Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582247 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 children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager has got the relevant Level 5 qualification.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place because the home was registered with Ofsted in March 2020 and has not been inspected since because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The visit took place off site. The manager, staff, children and social workers were spoken to by telephone. Documents and records were sent to the inspector electronically.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and children are coping well with government restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have continued to promote contact between children and their families. Staff have also promoted attendance at education. One child was not coping well with being educated at home and so the manager arranged for her to attend school. The routine and structure this provided enabled her to improve engagement in her studies.

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This monitoring visit

One child has recently been admitted to the home. Her admission was well planned. The manager visited her prior to admission. She also had an opportunity to visit the home before going to live there. This ensured a smooth transition and she is settling in well. The manager has advocated for her to continue to attend her school despite it being out of the area as this is one area of her life where she has stability and continuity. This shows good understanding of her needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff relate well to children. They understand that children are more engaged in activities when they have been given a choice about what activity they would like to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582247 2 do. This encourages their participation in healthy activities and promotes their individual interests.

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This monitoring visit

Although there have been two placement breakdowns, there are no evident shortfalls in matching and admissions processes. The manager is thorough in his efforts to ensure that children are a good match for each other. He contacts social workers and previous placements prior to admission to ensure he is fully aware of the child’s needs and behaviours. That said, there has been a serious breakdown in relationships between the young people. This has had an impact on their mental health. It has also resulted in a serious incident where a child put herself at significant risk of harm. This led to her placement being terminated. Staff had made extensive efforts to help the children to develop a more positive relationship or cohabit amicably, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

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This monitoring visit

One social worker spoken to as part of this inspection commented on the positive ethos of the home. She said that, despite the child’s placement breaking down, the staff and manager had clearly wanted the best for her. They had tried hard to manage her risks within the placement.

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This monitoring visit

A staff member spoken to during the inspection was clear about children’s needs and their risks. Although she did not yet know the newly admitted child, she had read her risk assessment and placement plan so knew of her likes, dislikes and risks. This shows that staff are aware of children’s needs prior to working with them, which is good practice.

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This monitoring visit

Only one child was spoken to during the visit; this was due to the newly admitted child being reluctant to speak to a stranger on the telephone. The child spoken to said that the staff were like a family to her. She said she was happy, settled and felt safe. She would like to remain in placement after her sixteenth birthday, despite other options being open to her.

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This monitoring visit

There has been one allegation made against a member of staff. There are no concerns about the handling of the allegation and the correct process was followed.

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This monitoring visit

Although there is no registered manager in post, management arrangements for the home are effective. Staff, a social worker, and a child all spoke positively about how the manager engages with and supports them.

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This monitoring visit

No requirements or recommendations are made as a result of this visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Not previously inspected Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582247 3

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Rafferty

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Inspector

Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2582247 4 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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