Children's Home run by SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 1 Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since the home registered in February 2022.

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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

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Children move into the home in a planned way. They told the inspector that they were introduced to staff before they moved in, which helped them feel relaxed. This means that careful consideration and planning take place to ensure that each child feels comfortable when moving in. Children are building positive and trusting relationships with all staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely, child-friendly environment that is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Children enjoy spending time in their home. Photographs, toys, and areas for children to be creative and relax all contribute to children feeling content in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress from their starting points is good. Staff have high aspirations for children and support their engagement with education. Communication between staff at the home and school staff is excellent. This supports children in their educational outcomes. Staff challenge where it is necessary to ensure that children have the educational support that they need to reflect their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff are aware of their local offer setting out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is a further opportunity to access a range of specialist resources for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are helping children to have happy memories. Individual books are in place for children, which capture a range of enjoyable days out and happy times. Children are encouraged to try new activities in and out of the home. This has enhanced their self-esteem and supported them to manage new situations, as well as make friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional needs are met. Staff support children to attend all health appointments. Staff are quick to identify when children need additional emotional support and have ensured there is a multi-agency response to address this without delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are well understood. Children have good opportunities to express their views, and they know that staff will listen to them. Children are encouraged to develop independence skills in line with their age and understanding.

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

Safeguarding practices in the home are good. Managers and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Children said that they feel safe living in the home and understand how to make a complaint. Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 4 Individual risk assessments are followed by staff, and strategies are effective in ensuring that children are safe. Appropriate safety and monitoring measures are in place to ensure that children are safeguarded at all times.

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

Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques, and the interventions are effective in preventing incidents from escalating. Records are appropriately detailed, and physical intervention is only used as a last resort to keep children safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are rare. Records maintained in the home show that procedures are in place should children go missing from the home. Staff spoken to demonstrated they know what to do in the event of a child going missing.

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

Appropriate sanctions are relatively low in number and tend to focus on restorative solutions. Records demonstrate that the effectiveness of sanctions is routinely considered and they are evaluated by the manager.

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

Staff communicate well with each other and other agencies. They share information when necessary to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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

Staff strike an effective balance between the need for protection and enabling children to take reasonable risks in line with their age and development. Risk management plans are updated promptly to include relevant information. As a result, all staff are aware of any recent events.

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

Safe and effective recruitment processes help to safeguard children. New staff members are inducted into the job well and all staff receive regular supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager knows the children well and is passionate about ensuring they are provided with a homely and nurturing environment. Children speak fondly of the manager, and the inspector observed warm interactions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a small, stable staff team. Agency staff are not used. Staff feel valued and supported by their manager. The stable staffing arrangements and consistent rota system provide a predictable and safe environment, which helps children to feel secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are central to the decisions made at the home. Staff regularly use a creative range of both formal and informal methods to seek children’s wishes and feelings. This ensures that children feel listened to and that any worries are taken seriously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers have a clear understanding of the children’s experiences and the progress they are making. Staff meetings take place monthly. Staff discussions are Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 5 child-focused and reflective. The registered manager encourages staff to think creatively to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and are reflective and good quality. Managers and leaders are supporting their staff to develop their skill base. Children are therefore provided with consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders promote effective multi-agency working. Professionals are satisfied with the level of communication and information-sharing. The manager challenges other agencies when necessary and advocates on behalf of the children. As a result, children receive organised care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed a range of mandatory and additional training. There is good management oversight of staff training. This ensures that staff have a good understanding of the experiences of the children and are equipped with the skills to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are mostly very well maintained and comprehensive. However, not all records are signed and dated, and some of the language used in children’s records can be seen as stigmatising and is not child-friendly. The provider took swift action to rectify this during the inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 6

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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 registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 1 October 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This includes avoiding language that may stigmatise children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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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 children’s home: 2665747 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 161 Preston Road, Lytham St. Annes FY8 5AY

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Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2665747 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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