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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2746466 1 Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) Ltd

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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 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager have been registered with Ofsted since August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. Both children spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in 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 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: 17 December 2024

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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: 2746466 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Outstanding 17/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2746466 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide excellent care and support to children, which is underpinned by research about practice. This means that children make exceptional progress. Consistent and trusting relationships between children and staff enable children to form positive attachments and to feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care planning and care practice are highly individualised. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of each child’s needs and provide them with a bespoke package of care and support. They work closely with external agencies to ensure that children receive the services and support they require to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children are making remarkable progress in their education settings. Staff go above and beyond to ensure that children’s education provisions fully meet their individual needs. One child who was not accessing any form of education prior to moving into the home is now attending school full time. One education professional commented that this was ‘nothing short of a miracle.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of direct work completed with children is excellent. Staff sensitively talk to children about key issues such as online safety, sextortion and exploitation. Staff identify creative ways to educate children on key issues, which leads to more meaningful engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the complexities of the relationships that exist between children and their families. They work hard to help children and their immediate families to understand, manage and improve these relationships and to maintain positive and safe family time. One child is moving back to live with their immediate family and staff are working positively with the family towards this reunification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is maintained to an excellent standard. The home is welcoming and there is a relaxed atmosphere. There are pictures of the children and the staff team around the home, which gives a homely feel, and children have a pet guinea pig.

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

Children’s risks reduce in this home because of the support they are given by staff. Risk assessments are up to date and include all pertinent risks. These assessments lead to detailed behaviour management plans. Children’s views are clear throughout their plans. Children’s risks are known and fully understood by staff.

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

Leaders and managers are passionate about research-informed practice and incorporate this into the day-to-day running of the home. This has made a significant difference to the lives of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746466 4 Children are respectful of staff. Leaders and staff are positive role models for children and they support children to take age-appropriate risks. Children benefit from a structured environment, with clear boundaries and planned daily routines. Staff help children to take responsibility for their behaviour, to respect others and to be sensitive to each other’s feelings.

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

Robust monitoring of devices and internet use ensures that any inappropriate use is flagged up and dealt with promptly. Staff use online resources and direct-work sessions to educate children to be safer online. This has helped them to recognise dangers and warning signs.

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

Staff work effectively with partner agencies to ensure children are safeguarded. All safeguarding incidents have been dealt with appropriately and without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A strong and inspirational leader manages the home. The knowledge and understanding she has of the children in her care is exceptional. Children are at the heart of everything; the manager ensures that children’s input and ideas are always considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are strong systems in place to monitor the progress children make, and children are receiving high-quality care. Leaders and managers have good oversight of the day- to-day running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have undertaken a range of training, including mandatory training, all of which is relevant to the needs of the children living in the home. Staff hold relevant childcare qualifications. New starters are enrolled on the training for this qualification as soon as probation is completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are well attended and held regularly. They link to research and development, and this reflection enables the team to strive to improve. The manager and deputy managers promote positive team spirit and are nurturing and supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Placing authorities are extremely complimentary about the staff and the care provided to children. They hold the manager in high regard. One social worker said, ‘It is great working with the home. I have confidence in the work they are doing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers ensure that an independent person visits the home each month and they respond without delay to any actions raised. However, the independent person visits the home when children are at school, which means they are not regularly consulted with. Also, the independent person does not regularly obtain the views of families and external professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746466 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the independent person makes arrangements to visit the home that enable them to regularly consult with children, and that they also consult parents and professionals as part of their assessment of the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2746466 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SBL Care Services (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 St Peters Place, Fleetwood FY7 6EB

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Inspector

Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2746466 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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