Children's home run by PBS Care Homes Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2562677 1 Registered provider: PBS Care Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children who may have autism and/or a learning disability. At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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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: 28 November 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2562677 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2562677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were present and two chidlren were spoken with. Since the last inspection, three children have moved in and two children have moved out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences of moving into the home. The moves are well planned and taken at each child’s pace. Staff take the time to get to know each child through a variety of planned visits. On two occasions, children’s moves out were unplanned. The manager advocated for the children’s rights when they were concerned that the moves were not in the best interest of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet children’s individual needs. Staff are attentive and act on verbal and non- verbal cues. They communicate with children in meaningful ways such as using sign language, pictures and symbols. The staff praise the children for the positive things that they do. When children receive certificates or reach important milestones, their achievements are celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children plan and enjoy a range of activities such as going to theme parks, activity parks, aqua parks and exhibitions in London. All children can go on holiday every year. Staff organise sensory activities tailored to children’s specific interests and needs. This helps children to explore their interests and hobbies. One parent said, ‘I am so pleased for [my child]. Living at the home is the best thing to ever happen to him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide opportunities for children to build their independence and prepare for their adult lives. Staff helped one child to create their curriculum vitae which led to them gaining employment. This child is learning to drive with staff’s support. One child has visited the local highway office because their dream is to become a highways officer. One child is a keen dancer and has won awards. Staff help children to build confidence and develop their skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in education and their progress is good. One child received good results in their GCSEs. Staff have helped one child to learn the importance of completing homework, which is noted as progress. When school transport was unable to collect a child, staff provided this for a significant time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is modern and spacious. Staff organise areas where children can socialise together and spend time on their own. In addition to the main house there is an annex where one child lives. This area has been designed and furnished to meet the child’s needs. Specific material has been used to make certain that the child’s bedroom prevents them from hurting themselves. However, in doing so the heating has been removed and the temperature fluctuates. The child’s placing local authority is looking for a more suitable place for this child. Once this move takes place, the provider intends to Inspection report children's home: 2562677 4 remove the safety material and return the radiator to the room before another child moves in.

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

Children’s family members are confident that their children are well cared for and safe. Two children said that they feel safe living at the home. External professionals visit the home regularly and they have provided positive feedback about the care and safety of children.

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

Care planning for children is good and information is regularly reviewed. Plans give specific guidance and important information to staff, who know the children well. They are aware of children’s likes, dislikes and routines. Staff use this knowledge to provide children with individualised care that meets their needs well.

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

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour plans are regularly updated and individualised to each child. Effective multi-agency working helps to develop strategies to support children. For one child, this included staff’s attendance at a bespoke three-day training package that was delivered by specialist services. This helped staff to understand the triggers to the child’s behaviour and how to support the child safely.

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

Behaviour incidents involving children are responded to extremely well. There are detailed records with clear incident reports. Staff are mindful that behaviour is a form of communication and seek to understand the situation from the child’s perspective using their preferred communication style or aids. The manager evaluates all incidents well including the effectiveness of staff’s approaches.

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

Physical intervention is appropriately used and only when necessary to keep a child or staff safe. Staff use de-escalation strategies consistently. The manager has good oversight and evaluates the effectiveness of all holds.

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

There have not been any incidents of children leaving the home without permission. Despite this, there are detailed plans in place if this was to happen.

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

Permission has been gained by the local authority and parents for the use of a visual monitor to keep a child safe. The risk assessment clearly reflects the reason for this level of monitoring. However, when the child chooses to have private time there is no guidance for staff on how to respect the child’s privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is qualified and experienced. A dedicated and enthusiastic deputy supports the manager. Managers ensure that children are cared for by skilled and committed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager follows safer recruitment processes. New staff move through a detailed induction and meet with managers regularly to reflect on their progress and professional Inspection report children's home: 2562677 5 development. This ensures that staff are supported and any concerns about practice are managed without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel well supported and are happy working at the home. They are supported through regular supervision, appraisal and team meetings. Managers encourage discussions about safeguarding, whistleblowing and children’s progress. Children benefit from consistent care from a stable and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and senior managers closely monitor children’s progress. This monitoring supports the manager to maintain oversight of staff practice and assess where improvements may be needed. As a result, there have been significant improvements in staff’s recording of behavioural incidents. However, the manager did not include children’s opinions in the quality-of-care review. This limits the manager’s ability to develop practice further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all staff achieve the required qualification within the relevant timescales. Staff also work through a programme of training and learning that is specific to the children’s individual needs. This provides staff with the skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively and meet the needs of those in their care. However, the home’s statement of purpose states that staff use attachment theory to develop their relationships with children, but staff have not received this specific training. In addition, two staff spoken with were unaware of the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the one requirement and one recommendation set at the previous inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2562677 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s bedrooms are adequately heated. 22 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff understand the home’s statement of purpose. 15 November 2024

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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— 15 November 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2562677 7 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any model of care as stated in the home’s statement of purpose is implemented in staff’s practice.

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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—

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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 (2)(b)) 29 November 2024

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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: 2562677 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: PBS Care Homes Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 14 Southwold Crescent, Benfleet SS7 5SW

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2562677 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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