Children's home run by SBL Careservices (UK) Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 1 Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties, and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post and registered since 21 October 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 inspectors 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 for 2703431 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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Findings from the inspection

Children have positive relationships with staff. Staff know the children well and understand their needs. One child did not previously like to share their views, but now regularly shares them with staff. Staff seek and act on children’s views.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager does not have a positive relationship with all children. The manager is taking steps to improve their professional relationship with the children. The manager regularly spends time with children on group activities away from the home, such as going for meals out.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff promote positive relationships between children. Staff ensure that children have opportunities to do activities together, such as swimming. When there was a disagreement between the children, staff resolved the issue quickly and fairly. There have been no further issues between the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has updated the children’s guide to the home. Staff have shared the contents of the guide with the children. Children understand the contents and their rights.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all children have a school place. Staff support one child to have tutoring in the home. The manager has challenged other agencies around the lack of a formal education placement for this child. This has led to an increase in tutoring hours and the finalisation of the child’s education, health and care plan.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the risks to children and how to keep them safe. The manager and staff update the risk assessments regularly and remove any risks that are no longer relevant. However, a key risk for one child is not considered in their risk assessment. The strategies contained in the risk assessments for staff to use are vague and do not outline the steps for staff to follow. This was raised at the last inspection. The requirement in relation to this has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help children to understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff speak with children about using devices and the internet safely, and revisit this with children when there are emerging concerns. Staff undertake regular device checks to ensure that children are protecting themselves online.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do not go missing from home. Children have individual missing plans, which contain clear plans for staff to follow. The missing plans contain relevant information to help to locate a child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff encourage children to show positive behaviour. Staff rarely implement consequences for negative behaviour. When they do, consequences are fair and proportionate to the behaviour of children. Consequences are restorative, which Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 3 helps children to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and other people.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have completed all mandatory training and use their learning to support the children. The manager has identified training that is specific to the needs of the children they care for, such as internet safety, self-harm, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Findings from the inspection

Children experience consistency of care and are settled in the home. Children are looked after by a stable staff team. There are no staff vacancies and the manager does not use any agency staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are supported to provide the best possible care to the children. Staff feel comfortable to share their views and ideas with the manager. The manager provides regular practice-related supervision for staff. The manager holds timely appraisals, which consider staff development needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has taken action to address most requirements made at the last inspection, with one being restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 5

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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 is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that risk assessments and behaviour management plans include all known risks, and that the manager and staff seek to address them.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 26 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 6

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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: 17 St Peters Place, Fleetwood FY7 6EB

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Inspectors

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home for 2703431 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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