Children's home run by PBS Care Homes Ltd

Inspection report for 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 inspection, five children were living at the home.

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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 good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Good 28/11/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2562677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, two children have moved in, and one child has moved out of the home. Three children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress. They benefit from long-term stability and permanence. Many of the children are thriving and making extraordinary achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents and professionals unanimously said that the care children receive is exceptional. The staff provide children with a ‘10-star service’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are loving and nurturing towards the children. They talk about them with warmth and compassion. Staff are unmistakably attuned to the children’s needs and committed to going the extra mile to support them. This has contributed to children feeling cared for and developing highly trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff and the welcoming home contribute to family-style living for children. The children have established bonds with each other and enjoy individual and shared activities. Children’s time at the home is creatively captured with high-quality memory books. These make the children feel valued and provides them with timeless memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of exciting activities. They lead active and healthy lifestyles. Recent outings to theme parks, bowling alleys and the zoo reflect children’s interests. Staff provide creative activities that meet children’s sensory needs. The varied range of experiences improves children’s well-being and gives them new opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff actively encourage children with their learning. Staff help children to achieve high attendance at school by maintaining consistent and familiar routines. One child who had limited educational attendance now attends a full timetable, recently completing mock exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are at the core of all decision-making. They are consulted in relation to their learning disability, all aspects of their lives and decisions about their home. Their views and opinions are encouraged and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One professional said, ‘[The child] is more confident to have a voice. They have given her a safe space to do that.’ Children’s views are considered when new children move to the home. Staff are provided with a self-made film outlining how to support children. This integral contribution gives children empowerment and a sense of pride. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562677 4

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

Children say that they feel safe and cared for. The staff understand the children in their care extremely well. They offer lots of nurture and support to ensure that children’s emotional needs are met.

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

The staff use detailed and dynamic risk assessments, which are regularly updated to reflect changes for the children. Staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff are vigilant and proactive in response to mood and behavioural changes. This approach has led to an overall reduction in the number of significant incidents.

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

Children have, at times made allegations about staff. Leaders and managers investigate issues appropriately. Collaborative work with social workers and the local authority designated officer ensures that children are kept safe. Managers ensure that children always receive a response to any concerns. This helps children to know that they are being listened to. The manager effectively identifies any learning points, which are clearly addressed with staff.

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

On occasion, physical intervention is used by staff. This has been used proportionately and as a last resort. Children are spoken to after physical interventions, and their responses are used to inform their management plans.

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

Staff use children’s individual communication methods and consistent language to create predictable routines. This has helped children to make significant and sustained progress in areas such as self-care and independence.

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

Leaders and managers have developed excellent partnerships with agencies to ensure that timely safeguarding decisions are made. They support children to engage with the multidisciplinary team, providing continuity of care. A social worker said, ‘They have a very good understanding of [The Child’s] needs. They are very communicative and want to do everything to keep him safe.’ This approach has supported children to make sustained progress.

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

There are several restrictions for children in respect of monitoring and surveillance. Although clear rationale and agreements for these are in place, these are not regularly reviewed for proportionality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a highly experienced and committed registered manager. The manager is supported by an equally skilled deputy manager. The managers lead by example. The members of the staff team are committed and dedicated to providing the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that the management team is supportive and approachable. The open-door policy enables staff to feel valued and listened to by managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2562677 5 Managers are good advocates for children. They are tenacious in ensuring that any decisions made in respect of a child are well thought out and in children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have completed audits on the home and identified areas for future improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a good range of training to equip staff with the skills they need to meet children’s individual needs. However, several staff have not completed training specific to those needs which would provide further enhancement of their knowledge and skills. Most staff have the required level 3 qualification. However, one staff member has yet to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although this training will benefit children and staff, it does not take away the exceptional care provided. Inspection report for 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, The 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 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 14 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that just as in a family home that limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)). All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 3.10)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2562677 7

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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: 167a Manor Road, Chigwell IG7 5QB

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Inspector

Naomi Starbuck, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2562677 8 and inspects 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 looked- after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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