Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager effectively supports staff and channels their efforts into delivering a strong child-centred service. Staff make every effort to get to know young people and understand their individual needs. Over time they develop positive and trusting relationships with young people. These are used effectively to safely manage young people’s behaviour without the need for physical restraint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide young people with age-appropriate support, guidance, information and opportunities. This allows them to develop an understanding of the challenges of being a teenager and preparing for adult life. For example, on the day of the inspection one young person had just taken delivery of a ‘real baby simulator’. This is designed to help her learn about the realities of motherhood and the importance of planning when considering having a family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care practice is underpinned by good safeguarding procedures and practices. Staff clearly understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know how to recognise and report concerns and are diligent in the discharge of these duties. The home has good links with a range of safeguarding professionals and specialist agencies such as the police and child sexual exploitation teams. They use these links to good effect, sharing information with key people to ensure matters of concern are effectively managed. However, on one occasion the manager has failed to notify Ofsted of concerns relating to one young person. This did not have any impact on the welfare of the young person because the right action was taken in response to the concern.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of young people’s risks and vulnerabilities and take a parental approach to managing these. For example, they encourage young people to be open about their relationships, taking time to get to know their friends, and where appropriate their friend’s parents. This has helped young people maintain non-exploitative, age-appropriate relationships with young people outside of the home, including those of the opposite sex.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an increase in the number of reported incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection. When young people have gone missing staff have been proactive in their response. For example, they will go out and look for them and make contact with known friends and parents. They maintain contact with the young person, constantly checking that they are safe. Young people generally return of their own volition. Procedures are in place for the young person to be seen by an independent person when they return. This allows them to reflect and explore the reasons they choose to go missing. However, no record of these discussions is maintained. This limits staffs ability to develop an insight into why young people choose to go missing, although they generally accredit their behaviour to wanting to spend time with their friends. This was confirmed by one young person who said: ‘I know that staff care but they don’t need to be reporting

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

me missing. It is normal to want to spend time with my boyfriend and friends. Just because I am in care I shouldn’t be different.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations were made at the previous inspection. Individual therapy sessions are carried out by an experienced and qualified professional therapist. Young people are now consistently engaging in these sessions and are supported to do so by staff. Education attendance and participation remains low with one young person only receiving 2 hours academic learning a day. Meetings have been held with school staff and recently resulted in the increase from one to two hours. The manager and staff recognise that this is insufficient for a young person who should be preparing for her GCSE’s. They acknowledge that they need to be proactive in their efforts in advocating on behalf of the young person, as any good parent would do, to ensure that all education and learning avenues are being fully explored and promoted.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is one of a number of children’s homes owned and operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory 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 (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

In order to meet the education standard, in particular the standard in paragraph (1), the registered person must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a)(iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to working with the child and their school to improve education attendance and the opportunities for gaining recognised qualifications. 27/04/2016

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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 a record is maintained of each independent return interview that takes place when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission. This will enable the home to take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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