Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC363398 Inspection date 12/03/2014 Inspector Sharon Lloyd Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 14/11/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This is a privately run children's home. It provides care for up to six children and young people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making inadequate progress .

p.3

Progress

At the last inspection, the home was judged adequate for overall effectiveness. Nine requirements were raised in relation to breaches in regulations and two recommendations for good practice were also made.

p.3

Progress

Good progress has been made in some areas. Six of the requirements and both recommendations have been met in full. Three requirements remain outstanding and this means the home has made inadequate progress overall. Further shortfalls have been identified at this inspection.

p.3

Progress

A new manager has been appointed and took up post in early December 2013. Her application to be registered as the manager with Ofsted is currently being processed. She is suitably experienced and qualified. She is developing her expertise in learning disabilities through further training.

p.3

Progress

The manager has made a significant impact on the leadership and management of the home. Both staff and young people report that she is knowledgeable and supportive. A consistent and dedicated staff team continue to provide mostly good quality care to children and young people. Outcomes for most children have continued to improve. The home takes action promptly to address any concerns for children and young people's progress. Staff continue to work well with other professionals to provide children and young people with opportunities to learn and develop.

p.3

Progress

Children and young people report that they feel safe in the home. They recognise that staff care about them and want the best for them. Children and young people benefit from strong, supportive relationships with staff. They receive personalised care that promotes their individual identity and meets their needs. A young person said, 'I am happy with the way the manager and all the staff look after me'.

p.4

Progress

Staff have developed confidence and skills from engaging in an extensive programme of training. All have completed mandatory training. This equips them with the basic skills to look after children and young people in social care settings. Some have completed additional training that has increased their expertise in meeting the complex needs of the children and young people in placement.

p.4

Progress

Those staff who are not yet qualified are enrolled in the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma. This ensures they have the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills. It supports the provision of good quality care to children and young people.

p.4

Progress

Annual staff appraisals are completed to identify the individual aspirations and developmental needs of staff. The new manager provides good quality support, advice and guidance. However, not all staff receive regular, formal supervision. This means they do not have the opportunity to raise issues of concern in a formal, one- to-one meeting with their supervisor. As a result, the manager is unable to oversee and formally document their ability to provide high quality care to the children and young people.

p.4

Progress

Although arrangements are in place for supervision of the manager, these are not suitable. The manager does not receive professional supervision from a qualified and experienced social care practitioner. This does not adequately support her continuous development or ensure she provides the best possible leadership.

p.4

Progress

The home works collaboratively with other agencies. Serious incidents are notified to the appropriate authority in good time, including to the local authority designated officer, parents and HMCI. This ensures a robust response to safeguarding matters and promotes the safety and well-being of children and young people.

p.4

Progress

Staff support children and young people to take appropriate risks. This promotes their independence and develops their self-confidence. The manager is making improvements to the written risk assessments to ensure they demonstrate effective assessment of risk and give improved guidance to staff. Risk assessments are not in place in relation to using the beach and the home's close proximity to the sea. This means that the associated risks to children and young people are not considered. The manager is driving improvements in the quality of recording. For example, medication records are well documented and accurate. However, shortfalls remain in some records. For example, whilst detailed information about restraints is held on children and young people's case files, the home's permanent log of restraints does not contain all the required information. It is not sufficiently informative and robust to provide a clear, permanent record of the event.

p.4

Progress

Some improvements have been made to children's records but shortfalls remain. Attempts to obtain detailed pathway plans from some placing authorities have not been successful. This means the home does not have the information it needs to ensure it is meeting children's needs in accordance with the placing authority's plans.

p.5

Progress

The Statement of Purpose and the children's guide have been updated so that they accurately reflect the service provided. The children's guide is available in different formats that meet the individual needs of the children and young people in placement. Each child and young person has a copy. All copies have been made available for review by Ofsted.

p.5

Progress

Improvements have been made to the fabric and décor of the home. This has improved the presentation and homeliness of the environment for children and young people. The lighting circuit has been upgraded to ensure all areas of the home are well lit. A minority of young people smoke in their bedroom. They cover the smoke detector in their bedroom with a sock. This places the health and safety of all children and young people at risk from smoke inhalation and the possibility of fire.

p.5

Progress

The head office relocated to the home during 2013. It is situated on the first floor, alongside children's bedrooms. Visitors to the head office are escorted through the home to prevent risk to children and young people from unknown adults. The arrangement interferes with an otherwise homely, domestic-style environment.

p.5

Progress

Wi-Fi is available throughout the night via the head office broadband. Some young people use this to access the internet during the night. This means their sleeping patterns are disturbed and irregular. It deters young people from maintaining good routines and places their health and safety at risk.

p.5

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

27 ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training, 30/04/2014 (2001) supervision and appraisal. In particular, ensure the manager and staff receive professional supervision (Regulation 27 (4)(a))

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in respect of each child accommodated a permanent record which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3, is kept up to date and is signed and dated by the author of each written entry (Regulation 28 (1)) 30/04/2014

p.6

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, discipline or restraint, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include all the matters listed (Regulation 17 B(3) and (4)) 21/03/2014

p.6

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment. In particular, ensure daily checks on smoke detectors to ensure they have not been tampered with. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)) 21/03/2014

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

 ensure that risk assessments are carried out, recorded in writing and regularly reviewed to identify any potential sources of harm to the children. In particular, risk assess potential dangers associated with the home's close proximity to the sea and the impact of locating the head office within the children's home (NMS 10.8)  ensure that avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. In particular, discourage on-line gaming through the night by ensuring that children do not have access to Wi-Fi at this time (NMS 10.3)  ensure that children understand their health needs, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and how to make informed decisions about their health. In particular, work with children who smoke to dissuade them from smoking in their bedrooms. (NMS 6.2)

p.6

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.

p.7

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

p.7