Children's home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 1 SC379274 Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2023 Full Good 20/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/01/2022 Full Good 08/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager was not present during the inspection. The inspection was supported by the responsible individual and the deputy manager. One child was spoken to, and one child was seen briefly by the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff’s nurturing approach helps the children to share their views and participate in decisions about their daily lives. One child talked about how staff ask them for their views about activities. The child feels listened to as they get to spend time with their friends and with staff on activities. If children have concerns about their care, they know how to make a complaint and how to access independent advocacy support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education for children. Staff work with children and professionals to promote the children’s learning opportunities and school attendance. Staff also support children to develop their life skills. For example, one child manages their own finances and is supported to shop for their own food. This helps children to gain confidence and the skills required when living independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with their families and friends. Staff transport the children to see their families, and their friends are welcome to spend time in the home. Staff support children’s cultural needs and encourage them to embrace their hobbies and interests. This support helps the children to build their confidence and offers them a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have a positive ending when moving on from the home. The manager understands the importance of maintaining relationships for children and welcomes children to contact the home after they have moved on. Children have experienced an emergency move into the home. During this time, the staff work hard to help reduce the child’s anxieties. One social work manager said, ‘Staff were great at reducing [name of child]’s anxieties, and this helped them to settle into the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to access health services, and they receive treatment and medication when necessary. However, staff did not seek medical guidance when a child did not consistently take their prescribed medication. Staff did not fully comprehend the possible impact on the child’s well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have made some improvements to the outside area of the home and have further renovation plans. However, delay in progressing plans means that the outside space does not currently provide children with a homely and nurturing environment to enjoy.

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

The staff have a clear understanding of the children’s individual needs and associated risks. Staff are aware that children are sometimes at risk of exploitation when involved in Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 4 risky behaviours, such as criminal activities and substance misuse. The children have individual risk assessments that highlight their vulnerabilities and provide staff with clear guidance to reduce harm, including the risk of exploitation.

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

Staff work with the police and specialist agencies to deepen their understanding of children’s presenting needs and risks. This multi-agency approach enables the staff to implement strategies to help keep children safe. Staff have searched children’s bedrooms to ensure that they are safe, which has been a proportionate action to safeguard children.

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

Staff are committed to offering the children sensitive support during emotionally difficult times. The therapeutic care offered by staff helps children to build trusting relationships and understand their risks and triggers for their behaviours. When children are unable to manage their emotions and behaviours, the staff use de-escalation techniques to prevent incidents from escalating. This means that physical intervention techniques have not been used on children.

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

Children sometimes go missing from the home. Staff actively look for children and attempt to keep in contact with them while their whereabouts are unknown. However, on one occasion, staff have delayed reporting a child as missing, which affected further action being taken by other agencies to find the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by an experienced and qualified registered manager. The registered manager was not present for the inspection, but staff and professionals talked about how she is committed to achieving positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has systems in place to review and monitor the children’s progress and the development of the home. Leaders and managers use monitoring tools to help review and strengthen their understanding and oversight of children’s needs and associated risks. Children’s records are detailed, and some are written from the child’s perspective. The records provide a clear account of actions taken by staff to support the children to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has carried out a review of the quality of care children receive. This includes the views of others and demonstrates how the registered manager works collaboratively with professionals. A team manager and independent reviewing officer identified that communication from the registered manager is good. This sharing of information supports the independent oversight of significant events and helps to ensure that children’s needs are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable. Staff said that they are well supported by the registered manager and have developed a strong team bond. Regular team meetings take place and offer staff an opportunity to reflect on the children’s needs and their practice as a team. Staff are provided with opportunities to access training to develop their knowledge Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 5 around specific topics, such as attachment behaviours and racism. This support helps the staff to develop their knowledge and skills and provide the children consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has not ensured that all staff receive formal supervision in line with the home’s policies. This means that staff are not routinely provided with protected time to talk about their practice and personal development. Some staff have outstanding training needs, specifically around fire safety and medication. The registered manager has identified these shortfalls and has ensured that these staff work with colleagues who have the required training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated since the last inspection, but this does not reflect the staffing currently at the home. This means that the local authorities and significant others do not have the most up-to-date information regarding the people providing care to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 6

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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, The 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 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

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)) 27 September 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff receive consistent supervision and have access to required training in line with the home’s procedures. 27 September 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose reflects updated information regarding the current staffing arrangements in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that that the outdoor space is fully functional and provides a nurturing and welcoming environment for the children to enjoy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that they support children to take their prescribed medication in line with medically approved protocol. When children decline Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 7 medication, staff should approach an expert for advice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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 for children’s home: SC379274 8

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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

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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