Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC363398 Inspection date 10/01/2011 Inspector Stephen Trainor Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 15/06/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This privately run children’s home was registered in February 2008 to care for up to six children and young people of both sexes, from the ages of 10 to 17 years old. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Two young people were accommodated at the time of this inspection and both provided comment on their experiences.

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Brief description of the service

The property is a large terraced property with sufficient rooms for young people to pursue their leisure interests and hobbies. Each young person has an individual bedroom. The home does not have a garden. There is on street parking to the front of the home. Public transport routes connect the home with the local community and the national rail link. Shops and supermarkets are easily accessible within the surrounding community. The young people can gain access to many community resources including parks, beaches, cinema and sports and athletics facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The organisation responsible for this home has opened its own school which is registered with the Department for Education. Opportunities for the young people to attend different educational placements including local mainstream schools and specialist schools are also facilitated

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

This interim, unannounced inspection comments on the outcome areas staying safe and organisation. Progress against recommendations made during the last inspection was evaluated.

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Summary

Young people are experiencing stable placements and they are being looked after in a safe environment. There are no concerns relating to physical intervention and sanctions or safeguarding. A missing from home protocol works very well. There is transparent reporting of significant events. Notifications to Ofsted are being made in a timely manner. Actions taken in response to incidents at the home clearly safeguard residents welfare. All staff are recruited correctly.

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Summary

The home's Registered Manager is experienced and fully qualified. Staff practice continues to be developed. Management have a written plan of action to improve the overall judgement.

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Summary

This report highlights some recommendations to support practice developments around personnel information, the evaluation of Regulation 33 reports and the skill sets of staff.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has taken appropriate action to resolve recommendations identified at the last inspection. The Registered Manager had been busy overhauling operational systems. Good progress had been made in reducing the number of times that the young people go missing without permission. The children's guide is supported by clear complaints information. An unsuitable swimming activity stopped following a review of the risk assessment.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Records are clear relating to health and safety. Servicing and maintenance schedules are adhered to. Outstanding decoration and maintenance was completed. Practice fire drills occur when new residents are introduced. Accurate information is being captured on events and incidents at the home. Personnel files had been reviewed between inspections. Records are being archived safely.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Accurate records are being maintained to show when statutory medicals take place. A risk assessment is in place for determining when young people can keep and administer their own medicines. No young people had any prescription medicines. The written protocol on the provision of non-prescription medicines was being followed ensuring that only permitted medicines are being stored.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home's manager was registered with Ofsted shortly after the last key inspection. More staff had completed a relevant National Vocational Qualification. There is greater clarity within management records. A home's development plan had been produced to drive forward improvements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Operational systems had improved between inspections and steady progress continues to be made under the leadership of the Registered Manager. There is a growing body of evidence to show the home is operating safely. There is a coordinated response to security, health and safety. Servicing schedules are programmed and all relevant certificates relating to fire precautions, electrical and gas installations and appliance testing are held. No hazards were observed to young people's safety. The home has a premises fire risk assessment. Fire precautions are clearly thought out and practice drills coincide with residents introductions. The public and employee liability insurance certificate is up to date.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

One new staff appointment had been made between inspections. Information showed that a robust recruitment process was followed. Staff do not start work ahead of being in receipt of an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check. The process for verifying references was not clear. Suitable vetting of visitors to the home is also undertaken, with identity checks being carried out before access is permitted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people comment that they felt safe. Arrangements for complaints, safeguarding children, bullying and behaviour management are handled well and ensure that young people feel listened to and protected. Safeguarding policies are made clear and staff practice is reflective of the procedural guidance within these policies. Young people have access to safeguarding and complaints information. Support being provided ensures that the young people can make choices about how to lead safe lives.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The peer group dynamic is managed well and the home continues to operate at reduced numbers. The benefits being gained by two residents living at the home is clear to see. Good relationships are established and progress is being made in preparing young people for their futures. The young people have a good appreciation of and respect for staff and their peers. They are taking more responsibility for their behaviour. Rules and routines are clear and provide a suitable structure to each day. The importance of maintaining the correct group dynamic is recognised by the responsible organisation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A suitable management response was taken to significant events that affected the home between inspections. Notifications are reported transparently and detailed records are maintained on each event. The Registered Manager has an efficient tracking system enabling good cross-referencing with other records and documents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive suitable training in order that they can respond appropriately to allegations or suspicions of abuse. Policy and procedural guidance has been established that is consistent with local safeguarding team protocols. No major concerns relating to bullying or safeguarding young people is evident. There is a clear organisational policy on behaviour management. As part of the home's agreed safeguarding procedures the young people reflect on incidents that they are involved in. A police protocol is also in place to report young people absent without authority. Strategies used to reduce the number of times they are absent had been successful. New approaches and creative ways of working are being introduced as staff develop their skills.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager had been in post since July 2010. The staff and management team maintained standards between inspections. Some improvements and developments had taken place between inspections to make improving the overall rating to good more achievable in the future.

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Organisation

Efficient management of young people's needs lead to stable lifestyles being experienced. The home provides a safe and caring environment for young people. A clear child-centred philosophy of care is evident. The structure of the day for each young person is greatly improved.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager is experienced and fully qualified. Good leadership and support is provided. Staff continue to develop their skills sets and competence through access to training. The Registered Manager has a home's development plan to outline where further improvements need to be made to the home's operation.

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Organisation

The staff team continues to grow in confidence. Deployment of staff is good. Each shift has a nominated team or shift leader. Rotas demonstrate that staffing levels are being maintained. Staff are fairly clear about their roles and this helps them to balance their work so that the individual and collective needs of the young people are met and the necessary administrative tasks are undertaken. Improvements to recording systems show that there had been improved continuity of practice across the different teams. The Registered Manager is now in a position to delegate new responsibilities to staff members in order to strengthen the roles of senior residential care workers and ensure staff practice is fully reflective of the home's Statement of Purpose and its policy and guidance.

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Organisation

Records show a clarity of purpose in how staff are being managed. Induction and foundation training is provided. Care needs to be taken to ensure each staff member has a record of the induction process they followed. From information provided the management team do take time to tailor induction to the specific needs of the staff. Supervision records are suitable and these are linked to personal development and appraisal. Appraisal records are not always being completed fully. The Registered Manager acknowledged that these documents must remain live. There is access to National Vocational Qualification training at Level 3 and 4 in Care and Management and new diploma training. These are recognised qualifications to work and manage children in a residential setting.

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Organisation

Staff have written guidance, policies and procedures to support their practice. The home's Statement of Purpose provides information in accordance with regulations. Aims and objectives as well as the philosophy of care are outlined. Staff details are up-to-date. Records are easy to access within two office areas. There is good communication between all those supporting residents placements. It is clear that the young people are gaining good experiences to prepare them for the time that they leave.

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Organisation

The management team reflects on practice and continues to enhance the services being provided. Changes to national minimum standards and inspection frameworks are being monitored to enable the home to be in a good position to respond to change. Clear links with equality and diversity matters are being made. People living at the home acquire an appreciation of, and respect for, their own and other cultures. A key to future success is identified in making better use of self-evaluation and self-reflection to ensure practice fully meets with the requirements of children's homes national minimum standards and associated regulations.

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Organisation

Checks are in place to monitor the home’s operation. Monthly reports are being produced and these provide comments on discussions that are taking place. These reports form part of the quality assurance systems being operated. There is little meaningful evaluation of the comments being made. Information presented reports shortfalls but fails to comment on progress and practice successes. Record checks made by the Registered Manager are helping to establish accurate information on the home's operation, its management, and young people's progress.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure records clearly show how staff references are being verified (NMS 27)  provide ongoing training to ensure staff gain the full range of skills to deliver high quality services (NMS 31.5)  ensure reports produced by persons monitoring the home and its operation clearly demonstrate that the home is operating in accordance with its Statement of Purpose, in particular, provide comment on successes not just shortfalls (NMS 32 & 33)  ensure all management records are accurate, in particular, full induction and appraisal information is maintained on all staff. (NMS 31.2, 28.7)

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