Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2529355 1

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Sandcastle Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for one child with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2019. The home is one of a number operated by a private provider.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place due to inspection activity having been significantly delayed because of COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions. It focused on the experiences of children and escalating concerns about children’s safety arising from safeguarding notifications and independent monitoring reports received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their role in safeguarding children. The child living in the home said that she feels safe living in the home. Staff have a good understanding of risk and behaviour management. Staff complete meaningful regular one-to-one sessions with children. These sessions encourage children to learn from previous events and situations, and promote a sense of belonging. Staff provide a nurturing environment that reflects the individual needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, a new child has moved into the home. The impact assessment was detailed and demonstrated that the needs and risks of the child had been carefully considered.

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This monitoring visit

Placement planning documents require improvement, to ensure that staff have an agreed, structured plan to meet the needs of the children as set out in the local authority care plan. At present, the placement plan reads as a chronology of events, and does not give clear instructions for the staff team to follow. Furthermore, some records, such as individual reports, need to be completed in a non-stigmatising way.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager uses monitoring systems to ensure that plans for children are in place and reviewed when required. The independent visitor continues to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2529355 2 monitor the progress and well-being of children. However, visits are mostly carried out virtually, with sporadic visits to the home. This limits the effectiveness of the independent scrutiny of the quality of care at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are positive about the support that they receive from the registered manager. The registered manager ensures that staff are well supported by providing them with regular supervision and access to relevant training programmes. This means that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge required for their roles.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2529355 3

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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 care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)) Specifically, placement plans should clearly set out how managers and staff will address the needs identified in the local authority care plan. 7 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 7 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion, and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2529355 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sandcastle Care Ltd, 49 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9DG

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Elaine Allison, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2529355 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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