Children's home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Wyre

experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . There is a very settled group of young people living in this home. They are all making good progress and engage well with staff and each other. Young people expressed contentment with their life at the home and spoke highly of staff. One young person commented, ‘They really care about us. If I am upset, they are upset as well.’ Another young person recently wrote on a feedback form, ‘The staff are the best part of living here as they all treat you good and like family. They are always making me feel good about myself.’ Positive relationships between staff and young people support young people’s sense of belonging and make them feel valued. Young people feel their views are listened to and that they are able to make choices on a day-to-day basis. One young person commented, ‘They always ask us

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

about what we think, like if we think things are fair.’ Young people said they felt that routines and rules at the home were reasonable and that staff listened to their opinions. A recent piece of work was carried out with young people, during which they were asked to be involved in the review of how sanctions were used in the home. Involving young people in this manner empowers them and increases their confidence. Staff support young people to maintain important relationships and develop new friendships. An example of this is when staff worked with one young person to repair his relationship with some close family members after a falling out. Another young person has recently got a girlfriend and staff arranged some extra pocket money for him to take her on a date. Since the last inspection, work has been done to develop the home’s therapeutic services. Staff are working in line with a therapeutic model and are currently being

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

provided with training to develop their skills in this area. A therapist is attached to the home and works with young people. The therapist described a committed staff team, with staff who are keen to develop their skills and work in partnership with him to enhance young people’s care. The therapist commented that staff are very reflective about their approaches with young people and are constantly seeking to improve the support they provide. Staff are aware of the importance of young people’s education and strongly support young people in this area. There has been some positive progress in young people’s education since the last inspection. One young person is soon to take his GCSEs and has ambitions to achieve the grades required to obtain a place in further education. To this aim, staff have supported the young person to engage in additional revision sessions at weekends and constantly consult with his school to

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

ensure that enough support is in place for him. Staff are currently supporting this young person to attend college and sixth form open evenings to help him decide where he would like to attend. The registered manager has worked with education providers to secure improvements in another young person’s education provision. At the last inspection, this young person was in receipt of a highly reduced provision, receiving only two hours each day. He is now attending school on a full-time basis and is engaging well. He has achieved 100% attendance since he started at his new school. The headteacher of the school spoke highly of the home and commented that the registered manager and staff were most supportive of the young person’s education and worked with the school in a positive manner. Young people’s interests and talents are recognised and encouraged. One young person has recently developed an interest in snowboarding. Staff have arranged for

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

him to attend lessons and provided him with the necessary equipment and clothing to enjoy his hobby. Encouraging young people’s interests supports them to achieve and enjoy positive experiences. The young people who live at the home rarely engage in risky behaviours. There are minimal concerns about young people’s behaviour outside of the home and no incidents of offending. Young people who choose to have free time away from the home use this wisely. They engage in positive activities with friends and usually return at agreed times. Incidents of young people being missing from home are rare. When they do occur, the registered manager involves external professionals and takes swift action to ensure that the young person is adequately safeguarded and supported to deal with any issues that may have contributed to their missing episode. Managing high risk areas in a prompt and robust manner helps to promote young people’s safety

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

and well-being. The registered manager and staff support young people to manage their behaviours in a positive way. Individualised behaviour management plans provide guidance for staff in de-escalating situations. This is consistently done in a successful manner and there have been no incidents where staff have been required to physically intervene since the home’s last inspection. One young person said, ‘When I am angry or upset they [the staff] really help me. They are caring about it.’ Two young people have been admitted to the home since the last inspection and have settled well. In each case, the young people’s admission records and care plans demonstrate that their admissions were carefully considered. The registered manager assessed their needs and carefully considered any risks associated with their care. There was consideration given as to how the two young people would impact on the young people who were already living at the home. This

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

demonstrates that admissions are now carefully managed in line with a recommendation made at the last inspection. The home continues to benefit from effective leadership. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and reports a good level of support and resources to enable her to manage the home effectively. External professionals describe positive working relationships with the registered manager and staff. An independent reviewing officer commented, ‘They are very professional, yet provide a very nurturing environment.’ An education professional commented that the level of support and communication from the home was ‘exemplary’. The registered manager is able to challenge external agencies where young people are not receiving an adequate service. For example, a detailed chronology demonstrating the registered manager’s ongoing dialogue with external agencies about necessary improvements to a young person’s education was provided during

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experiences of children and young people since the most recent full

the inspection. It was confirmed that improvements to the young person’s education provision had been secured. The registered manager is reflective and demonstrates a commitment towards ongoing improvement and development. Two recommendations were made at the last inspection, which the registered manager has addressed. The registered manager shared a number of plans to develop the service further, which included a move towards research-based practice. To facilitate this, a staff member, who is also a registered social worker, has been appointed as a practice champion. He discussed his role in supporting staff to develop their practice and the work he has carried out to develop new research-based tools.

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Information about this children’s home

This 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 five children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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: 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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