Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children's home: 2620222 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 home is one of a number operated by a large private organisation. The provider states in their home’s statement of purpose that they provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. The children were spoken to during the inspection

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in July 2021. There is a registered manager who has been in post since the home was registered.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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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 children's home: 2620222 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2620222 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the home was registered, no children have left the setting. Children speak very highly of their home, the staff and the care that they receive. One child said: ‘I can tell the staff anything. I know they really care.’ This shows that the children who live in the home have developed a sense of belonging and trust the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support the children to have goals and aspirations for their futures. Children’s values stem from non-judgmental attitudes and a solution-focused approach to the children’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children receive a wide range of opportunities to develop social and emotional skills. They are developing life skills through clubs, mentoring, charitable work and community events. Staff celebrate all children’s achievements and memories and capture them in books. This ensures that children can remember significant milestones in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress with their education. Education plans are individualised and are reviewed regularly. Staff have high aspirations for each child and advocate for them. Staff challenge where necessary to ensure that children have the educational support that they need to reflect their individual needs. As a result, children are making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children’s healthcare needs are detailed within their plans. Healthcare plans fit together with excellent quality key-work sessions to assist children in making informed decisions and choices in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with children’s families and friends, which is a considerable strength of the service. Children talk to staff about their wishes and views in relation to spending time with family and friends. Consequently, family relationships have improved, and children now spend quality time with family members.

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

Children live in a safe environment and are protected from harm.

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

The staff are trained in safeguarding. They know what they need to do when they have concerns about children. Staff take decisive action if children go missing from the home, staff ensure that they liaise effectively with placing social workers, the police and children’s families and friends to coordinate searches and contact.

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

Staff ensure that comprehensive risk assessments and safety plans are in place for all children. These are updated as new risks arise. Staff are balancing the need for protection with enabling children to take reasonable risks in line with their age and Inspection report children's home: 2620222 4 development. When staff suspect that children are under the influence of alcohol or substances, they do not always take appropriate action at the time of the event to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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

Before a child moves into the home, there is a thorough assessment process to ensure that their needs can be met. The assessment fully considers if staff have the skills to meet the child’s needs, the location of the home, the child’s compatibility with the children already living at the home, and the timing of the child moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. The manager knows each of the children well and he has created a warm and nurturing environment and a positive ethos among the team. All staff feel supported and speak positively about the manager as being a knowledgeable, supportive and caring leader.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children live in a highly effective and efficiently managed home. Every effort is made to ensure that children receive the best possible care. The manager works very well with professionals. The inspector saw evidence of proactive challenge to external agencies when decisions were not felt to be in children’s best interests. This shows persistence from the manager in the best interests of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team works well together and shares ideas. The continuity of staffing has promoted children’s attachments. The skills within the staff team match children’s needs well. The number of staff on duty is sufficient to promote children’s safety and welfare in the best possible way. Staff routinely receive professional supervision. Regular team meetings are held to review practices in the home and the progress and experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals about the quality of care that children receive extremely positive. One social worker told the inspector, ‘[Name of child] has made excellent progress already. His whole demeanour has changed, and he has become more open with staff.’ This shows that children are happy and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers need to ensure that monitoring and review systems allow for learning from incidents. Evaluations need to identify any gaps in practice to enhance practice and allow for reflection. Inspection report children's home: 2620222 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that there are monitoring and review systems to make improvements in the quality of care provided in the home, and that management oversight and evaluation identify and address poor practice. 5 April 2022

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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 children's home: 2620222 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

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2620222 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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