Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are cared for by staff who are committed to meeting their individual needs and keeping them safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have built trusted and secure relationships with staff.  Young people receive support to maintain contact with important people in their lives. This enables young people to maintain their identity.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are supported to address their complex health needs.  Some young people are fully engaged in education and training. Their attendance and attainments have significantly improved.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people demonstrate their happiness in the home by their ready smiles, relaxed posture and confident interaction. Those who use language say they are happy.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Social workers and health care professionals praise staff for their child- focused approach, and their commitment to multi-disciplinary working to improve young people’s lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff promote the views of young people through positive and proactive communication support that enables them to communicate for themselves. They participate in day-to-day decisions about their lives. This improves their self-esteem and confidence in interacting with the world.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Areas for development include improved engagement with other professionals to promote best practice and outcomes; maintaining all areas of the home to a high standard; professional supervision and appraisal for all staff; consistently implementing the home’s behaviour management policy; and, providing young people with a guide to the service in a format that they understand.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans 26/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that they -

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Requirement Due date

2(b(vii)) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. In particular ensuring that thread bourne carpets are replaced, and damaged living room furniture removed. 26/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 26/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out how appropriate 26/02/2016 behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint, which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2))

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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

 The children’s home must produce a children’s guide. The children’s guide must be made available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed (or on arrival at the home if the placement is made in an emergency) and must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 24, Paragraph 4.21)

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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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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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good

All young people benefit from warm and nurturing care that is personalised to their individual needs. Relationships within the home are well established. Young people express confidence and contentment by their settled behaviour and the progress they make. Parents, social workers and other professionals are complimentary about the positive impact the service has on the lives of young people. One Independent Reviewing Officer said ‘The difference in his confidence is very noticeable, he appears a lot happier and his behaviour is also calmer.’

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good

Staff use observation of young people and reflective practice to ensure that the service adapts to support their needs. Photographs around the home capture the daily and special experiences of young people. The images reflect that young people and staff enjoy each other’s company and engage in many exciting activities together. One young person happily talked about the photographs of him fishing for the first time and was very proud of his ‘catch of the day.’

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good

Young people use a range of communication methods including pictures, time lines simple phrases and verbal communication. Staff adapt and personalise these methods according to the young people’s level of understanding. Staff help young people to find activities they can enjoy safely. For example, they gradually introduce young people to practise skills in choosing and preparing food safely or to participate in baking activities. Some young people enjoy walking in the cold wind along the promenade, whilst others enjoying playing with staff on their game consoles. This gives them a chance to improve their communication skills through fun activities. Young people clearly enjoy the adult attention while learning how to socially interact.

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good

Staff place young people’s well-being at the centre of their practice. They prepare and review young people’s placement plans to set out their personal needs and how they prefer to be supported. For example, the plans show in detail their daily routines, personal care needs and interests. Parents and social workers agree the plan at regular intervals so that all changes important to the young person are included. For example, staff reduce support to young people in their morning routine as they acquire skills in toileting or dressing. Staff put young’s plans into practice effectively to ensure their specific needs are met on a day-to-day basis.

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good

Care planning and staff’s day-to-day practice reflects young people’s individuality and different needs, interests and abilities. However, a lack of effective pathway and transition plans has caused significant delays for a young person moving on to supported living. The Registered Manager has raised this issue with the local authority and highlighted the negative impact this is having on the young person, including uncertainty and anxiety about his future.

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good

Most young people have made progress in their education and training provision. However, one young person has not been provided with full time education since moving into the home several months ago. The Registered manager has spoken to the social worker on a regular basis about the lack of education provision, but has not escalated her concerns to get the matter resolved. No direct discussions have taken place with the virtual head to secure full-time education for this young person. This does not demonstrate effective challenge of others poor practice, neither does it ensure that young people are fully supported to reach their full potential.

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good

Arrangements for dealing with medication are safe and effective and staff are suitably trained. To promote young people’s dignity and to ensure safe administration, young people individually go to the medication room in the home. Managers monitor staff practice to ensure young people are given the medication and health support they need. Young people are familiar with the routines associated with how they receive their medication and cooperate with staff. Staff discuss medication requirements with medical practitioners to identify how best to support young people’s health needs.

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good

The physical environment of some parts of the home is not kept to a high standard. The home appears worn in places, such as, the front door is damaged, carpet in the living room is stained and damaged and some living room furniture needs replacing. This detracts from the welcoming, homely feeling, which staff work hard to achieve. The manager was aware of these issues and reported that the home is due for re-decoration as part of the homes development plan in the the near future. Judgement grade

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good

Young people are safe and happy. Social workers and other professionals are complimentary about the care, support and protection staff provide to young people with complex needs. Parents say staff keep them very well informed about the welfare of their child and that they have every confidence that staff always ‘do their best to keep them safe.’

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good

Staff were able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the home's safeguarding policies and procedures. This means they are clear on the action to take should they have any concerns. Positive relationships with social workers mean staff are fully aware of any issues which may impact upon young people's safety or well- being. Therefore, they are able to take appropriate action to support each young person.

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good

Young people’s individual plans identify the risks they may face and outline strategies to ensure staff promote and protect their welfare. Behaviour support strategies consistently reflect their immediate needs and circumstances. Staff are very knowledgeable about the young people’s particular vulnerabilities relating to their level of understanding and disability. This enables them to ensure young people are safe at home and in the community. Staff balance the need for protection with enabling young people to take reasonable risks as part of their growth and development. For example, staff always provide suitable levels of supervision and any activities in the community are carefully planned. Risk management plans include any additional support young people may need to travel safely, such as individual seating plans, or additional staff support. This means that young people can enjoy every day experiences while being kept safe

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good

Due to high levels of supervision, appropriately secure buildings and grounds, and staff’s in-depth knowledge of those in their care, young people do not go missing from the home. Staff are aware of the systems in place should this occur and missing assessments provide clear guidance on the roles and expectations of all staff.

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good

Restraint is rarely used in the home and is always the very last resort in order to keep a young person safe. Clear procedures are in place in relation to this and staff are trained in the use of physical intervention techniques. When staff restrain young people, they complete clear and detailed records about the incident, to ensure managers can analyse the records, and identify any emerging trends or patterns. Staff have detailed discussions in team meetings about any serious incidents, to identify ways their practice can be improved. All of this ensures that any physical intervention is safe and constantly reviewed.

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good

Young people do not always benefit from clear and consistent boundaries or behaviour management practice. A young person’s pocket money had been used on several occasions to repay for damaged items in the home. However, there was no clear overview of how much in total the young person had to pay or how this would be repaid. Records do not clearly identify the description of the behaviour that led to the consequence, the measure used, or review its effectiveness. This does not help staff to support young people to learn and make positive changes in their behaviour.

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good

The recruitment and selection of people working at the home is very thorough. The manager carefully ensures that staff have suitable skills and competencies to meet all young people’s needs. This further enhances young people’s safety within the home.

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good

A motivated and committed Registered Manager effectively leads the home. Staff say they feel ‘very supported’ and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering good care tailored to each young person's individual needs. Staff feel empowered as they are actively involved in the planning and organisation of the home. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in young people’s consistent progress.

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good

Staffing levels are sufficient and staff possess the competencies, skills and knowledge needed to look after young people. Regular team meetings focus on young people’s needs and any current concerns or issues. They also focus on positive outcomes and the achievements and progress of young people. Any changes are agreed and added to young people’s plans to ensure they are an up to date record of their current needs. For example, one young person had struggled to go to a large supermarket without becoming highly anxious. It was agreed that before going into the shop staff would provide the young person with something in each hand to help them focus. This has proved successful and is now integrated into the young person’s daily plan.

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good

The Statement of Purpose is shared with families and placing authorities. It is well written and offers a clear picture of the home's aims and objectives. This means placing authorities and young people’s families are fully aware of the care and support provided by the service. Although the young person’s guide has recently been updated it is not available in a picture format that some young people will be able to read and understand. This does not enable all young people to have a clear understanding of their home. The Registered Manager was already aware of this and is taking action to update it to include pictures and symbols.

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good

Some staff have not benefitted from regular and developmental supervision. This means they have not all been given the opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify areas of improvement or development. The Registered Manager had identified the gaps in supervision for some staff and during the inspection identified dates when sessions could be completed. This will ensure staff continually consider and improve the quality of care they are providing. The Registered Manager works with the provider to identify training and development needs for the team and ensures this is reflected in the development plan for the home.

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good

The provider, Registered Manager and staff are aspirational about the future of the home and the lives of young people. Together, they assess and discuss the quality of care provided and identify any development needs required for the home to continue to progress. Currently, they are exploring better ways to measure the progress young people make, to provide improved data that highlights the success of young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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