Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 1 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 is a privately owned children’s home. The provider states in the home’s statement of purpose that it provides care for up to one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 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 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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home. She has lived there since the home opened in August 2021. The child had opportunities to come to visit and have tea before moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is in keeping with that of a family home. It is homely and the child’s bedroom is comfortable, with a range of toys and games. There are good incentives in place and recently the child has been rewarded for good behaviour with a bespoke vanity desk and chair. Consequently, this has helped her feel a sense of pride and added an extra touch of personalisation to her room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s achievements are celebrated in the home and her experiences are captured in scrapbooks. This is helping the child build on her life story. There are a range of activities on offer in the home. The child has recently been to the beach, visited a trampoline park and an ice-cream parlour. As a result, the child is having enjoyable life experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is given support through a variety of good-quality direct work sessions. On one occasion, the staff spoke with the child to help her understand how to make a complaint. Staff have enhanced this support by recently completing training on complaints. This provides the team with up-to-date knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a strong emphasis on education. The child has excellent attendance at school and is making good progress. Staff are ambitious for the child to do well. They have built up good links with the school. Feedback from professionals was positive. The teacher said, ‘The level of support provided is second to none.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The service provides therapeutic support. The child has individual sessions, and this helps her understand her emotions. Additionally, staff ensure that the child has access to universal healthcare services. Consequently, the child’s overall health and well-being are good, and her needs are fully met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked hard to support the child build a sense of identity and the child is now having regular quality family time. As a result, the child is building relationships with family members with people who are important to her.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk management plans are up to date and include detailed strategies that staff follow. Staff know and understand all the child’s risks and are knowledgeable about what actions to take to safeguard her. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 4 Staff understand the risks that unrestricted access to the internet poses. All staff are trained in e-safety and promote the safe use of all devices through good-quality direct work. This helps the child stay safe online.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Recruitment checks are robust. Prior to starting work in the home, all new staff are suitably vetted, following safer recruitment guidelines. This promotes safe working practices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents of physical restraint are proportionate and only used as a last resort to keep the child safe. There are appropriate debriefs completed and all incidents contain the manager’s evaluation. However, the manager should ensure that records of restraint are recorded thoroughly and the times of any restraints are clear.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Good-quality behaviour support plans are in place to help staff understand the potential causes of the child’s difficult behaviours. The child is given time to discuss things with staff that have made her upset and angry. This helps manage her feelings and emotions. As a result, the child’s incidents have significantly reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitable registered manager in the home. He is currently completing his level 5 leadership and management qualification. The staff say that they work well together as a team and speak about the supportive and approachable manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some changes in the staff team since the home opened. However, over the past few months, there has been a more consistent team in place. This helps the child to benefit from a continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Skilled staff were observed providing warm and caring support to the child and the team delivers high-quality individualised care. They demonstrate a passion for the work they do. However, this could be enhanced if the manager were to ensure a better gender balance in the team. Consequently, this would ensure that the child has day-to-day contact from staff of different genders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Daily handovers and regular team meetings take place. These feature thorough discussions about the child’s plans and demonstrate that there are good communication systems in place. This enables staff to continuously meet the needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and of good quality and staff receive annual appraisals. This enables them to reflect continuously on their practice and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made good use of the external monitoring of the home by the independent person and values any recommendations. Recently, this has helped him reflect and make improvements in the recording of incidents. The registered manager’s internal reviewing and monitoring systems are effective and thorough. However, the manager should ensure that when submitting his quality of care review report that this contains a clear action plan with appropriate timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that whenever possible, staff in day-to-day contact with children should include staff from different gender groups. Specifically, this relates to waking night staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)  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. Specifically, this is in relation to clearer recording when completing restraint records to show the actual times and duration of the measures used. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review report includes all identified actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how these actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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: 2638390 6

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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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Inspector

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638390 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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