Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care and support for up to two children who can no longer live at home.

p.1

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.

p.1

Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Date of last inspection: 1 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection, another manager has been recruited to work in the home. Five managers have worked at the home since it opened. This has continued to have an negative effect on the stability of the home and the continuity of care provided to children. However, since the new manager started less than 10 weeks ago, change has started to be implemented into practice in the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Several whistleblowing complaints have been received about the home and how children are supported. All incidents have been well documented and the provider has been proactive in liaising with local police to mitigate any risks to the children living in the home from anti-social behaviours in the community.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home had experienced a significant flood in the attic area. This has caused damage to the electrics in the home and children were moved to a place of safety. Social workers were aware of the required moved to a holiday location, and this setting was visited as part of this inspection. It was suitable and clean. Children report that they were settled, happy and enjoying activities in the local area.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they are happy in the home and had adults they can talk to if they are worried or upset. They talked positively about the new manager, but were not so keen on the new routines and boundaries she had implemented. Staff reported that the new routines and boundaries had improved consistency and continuity across the team.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to the new manager arriving, the previous interim manager failed to follow safeguarding protocols in a timely manner when a child made an allegation about the conduct of a staff member. This caused an unnecessary delay in the response to the allegation and was contrary to the provider’s safeguarding policy. However, the responsible individual acted when this was brought to his attention.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational outcomes for children are variable. Although staff support children to attend school, there is limited information on how staff can support children to overcome barriers to attendance and learning. Children’s education plans were not readily available. The lack of relevant information does not support staff in understanding children’s educational goals.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new 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 additional resources for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 3 Children are now registered with relevant health professionals, such as doctors and dentists. However, when emerging health needs are identified, staff have not identified the risks to a child based on the information provided or taken sufficient action. This does not safely support each child’s health needs.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments do not adequately evaluate risk and identify clear steps for staff to take to mitigate that risk. The interim manager agreed that the risk assessments required improvement to ensure that the assessments were clear for staff regarding the current and historical risks to children.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good evaluations from the interim manager about consequences that are given to children, and children’s views are gathered and considered to inform the consequence and learning for the children. However, the recording of consequences requires improvement to ensure that the nature and time limit for the consequence are recorded.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. The new interim manager has demonstrated that the procedure for assessing the suitability of referrals is matched against the home’s statement of purpose and the skills and experience of the staff team.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Gaps in staff training about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been addressed. Consequently, all staff have the necessary knowledge and confidence to address the individual needs of children in relation to this. A staff member commented, ‘It was really interesting for me to learn how children with autism spectrum disorder communicate in different ways and this has helped me to communicate with the child.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The continued lack of rigour by the former interim manager to meet the requirements set out in the previous inspection has been acknowledged by the responsible individual. An experienced manager has been appointed and has made some improvements in the management oversight of the home. This demonstrates the commitment of the provider to improve the standard of leadership and management, and ultimately to improve outcomes for the children living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner. (Regulation 10 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i)(b)) 11 February 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii)) 11 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 6 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out—

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 11 February 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 11 February 2022

p.6

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)

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.6

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: 2595112 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Elaine Allison, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8