Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for two children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2020.

p.1

Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 1 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made with regards to staff training in key areas concerning children’s safety and welfare. All staff are now trained around physical restraint, drug and alcohol misuse, self-harm and first aid. Also, staffing at the home is now sufficient to meet the demands of children’s risk assessments. These assessments are kept up to date and are specific to each child.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have not been any allegations, complaints, incidents of children going missing from home or concerns regarding the exploitation of children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are currently two children living in the home. One child has recently been admitted. The other child has resided at the home for two years; however, the manager has recently made the decision to bring their placement to an end. The manager no longer considers that they can meet the child’s needs.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been several incidents of physical restraint, which have been necessary to keep a child safe. However, recordings made by staff with regards to these incidents lack detail. This limits insight into how future physical restraints may be prevented. Although the manager evaluates individual incidents, she does not currently evaluate patterns or trends. A requirement is made in respect of this.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not always responded to children’s behaviour in a way that is helpful to the child. For example, on some occasions when staff have spoken to a child about incidents, they have taken a negative approach. On one occasion, a child was prevented from sitting in the main lounge for the evening, following an incident. The child’s behaviours have not been reflected on and their previous life experiences have not been considered. A requirement is made in respect of this.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child who has recently moved to the home has settled in well. She feels her identity and self-expression are fully supported by the staff. She commented, ‘I get to be myself here. They support my choice.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both children are encouraged to develop a sense of ownership in the home and are regularly consulted with regards to the activities they would like to do. Activities include gymnastics, drama clubs, horse riding, trips to the cinema and attending festivals and concerts.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both children attend school regularly. Staff work hard to ensure that children maintain good routines that support their overall health and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 3 Plans are developed in the home that cover important aspects of children’s lives. However, these plans are not fully evaluated or measured for progress. Although summaries provide weekly updates, there is no means of critically evaluating the overall plans, or how these plans help prevent incidents. A requirement is made in respect of this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record must be made that includes—

p.5

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

description of the measure and its duration;

p.5

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to staff providing detail in their recordings to enable greater insight and inform analysis of patterns, trends and overall evaluation. 30 April 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 6 the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11(1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to staff supporting children in a positive way following incidents, not using social isolation as a means of managing behaviour and understanding the primary emotions for children’s behaviour.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation (1) (2)(f))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to managerial analysis and evaluation of incidents to improve staff care and developing the home’s placement plans so that they are specific, measurable and reviewed. 30 April 2022

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record on children’s files in a way that will be helpful to children in the future and avoids negative language and tone when describing children’s behaviours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 7 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: 2582246 8

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Rafferty

p.8

Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 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.

p.8

Inspector

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9