Children's Home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 1 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

A private provider owns and manages the home. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates : 29 and 30 October 2025

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was going on holiday with the manager and deputy of the home on the first day of the inspection. Staff on duty supported the inspection, led by the responsible individual.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress and is helped and supported by a nurturing staff team. The team consists of a mixture of experienced and inexperienced staff and have all managed to develop effective, trusting relationships with the child, led by the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support has helped the child return to school, resulting in improved attendance. When issues arise at school, staff provide guidance and emotional support to help the child to manage their feelings and successfully return to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the home are well planned. Staff sensitively discuss and consider the needs of any new child coming to live at the home and use the support of the organisation’s therapist to assess if the home can meet the individual needs of the child. This ensures that only children whose needs can be met move into the home. Staff ensure that new children are welcomed into the home and are helped to settle quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is offered a wide range of activities, some of which they take part in. However, the child prefers spending time with family and friends. Staff recognise the importance of these relationships and support the child to maintain them where appropriate.

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

The child says that they feel safe living at the home and is well supported by the staff team.

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

Prior to moving into the home, there were times when the child had been missing from home and engaged in some self-injurious behaviour. There have been no incidents of this nature since the child moved into the home.

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

Risk assessments and care plans include relevant information relating to the child. They identify clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise risk and support the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 3 One-to-one sessions take place regularly. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and behaviours and they use these sessions to explore any areas of concern. The sessions also help to develop the child’s understanding of their own history and support them to manage their emotions and behaviour.

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

When incidents occur at the home and in the community, records show that staff take appropriate action to protect the child. However, some records do not demonstrate sufficient professional curiosity when the exploring the incidents that have taken place. At times, important details are missing, which leaves unanswered questions. One incident, which took place in the community, was not notified to Ofsted, which prevents the regulator from being assured that all necessary actions were taken to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the manager is inexperienced in the role, she is effective and well supported by her staff, who find her as knowledgeable and helpful. Staff are required to lone work at times because team members are moved to work at other homes in the organisation to cover gaps in rotas. This inconsistency is a known trigger for the child’s anxiety. Risk assessments and support arrangements are in place for staff who are lone working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervisions and team meetings, which include discussions with the therapy team. This supports staff and their practice. Training takes place regularly and all mandatory training is up to date. Staff are supported to complete their qualifications. However, one member of staff has not completed their qualification in the required timescale. This has been addressed by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and consultation processes in place. However, some general health and safety assessments do not identify the current model of physical intervention used at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment practice is generally robust. However, for one member of staff, there was a missed opportunity to obtain references from all relevant previous employers and an overseas check was not completed. Although this practice is in line with the organisation’s policy, there is no evidence to demonstrate how the member of staff’s time spent abroad was explored to ensure the protection of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 4

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff increase their professional curiosity 14 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 14 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 31 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 5 A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be ma de or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff complete detailed recordings and that they link across records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should ensure that all of the home’s risk assessments identify the current model of physical intervention. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staffing used in the home is consistent. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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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: 2810499 6

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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

Susan Atkinson Millmoor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2810499 7 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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