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

Two children were living in the home at the time of inspection.

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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

06/08/2024 Full Good 13/06/2023 Full Good 20/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/01/2022 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 home is full of fun and laughter. Children have positive, secure, and trusted relationships with staff. These relationships contribute to children feeling loved and cared for. One child moved out of the home and asked to move back because of their strong relationships with staff. They said one of their favourite things about living at the home is a member of staff’s ‘terrible dad jokes.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand the importance of education. Staff advocate for children to access education placements that can support children’s emotional well- being as well as their educational needs. When children do not have suitable education placements, staff creatively help children to engage in alternative forms of learning. As a result, children make progress in education. For example, one child who previously struggled to engage in education has now completed their GCSEs and has plans to attend college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities and experiences are regularly offered to all children, from cinema trips and bowling to an overnight break in Wales. Staff ensure that children have new, enjoyable experiences and opportunities that they have not previously had access to. Children enjoy their activities and experiences, which are led by their choices. This helps to develop children’s self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand their experiences of living in this home. Children’s lives are documented in multiple creative ways that help children to celebrate their achievements and memories while highlighting their resilience and progress during difficult times. These creative documents are child friendly and reflect the children’s individual personalities. Children keep these when they move out of the home, giving them a visual reminder of all the progress they have made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home decor are dated and need renovation. There are repairs to be completed due to damage caused when children have been upset. Leaders and managers are aware of this and have plans to develop the home environment. However, timescales are not timely, and it is unclear what changes will be made.

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

Children know their risks and are supported to understand them. Staff have regular conversations with children about how to keep themselves safe. Children engage in these and show willingness to work with staff to reduce their risks.

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

Staff know the children well. They recognise subtle changes in children’s presentation to identify when children are struggling. This enables staff to tailor their safeguarding strategies to be responsive to children’s changing needs and to increase their level of support when needed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 4 Behavioural incidents are managed well. Staff are confident and skilled in using their model of care during incidents to help children when they are struggling with difficult emotions. Children’s welfare is paramount. They experience unconditional support, including when staff may be at risk. Incidents are reflected on in depth with children, staff and collectively as a team. Learning is identified and strategies are implemented immediately to safeguard children.

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

Children’s risk assessments and safety plans are detailed. They provide clear guidance to staff to keep children safe. However, following one incident, a plan was not reviewed to mitigate the risk of recurrence. On another occasion, a risk assessment was completed but was not being followed by staff. These shortfalls have not resulted in children being harmed.

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

Fire is an increased risk in the home because fire safety strategies are not being followed consistently. Fire extinguishers are not easily accessible. Weekly fire checks are not always completed, and monitoring has not identified these concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are aspirational for children. Children’s safety and happiness are at the forefront of their practice. They are dedicated to securing positive outcomes for each child. Children are comfortable around leaders and managers and are confident to share their views on their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager consistently advocates for all aspects of the children’s lives. She regularly challenges external agencies so that children experience the best-quality care. When staff can no longer keep children safe, the manager appropriately escalates these concerns in the best interests of children, advocating for safe care. Her advocacy and escalation support the progression of children’s daily care, their future, and their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported in their roles. Staff are confident in approaching management for advice and support when they feel it is needed. The manager is also proactive in identifying staff’s individual support needs, ensuring that staff have the support they need to be effective in their roles. One member of staff described the support from the management team as ‘amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff practice-related supervision and team meetings occur regularly. These provide safe spaces for staff to reflect on practice. These promote healthy discussions regarding the children’s daily care needs. Staff are encouraged to share their views and to support the development of the home and the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and reviewing systems are detailed and implemented. However, these systems do not always identify shortfalls or actions to make improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 5 There are some discrepancies in staff’s recordings, leading to some records being unclear. This may impact on children’s ability to look back on their time living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 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 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;

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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)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that effective safety plans are implemented to provide staff with the strategies to keep children safe. 17 November 2025

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 17 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— 17 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 7 take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire equipment is accessible at all times and that fire checks are undertaken in line with the provider’s expectations.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should continue to ensure that staff understand the importance of careful and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should continue to ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive, and which reflects that of a family home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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

Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC379274 9 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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Inspector

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