Children's home run by Aspris Care North West Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to accommodate up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2019 and has the relevant level 5 qualification.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2018 Full Outstanding 06/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 3

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Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint (regulation 35(3)(c)). Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access an advocacy support to help them with this (regulation 7(2)(b)(iii)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60)

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Recommendations

In particular, children should have the opportunity to speak about the incident with a person who was not involved in the restraint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people at this home make exceptional progress because of the high level of individual therapeutic care provided. They are cared for by a team of stable and committed staff who understand them well and can meet their needs to a high standard. The young person currently in the home engages well with weekly therapeutic support. Staff are also supported by the home’s therapist to understand her needs and deliver care in a supportive and empathetic way. Research is embedded into the therapeutic approach adopted by the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One young person has learned to ride a bike at age 14. She has 100% attendance at school and has received a reward from her placing authority. Another young person has transitioned out of the home to return to the care of his mother. Prior to leaving the home he was assisted to develop independence skills and learned about baby care for his impending fatherhood. Staff continued to offer help through the transition period, visiting him and offering financial and emotional support to him and his mother.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Talents are recognised and promoted. One young person is a gifted musician. Staff help her to nurture this talent and they take an interest in her musical taste. They have attended live music events with her and provide her with instruments and encouragement in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people who had a difficult relationship at the previous inspection due to trans- Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 4 gender issues were supported to develop a more positive relationship. This was effective, and a young person learned better acceptance and together they engaged in activities such as football in the home’s garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s views, wishes and feelings are kept central to all areas of practice in the home. Young people report feeling listened to and cared about. Their views are gathered through several different forums. Young people spoken to during the inspection said they can speak to staff at any time and about anything. This shows they have a high level of trust for staff. Innovative practice is evident in the home, with a staff member developing QR codes (matrix barcodes) to be used in the young people’s meetings, both to promote their enthusiasm to engage and help to develop their relationship by problem solving together.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Young people are safe. They are consulted about whether they feel safe regularly and report that they do. Risk assessments are accurate, easy to read and up to date. Staff sign to say they have read the most recent risk assessment. Risks gradually reduce for young people over the course of their placement.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff understand young people’s risks and are able to manage them well. Staff spoken to were aware of the specific risks for young people and felt confident in their ability to keep them safe. Risk management strategies are clear and effective.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

There have been no serious safeguarding incidents since the home’s last full inspection in December 2018. This evidences that young people are safe and settled. There have been no missing-from-home incidents and no allegations.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

There have been three incidents of physical intervention, all for the same young person. These were of minimal duration and level and were implemented to prevent injury either to the young person or staff. Young people have follow-up work after such an incident. On one occasion a young person’s debrief was undertaken by a person involved in the intervention itself. Good practice would be for the person undertaking the debrief to be independent so that the young person can give an honest view about the hold. A recommendation is made to reflect this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff are skilled at de-escalating behaviour. Young people have positive behaviour support plans that identify what their behaviour looks like at different stages of escalation. The plans also advise staff of the most successful methods to calm and de- escalate the young person. These plans are effective as evidenced by one young person not having any crisis behaviours identified because she can always be calmed by staff before she reaches crisis level.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The home offers a safe environment to young people, both the building itself and the area in which it is located.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 5 There is a new manager in post who has maintained the high standards of the previous manager. She is putting her own ideas into effect to continue to develop and improve the service. The transition from one manager to another has been smooth, and staff reported positively about the management arrangements for the home. This was further supported by exceptionally positive feedback about the home’s management from parents and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Members of the staff team are almost all qualified to level 3. Staff have a broad range of skills, experiences and interests. Staff are invested in the home and in the young people. They offer genuine warmth and care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The organisation of the home has improved, and is excellent. There are effective processes in place to ensure that all tasks are done and checked. The manager delegates tasks effectively to staff to assist their professional development. Monitoring activity is thorough, which ensures that the manager has detailed knowledge of young people, the staff team and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an extensive training package for staff. This includes training that is specific to young people in the home. Staff get annual appraisals which young people contribute to. Staff are regularly supervised and report feeling supported, not only by the manager, but by more senior managers within the organisation also.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Progression and development of staff are supported. Staff who have management aspirations and skills can participate in a ‘Step-up’ programme to prepare them for the next step in their career. Staff are encouraged to put forward new ideas and innovations. They feel that they will be listened to and that their contribution is valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people are carefully matched to the home. Observation of matching considerations showed the manager, responsible individual and therapist all being involved in decision-making regarding new admissions. Additionally, the sole young person currently in residence has been consulted for her views about a new admission. This shows inclusivity and is a further example of how young people’s views are gathered and taken into account.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 6 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

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Information about this inspection

it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Charlie Bamber, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1262657 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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