Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC065313 Inspection date 18/07/2011 Inspector Stephen Trainor Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/11/2010 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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

A private organisation operates this children's home. It is registered to care for up to three children and young people of both genders, from the age of 10 to 17-years- old. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The responsible organisation has its own registered school to support arrangements provided by the local education authority.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Staff practice delivers a high standard of care and all the young people achieve and develop their potential. Individuals are clear about their arrangements in place, are aware of plans and programmes, and make excellent progress both socially and educationally. All plans and programmes are implemented extremely well. There is efficient collaboration with partner agencies supporting placements. Relationships between young people and between staff and young people are excellent and each young person provides their full cooperation. There are no behaviour management problems and all the young people have chosen to lead stable lifestyles. All the young people state that they feel safe while living at the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s efforts are rewarded and clear incentives help to change behaviours. Young people are cared for by a small team of experienced and motivated staff. Staff remain up to date with professional and legal developments following extensive changes to inspection frameworks. The responsible organisation could further enhance staffs skill sets through access to higher level training.

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Overall effectiveness

The promotion of young people's education, health and well-being and the management of contact are excellent. Recreational interests are supported well and the young people gain excellent experiences from their busy programmes. There is good emphasis on gaining important life skills, and pathway and aftercare plans are produced that successfully manage the transition away from the home. The home's aims and objectives are clearly being fulfilled. The views of the partner agencies who support plans and programmes are extremely complimentary.

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Overall effectiveness

The home's environment is very supportive and underpinned by defined boundaries. Young people's views are consistently gathered and these influence the home's operation and future direction. Young people's reflection on incidents is good but their comments are not as clear as they should be relating to the reasons when they go missing without permission.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure good quality learning and development programmes are provided for all staff members to enhance their individual skill sets, in particular, the trainee manager has an opportunity to complete the full range of qualifications relevant to the role of registered manager (NMS 18.1)  ensure the written record kept by the home when a child goes missing provides a clear outline on the reasons given by the child for going missing, specifically, show that the child is reflecting on each incident and how this helps them to understand the dangers and risks of leaving the home without permission. (NMS 5.10 and 5.8)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . Young people are experiencing stable placements and progress is being made on many levels including their social presentation, self-awareness and taking responsibility for behaviour, completing secondary school education and securing further education opportunities. A young person commented: 'I like the staff and if anything goes wrong they help you out, I am settled and think it has been the best care home I have been in yet'. A social worker commented: 'The home offers continual support to young people and they offer nurture to the residents within. The home is very child focused, and the staff provide an invaluable service to each young person'. Placements offer the young people stability and the emotional and practical support to develop and mature.

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Outcomes for children and young people

It is easy to chart progress for each young person by reviewing planning documents, risk assessments, general records and by the positive feedback provided by the young people themselves. They are supported by staff and other professionals to achieve personal goals and this helps them to develop a better understanding and appreciation of their personal circumstances. Social workers confirm efficient partnership arrangements prompting one to comment: 'The service is working to an extremely high standard and it is a pleasure to work with staff and management at the home'. Care staff work effectively in supporting parents and other professionals in achieving excellent outcomes for young people. Young people show that they can motivate themselves, especially to attend meetings, where they express their views confidently. The young people are optimistic about their futures and they state that they are happy living at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All the young people are treated fairly, with practice capable of supporting individuals living there. Contact arrangements are established for each resident. Contact forms a particularly important part of each care plan. Staff possess a good understanding of family histories and this helps to maintain relationships between young people and their families. Risks are carefully managed and there is good work between the home's staff and field social work staff to deliver consistent messages to residents and family members. The reasons why some contact is restricted is made clear to all.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There are opportunities for the young people to attend different educational placements including local schools and colleges. The responsible organisation for this children's home also operates a registered independent school to support local arrangements. Young people's educational potential is recognised and staff are proactive in seeking out 'best fit' school and college placements. For older residents their college placements link very well to work experience that is of particular interest to them. All the young people actively engage with their education programmes and attendance is excellent. Young people’s achievements improve self-confidence and future prospects. They all talk with pride about their achievements. Educational outcomes for young people based on their starting point at the home are outstanding.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The health of young people is promoted positively and they choose to follow a healthy lifestyle. All are familiar with their health arrangements and are aware of the contents of their health plans. They understand the importance of taking responsibility for their own health and well-being. Good relationships are established with the looked after children nurse and this allows statutory medical examinations to be organised. There is consideration for young people to look after their own medication. Competency-based assessments are carried out, and this affords opportunities to develop self-management and independence skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s pathway plans are implemented very well and placement experiences provided by staff at the home allow young people to gain life skills to support them into adulthood. The quality of experience provided in-house means young people gain many competencies suited to their preparation for independence and the wider world of work. An independent reviewing officer provided the following outcome statement: 'The placement is appropriately preparing the young person for independence and are actively encouraging self care skills; placement works in partnership with youth offending teams and other services in the development of appropriate independence skills'.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Staff are skilled in engaging young people positively and this means they choose to lead safe lives. A very supportive environment allows excellent relationships to be formed between staff and the young people. An independent reviewing officer provided the following comment: 'It is evident that the young person has built positive working relationships with staff and is able to feel comfortable to raise concerns that she has with staff'. The young people recognise and value staff's support and work closely with them in planning their futures. The key worker role is coordinated extremely well and the professional response taken is highly instrumental in ensuring plans remain focused.

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Quality of care

Individualised planning is evident for each young person and they are clear about their personal targets. Detailed plans remain live and are subject to frequent review through statutory procedures. Staff produce comprehensive written reports for reviews and these include young people's expressed views. There is excellent support prior to, during and post review. One social worker provided the following comment on what the home does well: 'Knows the child well and provides day-to- day emotional support and care'. Staff members show great insight and understanding into the young peoples needs.

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Quality of care

Equality and diversity are well established within the culture and ethos of the home and practice is clearly underpinned by fairness. A high quality of care is being provided and this enables residents to have opportunities to develop self-knowledge, self-help skills and gain self-esteem. Communication between staff, young people and their parents, social workers and other professionals is coordinated extremely well. Social workers and parents confirm that clear lines of communication have been established. There is a large body of evidence to show partnership arrangements are highly effective, with each young person making excellent progress. Young people make big improvements in their behaviour and all are relaxed, happy and confident in their placements.

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Quality of care

Developing educational potential forms a clear part of the home's philosophy of care. None of the young people have educational statements. Care staff emphasise the importance of gaining a good education and encourage school and college attendance. An independent reviewing officer commented: 'It is evident that staff are proactive and supportive of the young person ensuring educational and health needs are appropriately responded to'. Continuous learning and development opportunities are presented and this is clear to see within progress reports. Young people are enthusiastically committing to their education and have aspirations to complete GCSE examinations. This is a tremendous achievement considering many of the young people have had limited or disjointed education experiences in the past.

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Quality of care

The young people are consulted with and fully involved in life at the home. They make a clear contribution to the development of services. Expressed opinion and feedback are welcomed. Young people understand how to make a complaint. A guide covers complaints, with information, guidance and contact details of agencies such as Ofsted, Children's Rights and the Children's Rights Director. The young people can differentiate between grumbles and serious complaints and are more inclined to sort out minor matters between themselves through discussion. The group is supportive, work very well together, and value individual differences. Residents provide appropriate role models for each other and this means that positive behaviours tend to be mirrored.

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Quality of care

Staff promote healthy lifestyles and the key worker role delivers health promotion work covering matters such as sexual relationships, smoking cessation, drug misuse and healthy living. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication, including, prescribed and non-prescribed medication. There are clear arrangements for managing asthma inhalers. All staff receive suitable training to support health and well-being and this maintains the quality of care being provided. There are good collaborative links with many different health professionals and agencies, and this allows helpful guidance and support to be provided when young people are most in need.

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Quality of care

Staff engage young people in a range of activities to develop individual potential. There is a suitable budget provided that enables young people to pursue their hobbies and interests. Staff identify individual interests and have been successful in supporting young people's aspirations. All young people participate in recreational activities outside the home and are frequent visitors to youth and street dance clubs. The experiences and skills being gained enhance learning opportunities and support social presentation which are fundamental to their future success. The balance between organised activities and young people's free time is managed well. Hazards and risks associated with recreation and activities are managed very well.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people confirm that they are safe living at the home. They learn to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they contribute to the home's operation. They develop skills that enable them to differentiate their behaviour according to the different settings and situations they find themselves in. Good examples are seen in the ease at which the young people managed themselves within college and work placements and local community youth clubs. Young people’s personalities prosper and excellent progress is made. All have a strong sense of safety and well-being and have selected to lead safe lives. Staff continuously deliver safety messages and this helps the young people to keep themselves safe when they are out in the surrounding community.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that bullying is not an issue of concern to them and confirm that staff do not tolerate any form of bullying. They have confidence that staff will respond to any bullying that could occur. There is very good interaction and sensible discussion around difference, and the individual characters making up the peer group maintain a positive self-view. The young people are confident that inappropriate views would be challenged. A range of anti-bullying information is available and a clear anti-bullying message is provided. All young people understand the many forms that bullying can take and are equally clear about what to do if they have any concerns. An independent reviewing officer commenting on one young person's arrangements stated: 'I have no concerns at this time regarding the service that is delivered and feel that staff within the placement work in the best interests of the child in ensuring safety and well-being'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Suitable safeguarding and complaints information is provided for young people. They are aware of the content of this information and acknowledge that they will not suffer any recrimination if complaints and grumbles are made. Suitable communication and a written response was taken to three minor in-house complaints made by residents. Staff receive regular training to update their knowledge and have a good understanding of safeguarding policies, procedures and actions they should take, if an incident arises. Policy and procedural guidance is consistent with that of the local safeguarding team protocol. A suitable response was being coordinated to safeguarding matters affecting the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Systems for dealing with young people who go missing from home are well established and a clear protocol is set out. An independent reviewing officer stated: 'Risk management strategies and evidence has been shown that the missing from home procedures have been followed and implemented'. A small number of reports had been made between inspections. Risk assessments take account of a young person's potential to go missing. The home has an excellent working relationship with the local police coordinator. A representative from the home attends forums organised by the local constabulary. Staff understand the systems for reporting and the steps they should take after a young person goes missing. In response to incidents staff showed that they were proactive in arranging return interviews to identify any potential safeguarding concerns. However, records to show young people's reflection on incidents was not as clear as they should be.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff with key worker responsibilities uphold children's rights as well as providing daily support to achieve and develop. Respectful communication was observed throughout the inspection between young people, staff, and Ofsted. An excellent atmosphere was maintained throughout the inspection. Young people respond very well to praise and there is good use of positive reinforcement. An independent reviewing officer confirmed: 'Staff effectively promote positive behaviour and appear to have developed a rewards structure that works well'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The boundaries that are put in place ensure that behaviours can be managed successfully. Physical intervention is a rare occurrence, with only one incident taking place since the previous inspection. Staff are clear that it is very much a last resort and are more comfortable using the positive relationships built up with young people to diffuse difficult situations. All staff receive training in positive handling techniques.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a permanent, experienced and stable staff team. There have been no staff movements between inspections. Appropriate recruitment policies and procedures are in place and personnel files are well organised. These are not held at the home. Information held in-house confirmed that no staff start work prior to being in receipt of an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check. A suitable checking system is evident throughout the recruitment process. The recruitment policy covers the decision-making process to be followed when employing staff with cautions or convictions. Vetting of visitors to the home is undertaken with identity checks being carried out before access is permitted.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety at the home is managed well, ensuring staff and young people remain safe. Certification is held centrally and this shows regular servicing of gas and electrical installations. Portable appliance testing is routinely undertaken. A fire risk assessment of the premises is available. Young people know what to do in the case of an emergency. A range of risk assessments have been produced to support practice and help with hazard identification.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . This service is managed by an experienced and fully qualified manager who along with the trainee manager are competent to lead the small staff team working at the home. It is a strong, child-focused service that is conducive to young people developing their potential. There is a clear vision for how the home should operate. A social worker provided the following comment that summarises the home's performance and operation: 'I am very pleased with the work the responsible organisation has done with my young person. This is the first placement that the young person has settled down in and appears happy there'. A youth offending team member commented: 'Communication is excellent and all staff always inform other agencies of relevant information'.

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Leadership and management

The management team is perceptive in identifying the home's strengths and some areas where it could perform better. An accurate verbal self-assessment of the service was provided and this will help to support a continually developing service. A comprehensive inspection folder was presented showing the best examples of work leading to successful outcomes. There is a good response rate to the home's consultation surveys and expressed views are used to support practice developments. This is clearly evident within the information from independent reviewing officers. The home also has a development plan which is used to maintain high standards.

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Leadership and management

Records at this home show good clarity in how staff are managed. Detailed induction and foundation training are provided. Staff confirm that supervision is taking place. Personal development is being managed well, however, objectives set within some staffs personal development plans are not fully supported and show that higher level training is not being made available. All staff do have relevant National Vocational Qualifications at level 3.

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Leadership and management

This home has a well trained and extremely motivated staff team that consistently meets individuals’ needs including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Young people have full confidence in their staff and know who is responsible for them at all times of the day and night. Rotas clearly demonstrate that staffing levels are maintained. Casual staff members support the staff team very well. All are experienced and capable of bringing forward new ideas and initiatives that are of an interest to the young people.

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Leadership and management

Internal and external monitoring of the home's operation and practice is coordinated with comprehensive monthly reports being completed for both Regulation 33 and 34 visits. There is a protocol established to enable Regulation 34 reports to be made available to Ofsted. Young people actively contribute to these monitoring visits, with their comments providing a clear snapshot in time on what it is like to live at the home. The home's service history has been scrutinised through inspection activity over many years and this shows an excellent record in compliance. There were no recommendations made at the previous inspection.

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Leadership and management

Staff have comprehensive 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 use guidance to ensure a consistent response to meeting young people's presenting needs. The ethos and working practices of the home clearly meets aims and objectives and this means young people acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures. There is a long history of achievement and good outcomes for young people who have lived at the home.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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