Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC363398 Inspector Charlie Bamber Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Claire Louise Lomas Date of last inspection 11/06/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 10/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

The children's home is effectively led by a manager who has been in post for a year. The judgement at the previous full inspection was good, and the home has continued to strive to improve the quality of care and the home environment since this time. The Registered Manager has taken effective action to address and improve both areas highlighted at the last inspection.

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This inspection

The young people in the home say they are happy, safe and well settled. They are at different points in their journey through care, with two new young people having arrived since the previous inspection, and two young people preparing to leave the home in a structured and positive way. The young people who have moved into the home recently are settling very quickly and despite having experienced instability in their lives they are responding very well to the routines and staff at the home, with few incidents of challenging or disruptive behaviour. The home is working closely with other agencies to prepare young people who are soon to move on from the home. One young person is working towards independence. Planning and support are evident in assisting this transition. Another young person is preparing to return home and contact is being increased accordingly with continued vigilance to the young person's safety and wellbeing whilst on home

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This inspection

The care that young people receive is highly individualised to take into account their differing needs. Staff are aware that each young person requires their own specific approach to care and behaviour management. They are well motivated to show good understanding of the young people's individual needs relating both to their characters and their disabilities. Young people feel valued and nurtured as a result of this. They are shown good levels of emotional warmth and this contributes to their development of self-esteem and their emotional resilience. All of the young people are making good progress through good attendance at education, active 3 of 6 engagement with staff in the home, attendance at additional activities and development through their individual plans. Young people value the support they receive and say the rules and boundaries are fair. Young people acknowledge the changes in their behaviour and understand that positive behaviour results in rewards

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This inspection

as well as reducing the risk to themselves.

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This inspection

Young people are protected from harm. Staff are aware of the vulnerabilities of the young people and have robust practices in place to identify and reduce risks, although there has been one safeguarding incident that has not been notified to Ofsted. Risk assessments are detailed, thorough and specific leading to a reduction in risk-taking behaviours by some young people. A wide variety of detailed de- escalation techniques are described for each young person and their effectiveness is documented so that there are fewer incidents of sanctions and no incidents of physical intervention for over seven months. Staff work in close partnership with external agencies to provide a coordinated approach to safeguarding. Where appropriate, external agencies have been challenged by the home where staff believed safeguarding plans to be insufficiently robust to ensure a young person's safety.

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This inspection

Young people are rewarded for positive behaviour and a daily praise log ensures that even small positives are documented. A new system is being implemented to reward young people, with each young person having their own 'Rewards Drawer' where there will be a selection of small and larger value items for them to earn as rewards. This encourages young people to conform to rules and boundaries and show positive behaviours.

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This inspection

While records for the young people are generally good and reflect their respective needs, risks and plans the current system does not evidence that each member of staff has read the individual child's plans on file.

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This inspection

The staff team is stable which prevents disruption and uncertainty for the young people. The relationships between staff and young people were observed to be positive and warm and the staff team show remarkable commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for young people. Staff speak very highly of the Registered Manager and of the level of support and commitment she offers both the young people and staff. They have good access to training and development, supervision and support which increases their commitment to their role and encourages them to progress within the company.

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This inspection

A great deal of work has been undertaken on the premises since the last inspection and the home is warm and welcoming. Photographs are displayed in the hallway of young people engaging in activities and an achievement wall shows the progress young people are making. The home is in good condition and the living spaces are designed with the young people in mind. Staff have redecorated the home themselves and have involved the young people with this, giving the staff and young people a feeling of ownership and pride in their surroundings. A games room and a 4 of 6 sensory room have been developed which allows young people to pursue their individual interests. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

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 impairments.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2014 Full good 12/03/2014 Interim inadequate progress 14/11/2013 Full adequate 09/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) 30 (1) if, in relation to a children's home, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. 17/02/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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