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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good progress has been made since the last full inspection in July 2016. The one requirement and two recommendations from the previous inspection are met and the registered manager has improved young people’s educational attainment. Both staff and professionals commented on how this has improved the ability of the home to manage young people safely and give them the attention they need to make positive progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a homely and welcoming environment where young people feel safe and secure. The home is comfortable, well decorated and well furnished. The home had recently separated the manager’s office and the therapeutic room, which now has a separate entrance. Young people like the room because it has its own private entrance and is a cosier environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people in placement are making excellent progress from their starting points. For example, all young people attend educational provision and one young person has improved their attendance significantly since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people rarely go missing from this home. While part of this is attributable to the mix of young people in placement, it is also down to the hard work and impact of staff and managers. For example, thinking more carefully about matching and ensuring that detailed risk assessments help staff to manage this risk. Staff training, in areas such as child sexual exploitation, helps staff to understand risks to young people in the community. One young person says, ‘It feels homely, I don’t feel the need to go off and go missing.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are more engaged in key-work sessions and residents’ meetings. They have choices in activities and although they are of an age when they are mainly wanting to make their own choices, they have enjoyed a variety of options, such as holidays abroad, a trip to the safari park and more regular trips to youth football, swimming at a local leisure club and rugby matches.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have improved behaviours, significantly allowing a reduction to more relaxed staffing ratios. For example, staff say that one young person is listening more and does not get so upset over trivial issues. There is a reported decrease in angry outbursts and, with support, young people can regulate behaviour more quickly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works well with parents and relatives, supporting their roles and encouraging positive contact. Independent monitoring of the home identifies areas for improvement and allows the management team to work on improving the service. The registered manager has completed a review of the home, which shows a good understanding of service provision and what needs to improve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is able to assess the strengths of this home as well as the weaknesses. A particular strength is the skilled, stable and competent staff team. Most of its members have reached at least the level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people, while others have registered for the qualification. Staff are very experienced and are able to provide a high level of care to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has continued to improve since the last inspection. Young people confirm that the standard of care is good and that they feel safe. There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this visit

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for three young people of a single gender aged between 10 and 18 years who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/07/2016 Full Good

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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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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