although staff demonstrate that they can manage the needs of one child, when a second child is admitted to the home, they are unable to manage children’s behaviours or risks to their safety. This has led to poor relationships between the children and incidents of bullying. This does not provide children with positive experiences of living in the home and places them at risk of significant harm.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff deliver care as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Staff are not trained to provide a therapeutic environment for children. This is misleading to placing authorities and means that children are admitted to a home that is unable to meet their needs. This has a significant impact on children’s progress.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not always have personalised bedrooms that are well decorated or in a good state of repair. Staff allowed one child to change bedrooms but did not ensure Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 3 that necessary repairs were completed or that the room was prepared for the move. For example, there was no lampshade for the light. This does not provide children with a comfortable environment or show them that they are respected and valued.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not receive regular supervision and have not all received an appraisal of their ability to perform their role. Leaders and managers do not have sufficient oversight of the skills of staff or of their ability to apply training to practice. As a result, managers do not address poor practice effectively. This places children at risk of harm.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that children moving into the home receive well-planned care that helps them to stay safe. Consequently, children’s experiences of living in the home are poor.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not make child-centred decisions in relation to children leaving the home. For example, senior managers in the organisation made a unilateral decision to end a child’s placement early. This meant that there was no identified placement for the child and the child was not prepared for leaving their home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider limited the oversight of the home by the independent visitor, by preventing on-site visits to the home. As a result, the scope of the opportunities to identify shortfalls in practice were reduced. This also inhibits Ofsted’s oversight of the home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has completed a six-monthly review of the quality of care provided to children. However, there is a lack of consultation with children, their families or other professionals. Consequently, the manager’s ability to accurately evaluate the impact of care on the progress and experiences of children is limited. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 31/07/2019 Full Good 14/05/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(vii)(viii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s bedrooms are comfortable and personalised spaces, decorated to the child’s taste and in a good state of repair. 29 April 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 29 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 6 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)) 29 April 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 29 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 7 plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the statement of purpose is an accurate document which sets out what services the home is able to deliver. 29 April 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 29 April 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.7

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.7

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b)) 29 April 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 29 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 8 * These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.7

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.

p.8

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: SC481305 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

p.9

Inspector

Deb Duffy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC481305 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10