Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children's home: SC363398 1 SC363398 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

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

p.1

Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted received an anonymous complaint about the management and care in the home. The concerns raised in the complaint received by Ofsted were considered alongside the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards. The concerns raised in the complaint were unfounded and the home is complying with the regulations and quality standards.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, the inspector looked at the progress made with the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. Significant progress has been made following the last inspection. In particular, the young people now have individual risk Inspection report children's home: SC363398 2 assessments which are fully understood by staff and embedded into staff practices. The young people now have behaviour management plans, and these are individual to the young people”s specific needs and behaviour patterns.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Personal emergency evacuation plans are now in place, which take into account the individual needs of the young people and detail the support that they may require to evacuate the home in an emergency. Each young person is provided with support to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily routine. For young people who have reached an age where their next placement is being considered, their transition is planned and helps the young person to prepare for leaving, both practically and emotionally. A well-planned and carefully considered transition into the home enabled a new young person to settle quickly and successfully. The pre-placement matching process was comprehensive and supportive.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff training and induction is fully recorded within the home’s workforce plan and individual staff records now fulfil the workforce-related requirements. These improvements, following the last inspection have been effective and they contribute to the thorough records kept in the home. As a result, the outcomes for the young people are good. Young people enjoy the stability offered by a consistent team of staff members who know them well, and the young people are settled and they live in a safe environment.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit from staff who display a detailed understanding of their needs, abilities and interests and are strongly focused on their progress and positive experiences. Maintaining effective communication with young people is a key focus for staff and this helps to reduce the young people”s frustration and build positive experiences.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff demonstrate in many ways how well they understand the complex care needs of the young people. They provide innovative and thoughtful solutions to meet the young people”s needs. For example, the staff know the young people”s body language and staff can detect young people”s moods. The young people”s views, wishes and feelings are ascertained through the use of picture cards and symbols.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

A visiting social worker said that the staff are, ‘creative and have the young people’s interests at the heart of the work they do.’ He confirmed that communication between the home, professionals, parents and carers is regular. Weekly reports emphasise the work that the staff carryout which detail the progress that the young people make in the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health needs of the young people take priority. Young people living in the home have a wide and diverse range of health care needs. Some young people require specialist support with many areas of health and personal care. The manager and staff work in partnership with local health care services. They utilise effectively advice and services from the child and adolescent mental health services, particularly around the young people”s medication needs, all of which are known by the staff in the home. All Inspection report children's home: SC363398 3 medication in the home is stored securely, administered safely and accountable in the records kept by the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Other external professionals guide and support the staff, for example, a psychotherapist, continence nurse and the speech and language therapy team. The staff team receives regular training from the external professionals regarding some complex health conditions and meeting safely the requirements of some young people”s feeding regimes. The staff understand that some young people are more vulnerable as a result of complex medical conditions. Staff provide dedicated and sensitive personal care to the young people living in the home and they act as any reasonable parent would do.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four of the five young people are in school and their attendance is excellent. One young person who was at the local college is now being supported in preparation for his move back to his placing authority and a new college placement is being sourced.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team acts immediately in response to allegations or suspicion of harm, and shares information about these concerns with the appropriate agencies. Staff demonstrate well their awareness of safeguarding procedures and protocols, and have received safeguarding training. Young people currently living in the home do not go missing. The use of physical intervention is rare and the staff only use this measure of control as a last resort often to guide rather than restrain to protect the young people or others from an immediate risk of harm. The staff complete records of these events in detail and the records include all of the necessary information.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager started her role in the home in April 2017. Since this time the manager has built up a good understanding of the home, the specific needs of the young people and the skill set of her staff. The manager has made an application to Ofsted and during this inspection was interviewed for the role of registered manager. She is currently completing the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have not been any significant incidents following the last inspection. The management team know its responsibilities under regulation 40 and they work effectively with external partner agencies. No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/08/2016 Full Good 11/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC363398 4

p.3

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.4

Information about this inspection

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

Using the 'Social care common inspection framework', this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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'.

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 49 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9DG

p.4

Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC363398 5 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5