Children's home run by Pebbles Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439535 1 SC439535 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 managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with three children during this 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

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2024

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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: SC439535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Good 11/09/2023 Full Good 29/06/2022 Full Good 20/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC439535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and have trusting relationships with staff. One professional described staff as ‘true champions for the children’. Children have all made progress. For some children, this may be in terms of education, and for others, this may include growing in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they enjoy being with staff. They do fun activities with them, such as bowling, golf or going to the cinema. They have been on days out to theme parks and beaches and have had holidays as a group with staff, which they have enjoyed. One professional said, ‘They come alive with the staff, they are so comfortable with them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children are attending education and making good progress in relation to their individual starting points. One teacher said that staff are responsive and flexible, and they understand the needs of the child. In relation to one child, for whom attending school is a barrier, staff are working with school staff to support the child to attend education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with parents and carers. One parent said, ‘Their hearts are massive. I have no concerns. It is perfect. They do way more than I thought.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children’s health needs are met. When a child has a health issue, staff work with medical professionals effectively to ensure that the child’s health needs are addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff are committed to maintaining lifelong links with the children that they have cared for. When children move out of the home, staff continue to support them. One child said in feedback to the home, ‘Thank you so much for everything you did for me at the house, you made me be able to be myself and I will forever cherish you for that.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While children’s care plans are clear, the list of recorded potential barriers for children is generic and duplicated in every child’s plan rather than being individual for each child.

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

The registered manager and staff are committed to forming close and supportive relationships with children, which reduces the risk of harm to children. Children feel that they can talk to the staff about any concerns they have.

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

Since the last inspection, there has only been one physical intervention, which was necessary for the safety of the child and staff member involved. The low number of physical interventions is reflective of the relationships that staff have with children and their skill at supporting children during difficult times. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439535 4 Risk assessments are clear and set out how each child may show that they are distressed and how staff can help them. Therapeutic, caring language is used.

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

There have been a low number of incidents of children going missing from the home. When children have gone missing, staff have been proactive in looking for them, following protocols until the child is safely returned home. Children are offered a return home interview. Furthermore, staff follow up missing-from-home incidents by spending time with the child, discussing their feelings further to explore if anything more could be done to support the child. This helps the child feel safe and cared for.

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

Staff are aware of children who may be at risk of child sexual exploitation. They understand potential signs and are vigilant to any changes in behaviour. They carry out work with children to reduce these risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is nurturing and caring. She is child focused and committed to ensuring that children feel happy, safe and loved. Children enjoy her company. After the registered manager had a period of absence, the children made her ‘welcome back’ cards telling her that they had missed her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there has been some staff turnover. However, the new staff team has actively sought to work at this home and is positive about working there. One staff member said, ‘I have never met a manager so genuinely invested in the care of the children. She sets the culture and tone. She is phenomenal.’ Another said, ‘It’s new for me to be told thank you. There is a family feeling. That’s why I feel so comfortable.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager focuses on positive relationships between staff and children. All staff embrace a non-judgemental and non-shaming approach that is reflected in training and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inductions for new staff are comprehensive. The initial training focuses on positive relationships with children, which helps staff to embrace the ethos of the home and understand how to relate to the children. Staff supervision sessions are thorough and reflective. The registered manager addresses issues of concern with staff but provides support to them at the same time. This leads to staff feeling valued and wanting to make the home as nurturing and warm as possible for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439535 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s plans form the basis of their care, and providers should use their judgement as to what is relevant in each case. These plans should be specific to the individual children’s needs and not generic documents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 41, paragraph 9.1)

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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: SC439535 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, England LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Karen Karlsson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC439535 7 regulates 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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