Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . The young people who live at the home continue to make good progress. They share positive relationships with the staff and each other and were observed to interact in a comfortable and natural manner. Staff support young people’s education and help them to achieve. Staff work positively with education providers and ensure that effective communication is in place. Some very positive work has been completed in partnership with one young person’s school to develop some communication plans. This joint working helps to support young people’s educational attainment. Young people are encouraged to pursue existing and new interests. Staff support young people’s hobbies and provide opportunities for them to enjoy fun and stimulating activities. This supports young people’s sense of achievement and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

increases their opportunities on a day-to-day basis. Although young people are making good progress, concerns in relation to some aspects of practice in the home, including safeguarding and medication management, mean that young people’s health, safety and well-being could be compromised. Since the last inspection of the home, two young people have moved on. One young person moved to an appropriate adult service and this was well planned. Staff from the home assisted him through the transition and spent time with his new carers helping them to understand his needs. This young person stays in touch with staff and young people at the home and sometimes visits for tea. The second young person’s move was not well planned, as his placement broke down in negative circumstances and had to be ended very quickly. Records relating to this young person’s care show that risks around his behaviours were not thoroughly considered and not always well planned for when he lived at the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Risks relating to the complex healthcare needs of another young person have been assessed in an effective manner. However, measures in place to maintain their health and well-being are not clearly detailed in their care plan. Failure to carefully assess and plan for risks relating to young people means that they may not receive safe and effective care. A requirement has been raised in relation to this matter. Young people’s medication is not always managed in a safe manner. A number of discrepancies were identified in relation to medication records and stock balances. The home’s processes for medication audits had failed to identify these issues, which demonstrate they are not effective. Failure to manage medication effectively could compromise young people’s health and general well-being and have a negative impact on their progress. A requirement is raised in relation to this matter. One young person has been admitted to the home since the last inspection. This

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

admission was managed well and carefully planned. The young person’s needs were carefully considered and an exercise was carried out to assess if he could be safely supported prior to offering him a place. This young person has made excellent progress since his admission and his social worker was very complimentary about the care he receives at the home. The home has not experienced consistently effective leadership since the last inspection. There is evidence that some staff have not always felt able to share concerns. On one occasion when a concern was raised, it was not dealt with effectively and there was a failure to follow safeguarding processes. This meant that young people were not effectively safeguarded and potential risks to their safety and well-being were not addressed in a timely manner. More recently, management arrangements have improved and staff report increased confidence in the management team. The current manager has identified

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

a number of areas for development and is working to address them. Requirements made at the last inspection of the home in relation to the recording of sanctions and the statement of purpose have been addressed. However, a number of further improvements are required to support the safe and effective care of young people. These are reflected in the requirements made in relation to safeguarding and the management of medicines.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for seven young people who may have learning disabilities and/or emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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12: The protection of children standard

12. (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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12: The protection of children standard

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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12: The protection of children standard

(a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 10/03/2017

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23: Medicines

23. (1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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23: Medicines

(2) In particular, the registered person must ensure that— 17/02/2017 (a) medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; (b) medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and (c) a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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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 that 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 0300 123 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 at: 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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