Children's Home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 1 SC417795

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Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately owned children’s home. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 6 July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children in this home have trusting relationships with the registered manager and staff. Staff are sensitive and child-centred in the way that they approach their relationship with each child. This helps children to place their trust in staff, which gives them confidence to share sensitive information. One child said, ‘I am happy here, I get to do lots of fun things, and I am safe.’ The registered manager and staff maintain contact with children who have left, which demonstrates the positive relationships that they have built.

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The care of children

Children have opportunities to engage in lots of fun and interesting activities, and choose activities and trips that they want to do. The registered manager is proactive about children’s learning and seeks the involvement of other professionals to ensure that children attend school. The staff also provide educational activities to support children to learn informally.

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The care of children

The registered manager seeks advice from psychologists and other specialist agencies. The advice that professionals give is incorporated into the children’s care plans. Some professionals also work directly with the children. Staff support children to attend medical appointments to promote their health and well-being.

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The care of children

Staff use advice from professionals to revise children’s plans, where appropriate. These are regularly discussed with the staff to provide consistent support to the children. One-to-one work that takes place with the children is informed by this advice. Discussions held with children are reflective, open and tackle the issues that are important to them individually. Discussions take place between staff and children after incidents to learn ways that they can be avoided in the future.

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The care of children

Staff encourage the children to have high aspirations. The staff motivate the children to develop independence skills for the future. The registered manager is a strong advocate for children’s rights. The registered manager challenges placing authorities, education providers and others when a child’s needs are not being met or where they may be at risk.

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The safety of children

The registered manager and staff team identify risks to children well. These risks are understood and managed effectively. Children’s risk assessments are up to date and reviewed monthly or following an incident. Multi-agency teams contribute to these assessments through regular meetings. Online risks are covered by a system where the registered manager can monitor what children are accessing on their electronic Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 3 devices. This helps children to stay safe. Multi-agency meetings take place to ensure that everyone working with each child is kept up to date about any matters.

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The safety of children

Staff are clear about what to do when children go missing. The staff try to persuade children not to leave if they think this is going to happen. Protocols are followed and return interviews are completed. By doing this, the registered manager and staff aim to reduce and prevent incidents from reoccurring in the future.

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The safety of children

Staff are confident about managing challenging situations and understand that relationships with children are central to this. Staff are skilled at verbally de- escalating situations. Staff understand their responsibilities around physical interventions and when they can be used. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. The registered manager is responsive and considers staffing levels and the needs of the children in order to reduce incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A permanent, suitably experienced and qualified registered manager effectively manages the home. This gives stability to the home, and the staffing structure around them has been reviewed to ensure further support for the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has responded to the requirements and recommendations made at the home’s last inspection. They have addressed the issues raised and improved systems of working and recording in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers use the findings from internal and external monitoring to improve the progress and experiences of children. The registered manager uses a monthly monitoring form to oversee the activities in the home. This improves the support and care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been no complaints received in the home since the last inspection. Children know who to complain to and one child has an advocate. Other children participate in forums, which help them to self-advocate. Feedback from children is taken seriously and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has stopped using agency staff altogether recently as new staff have been recruited. Safer recruitment processes were followed effectively. The ‘cluster manager’ is supporting the registered manager and newly appointed deputy manager to help with the induction of new staff. All staff are now registered on the appropriate diploma qualification, and those who are working towards it are currently within timescales. Staff are appropriately trained, skilled and supported by managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose stored in the home is up to date. The copy published and available to others on the website is out of date and inaccurate. The staff appendix has not been sent recently to Ofsted. The registered manager provided it during the inspection, but this needs to be kept under review and shared with relevant organisations and individuals. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2021 Full Good 02/04/2019 Full Good 24/07/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (2) (3)(a)) 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC417795 7 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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