Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 1 SC363398 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to five children who may have a range of learning, emotional and/or physical needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2021

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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: 3 December 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2019 Full Outstanding 20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/06/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 3

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff are making a significant difference to children’s lives. Staff deliver highly valued care that enables children to make exceptional and sustained progress in all areas of their development. Children who have not previously been allowed in the kitchen area have made simple meals and drinks. Children have also been supported to help with their personal care needs. This has supported children’s independent skills.

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outstanding

Observations gave a clear indication that there is a warm and caring relationship between the staff and children. For example, staff show affection to children as they arrive home from school, and all the staff team celebrated a child’s birthday with balloons, banners and a birthday cake.

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outstanding

Children are exceptionally well cared for by a committed, supportive and well-trained staff team. The children used pictorial aids, signs and symbols to tell inspectors that they were happy in their home. Prior to moving into the home, children did not have access to the communications systems now readily available to them. This is supporting children to have a voice and express their views, feelings and wishes.

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outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for children. This is regardless of the complexity of their needs, their disabilities and the challenges they may present. Staff always ensure that the welfare and well-being of children is at the forefront of their practice. Consequently, they place a real emphasis on the positive management of children’s behaviour by giving constant reassurance and consistent praise. This develops children’s self-esteem and confidence.

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outstanding

Staff respect children’s dignity and are very sensitive to their need for privacy when delivering personal care. Staff are extremely thoughtful about ensuring that children have the same access to choice and self-determination as those who can communicate verbally.

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outstanding

Staff creatively use symbols and social stories to assist children to understand and participate in daily routines. This approach encourages children to be as independent as possible and to make effective choices about their everyday lives, such as what they may like to drink or eat, or what activities they may like to be involved in. Some rely primarily on behaviour and gesture to communicate their immediate wishes and depend on staff to interpret them correctly. High levels of consistent staff interact well with children, and this supports them to grow in confidence.

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outstanding

The home’s placement plans and individualised pen pictures provide a comprehensive portrait of the children’s life and journey through care. These plans have been developed with the company’s therapist. This has ensured that the Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 4 home’s therapeutic model is carefully followed and that all staff consistently support and care for children.

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outstanding

The moves that children make into and from the home are successful because they are well-managed. The excellent links between families and carers mean that staff have a full understanding of the children’s current needs and behaviours. This shared understanding results in child-centred care where the needs of children come first.

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outstanding

Staff support the children to enjoy time with their families in line with their care plans. Some families visit the children in the home. This ensures that children maintain a sense of connection with the significant people in their lives.

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outstanding

Children receive care that supports their complex health needs. Staff closely monitor children and ensure that they always get suitable medical advice and treatment when they are feeling unwell or showing signs of distress.

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outstanding

Education is promoted for all children. Communication between school staff and staff at the home is excellent. This supports children in their educational outcomes. However, the registered manager and staff are not aware of the local offer setting out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is a missed opportunity to access a range of specialist resources for disabled children.

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outstanding

Children are safe and happy. Social workers involved in the children’s lives were all highly complimentary about the care and attention staff give to vulnerable children to ensure their safety and well-being. Parents are regularly updated about the welfare of their child through direct discussions with staff, photos and weekly update reports. They have every confidence that staff do their best to ensure children are kept safe.

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outstanding

Medication is well-managed and suitably administered. Written protocols and consents are in place, and staff receive regular refresher training.

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outstanding

All staff, including bank staff, attend regular and up-to-date training. This includes the vulnerabilities of disabled children. Although there have not been any missing- from-home incidents or concerns around child sexual exploitation, staff attend training regularly to ensure that they fully understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

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outstanding

Incidents of restraint are minimal in the home. It is always the very last resort in order to keep children safe. There are clear policies and procedures in place, and staff have received training in diffusion and physical intervention techniques. Following all incidents, records are completed. The manager has a direct overview of Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 5 all incidents and when she has been involved in the incident, this has been reviewed by senior managers.

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outstanding

The robust and detailed recruitment process means that only adults who are safe to work with children are appointed to work in the home. Rigorous induction programmes ensure that staff are equipped to care safely for each child, in a manner that protects their rights and dignity.

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outstanding

The home is physically safe and appropriately secure. Some children can use the kitchen with minimal support. This improves their understanding of personal safety, as they can try new activities, such as making a drink or simple meals, in a secure and supported environment. The emphasis is strongly on inclusion and promoting learning through experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a home which is well organised and managed by a motivated, child-centred and committed manager who has high aspirations for their future. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2021 and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Care practice is shaped by the registered manager’s understanding of research- based practice. She uses this to improve communication in the care setting. She implements learning from research into practice and has used this knowledge to lead change in the way in which care is delivered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff members understand the plans for children and actively drive the achievement of important milestones, goals and permanence for their futures. Managers monitor the progress of children and can demonstrate the positive impact that living at the home has had on them, including their life chances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children contribute to the operation of the home and plans for their future by their day-to-day interactions and the choices they make. Many have limited formal communication skills, but staff respond sensitively to their individual preferences and the agreed actions arising from multi-professional care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Exceptionally skilled, qualified and motivated staff members provide high-quality care for children. The staff team is long-standing and provides excellent continuity of care. All staff members possess the appropriate qualification to practise. The management team is proactive in its pursuit of high standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular and developmental supervision. They say that this helps them to reflect on their performance and ensures that they continually improve the quality of care they provide. The registered manager is passionate and aspirational for staff’s and children’s development. Staff approach their work with children with increased knowledge and understanding about the background to their work. This helps them to be confident in the way they support children and work with other professionals to achieve continuing progress. Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 6 Overall, the staff team maintains excellent quality records, which captures each child’s life vividly and in detail. They share information appropriately with relevant stakeholders. This ensures that all parties understand the child’s life, experiences and plans for the future. The highly effective partnership working that the home

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

promotes underpins the excellent progress children are making. Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that managers and staff are aware of the local offer setting out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 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 for children's home: SC363398 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Carrie Murray-Thompson

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social Care Inspection Manager Jessica Higginson, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC363398 9 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

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