Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582250 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

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in March 2021 and has not yet had a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this monitoring visit was carried out off site. The visit was undertaken to explore potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted in notifications that indicated a potential risk of harm to children. The visit included a review of documents, a virtual tour of the building and discussions with children, staff, families and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The staff provide a nurturing, therapeutic and homely environment, which enables children to form positive attachments and begin to feel safe and secure within the home.

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This monitoring visit

There are comprehensive individual risk assessments and behaviour-support plans in place. These assessments address the children’s known risks and vulnerabilities and provide staff with up-to-date information on how the children’s needs can be met. As a result, staff are better informed and are able to better protect the children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The in-house psychologist supports staff to develop therapeutic care responses to the children through specialist training and reflective sessions. This enables the children to build positive relationships with the staff. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582250 2 Staff said that they are supported to develop in their roles. They attend training and have team meetings, daily handovers and access to regular formal and informal supervision. This means that staff receive the support they need to consistently reflect on and develop their practice. However, staff spoken to were not fully aware of the current risk indicators that the children may be exposed to.

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This monitoring visit

The staff help children to take part in a variety of activities. These include walks and trips out as part of their step challenge, playing games, arts and crafts and accessing local football and boxing clubs when guidelines allow. All of these activities have helped the children’s emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This monitoring visit

Staff place a high value on education for the children. They ensure the children have clear structures and routines, and staff have daily communication with schools to ensure the children can achieve their full educational potential. As a result, the children have excellent school attendance.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand the children’s emotional and behavioural needs and carry out regular direct work with the children to help reduce risks. As a result of this work, children’s risk-taking behaviours, such as missing-from-home episodes and internet safety incidents, within the home have reduced.

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This monitoring visit

The impact risk assessments relating to the suitability of children to live together do not look at the compatibility of the children. More work is needed to further develop the impact risk assessments to ensure that information about the risks are clearly recorded and evaluated.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is aware of the areas for development in the home and has an action plan in place to address these. The plan includes additional training and development opportunities for staff and promoting good-quality care. The focus is on providing children with stability, access to ongoing therapy and opportunities to achieve.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has introduced systems to improve practice. She provides regular supervision and training and works with the in-house psychotherapist to ensure that staff have access to the specialist training they need to support them in their roles.

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This monitoring visit

Professionals say that there is excellent communication from the manager and staff, who work effectively in partnership to progress plans. They are very nurturing, advocate on behalf of the children and are proactive in meeting the children’s developmental needs.

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582250 3 person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that staff have access to training and reflect on current risks to children.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that impact assessments consider the compatibility of all the children.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582250 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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582250 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 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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