Children's home run by SBL CARE SERVICES (UK) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 1 Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) 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 home is owned and operated by a private organisation. The home is a multi- building registration for up to six children living across four children’s settings.

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Information about this children’s home

There were six children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

All settings were visited as part of the inspection and all children spent individual time with inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a qualified and experienced registered manager in post.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a welcoming and homely environment. There are photos of shared experiences, children’s artwork and certificates displayed around the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their taste, and they have been instrumental in decorating and furnishing them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported by a consistent and aspirational staff team. Relationships between children and staff contribute significantly to the progress of children and their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, children have continued to make exceptional progress from their starting points. They have been supported to pursue their hobbies and interests, including rugby, Cubs and boxing. One child has had the opportunity of travelling to Canada to see the Invictus Games due to their exceptional progress in education. This supports children’s self-esteem and social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children attend education, and their learning is a significant focus for staff. Strong partnership working between staff and education professionals means that children receive consistent support at school and home. For one child, the provider has gone above and beyond to ensure they have access to an education provision that meets their needs. Leaders and managers are aspirational for children and consistently challenge professionals when they feel decisions are not made in children’s best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff maintain consistent boundaries through positive relationships and reinforcement. Children have clear, age-appropriate targets and are consulted about rewards and incentives. This means children are engaged and keen to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The support that staff deliver to families is exceptional. Leaders and managers adapt their approaches to support parents to develop their relationships with children. One parent said: ‘[Name of the child] is doing fantastic! They’ve brought on his confidence. It’s the best placement he’s ever had.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure children’s health needs are well met. They all have up-to-date assessments and care plans. Staff use highly effective key-work sessions to help children understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Staff use research-led practice to help develop their understanding of puberty and personal hygiene in line with children’s age and understanding. This is making an exceptional difference to children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child recently visited a local market to shop for various ingredients to cook foods from his culture. Staff have also supported him to use specific hair care products. This means children are supported and encouraged to understand their family culture and heritage. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 4

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

Safeguarding practice is highly effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s needs, vulnerabilities, and the potential risks they may be exposed to. Risk management plans are reviewed regularly and provide staff with clear guidance. Staff demonstrate how to report and respond to concerns. Children rarely go missing from the home. On the occasions they have gone missing, staff search for them in the community and surrounding areas.

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

Children say they feel safe. They have age-appropriate access to the internet. Staff carry out good-quality work with children to help them understand the risks associated with social media. There is a wealth of key-work sessions around road safety, personal hygiene and anti-bullying.

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

Each child has their own behaviour support plan. Staff have the expertise to support children to regulate their emotions and behaviours. They use their secure relationships with the children to manage difficult situations and behaviour safely. This ensures any incidents are well managed. Restraint practices are not used in the home. One child has been involved in discussions about incidents and staff have worked creatively with them to produce strategies they feel work best.

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

All staff are suitably trained in the administration of medication. The recently introduced electronic recording system is highly effective and there is safe storage of medications, including controlled drugs.

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted prior to working in the home to ensure that only suitable adults are employed. Good-quality induction programmes ensure that staff are fully equipped to care for children safely, in a manner that protects children’s rights and dignity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An experienced and suitably qualified manager leads the team. A deputy manager ably supports him. The members of the management team are inspirational and ambitious for the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager embraces a learning style culture and development plans are used to drive improvements. The managers have an excellent understanding of what is working well and continually consider any areas of development. Together, they look at ways to broaden staff knowledge. This has been achieved with the recent introduction of house leads and staff consultation, which have helped to upskill the workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff prioritise the needs of the children. There is a culture of high aspirations for the children. Staff say they enjoy working in the home. The staff are committed and experienced, and they know and understand the children well. Where the registered manager has identified a better skill match of staff, he has made necessary changes Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 5 across the home. One child said: ‘It is much better since the staff changes, we have lots of fun.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff use training to develop their skills and knowledge to understand and meet the children’s needs. For example, staff have attended training to better understand the risks associated with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and peer pressure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported to grow and develop the care they provide through regular reflective supervision. This facilitates a focus on high aspirations for the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the strengths and areas for development in the home. He actively uses a variety of consultation tools with children and their families to improve the quality of care that staff provide for children. However, feedback from children and families is not reflected clearly in the home’s quality of care review report. A recommendation has been made to address this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that consultation with children and stakeholders is clearly reflected in the home’s quality of care review report. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2740625 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: 17 St Peter’s Place, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6EB

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2740625 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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