Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 1

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Sandcastle Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides care and accommodation for single- gender occupancy only. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted. He has the relevant level 5 management qualification.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place due to emerging patterns and trends surrounding the company’s safeguarding practice and admission decisions. These, along with leadership and management-related concerns, have led to either compliance notices or requirements being set in other homes that have been inspected. Additionally, some concerns have been raised in the independent visitor’s monitoring reports for this home about the match of the young people in the home and the impact that one young person was having upon the other.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has recently left her post and a long-standing member of the staff team has been promoted to the position of manager. This appears to have been a seamless process and the new manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He presents with an enthusiastic attitude and a desire to move the home forwards in a positive direction.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team has undergone significant changes over the past five months. A total of nine staff have left. Although the manager is happy with the team currently in place, he acknowledges the impact of the changes on the continuity of care for young people. The young person spoken to said she was building relationships with the staff and liked them all, but did miss some of the former staff members.

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This monitoring visit

Discussions with a young person, staff and a social worker were all positive. The young person reported that she felt happy, safe and well supported by staff. A social Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 2 worker reported a significant reduction in risks for their young person, after living at the home for only a short time.

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This monitoring visit

Both young people living at the home are receiving education. One is particularly well engaged and has clear career aspirations. Young people are making good progress in other areas, such as in gaining independence and increasing family contact.

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This monitoring visit

The matching process was looked at as part of this inspection. This was due to a young person being admitted who was not well suited to the home. She had a negative impact on the other young person. The matching risk assessment was completed to a high standard. From the information about the young person that was available at the time of admission, there was no evidence to suggest that this would not be a good match.

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This monitoring visit

Previously, relationships between young people have been difficult. There is evidence to show how staff addressed this with the young people. The young person spoken to at this visit felt that she had been well supported through this difficult time. The current young people living in the home are a positive match and get along well.

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This monitoring visit

The home had been subject to some damage by a young person, which had been commented on in regulation 44 reports. Images of the home sent to the inspector showed it to now be a homely environment that was clean, tidy, well furnished and decorated. One young person’s bedroom was also seen, and this had been personalised.

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This monitoring visit

Young people’s risks are well managed. They have risk assessments that are kept up to date and which have clear strategies for staff to employ to reduce and manage risks. Staff are trained in numerous issues relating to young people’s risks. These include child sexual exploitation and e-safety, which are risks specific to the young people placed. The member of staff spoken to was fully conversant with the young people’s risks and felt confident in managing them.

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This monitoring visit

One allegation was considered as part of this inspection. The allegation resulted from staff playing an unsuitable and inappropriate game with the young people. Immediate action was taken to safeguard the young people. Allegation procedures were followed and there is a clear outcome. The ‘lessons learned’ exercise shows proactive practice to reduce likelihood of recurrence.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a spike in the use of restrictive physical intervention during an unsettled period for the home. Although records are of a good standard and compliant with regulations, there is no system in place for collating and monitoring data around interventions. Analysis of such data would enable managers to identify patterns and trends. A recommendation is made to promote this good practice within the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 3 A complaint made by a young person has been managed appropriately and to the young person’s satisfaction. This addresses a requirement made at the home’s last full inspection. Other requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection were not considered at this monitoring visit. As such, they are carried forward to be addressed at the home’s next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/02/2020 Full Good 20/11/2018 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e)(h)) 16 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 25 March 2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should provide care which meets each child’s needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account of the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 5 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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 FY3 9DG

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Inspector

Charlie Bamber, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1255520 6 to 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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