Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd 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 three children who may be socially and emotionally vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s registered manager has been in post since 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: 11 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/10/2019 Full Outstanding 04/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, children have had positive experiences in this home and have been enjoying their day-to-day life. Children are well cared for and have positive relationships with staff. One child who had recently moved back to their birth family said, ‘It’s homely, caring, respectful, felt like home. Staff were always there for me when I needed them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education which is tailored to meet their individual needs. One child has been supported to transition from a specialist provision to college, to study health and social care. This provides children with ongoing learning opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a therapist who is an integral part of the team. Effective partnership working between the therapist and staff supports children’s emotional well-being, through therapy sessions and staff consultations. Therapists attend team meetings and regularly provide further training to staff. This means that staff develop their skills and knowledge in understanding trauma-based behaviours, which provides children with consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to contribute to the plans for their care. Children are encouraged to share their views and wishes before any review meetings. This ensures that children’s views and wishes are acted upon and improves their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A requirement was made at the last inspection in respect of maintenance of children’s bathrooms. This issue has not yet been rectified.

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

Staff understand and follow whistle-blowing and safeguarding procedures. For example, when a child made an allegation to a member of the team about other staff members, this allegation was reported to the manager, who quickly and robustly initiated safeguarding procedures. This action safeguards children while allegations are being investigated.

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

Children who are at risk of self-harming have detailed risk assessments in place. A multi-agency approach, including the home’s therapist and child and adolescent mental health services, assesses potential risks to ensure that a cohesive safety plan is in place which staff understand and can manage. While staff understand the procedures to follow when a child has self-harmed, they must ensure that any need for medical attention is escalated without delay, to ensure children’s safety.

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

Staff support children to understand their behaviours and how to keep themselves safe by carrying out direct work. This helps children to understand and reduce their Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 4 risk-taking behaviours. As a result, one child has made good progress in reducing their number of missing-from-home incidents.

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

The manager has robust checks in place when recruiting new staff. This supports children’s safety by ensuring that only suitable people are working in the home.

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

Medication is stored safely. Records demonstrate that staff understand how to administer, check and record medication appropriately. This ensures children receive the correct medication at the appropriate times, and contributes positively to children’s overall well-being, health and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following a number of changes in the management and staff teams, staffing is now stable. The registered manager and responsible individual have mentored and developed the deputy manager to take on the role of manager. Throughout these changes, staff have felt supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good collaborative working means that leaders and managers have positive working relationships with those involved in children’s care. One social worker said: ‘I am impressed with the placement. My child is provided with the best care. Safeguarding has always been a priority. Not only am I impressed, but I have had extremely positive feedback from virtual schools and the independent reviewing officer.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are committed to training and are up to date with mandatory training, which helps them develop in their role. The manager oversees creative team meetings, which include team-building activities. This develops relationships in the home and improves morale. Furthermore, staff feel valued and invested in, which has a positive impact on the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s internal monitoring is effective and demonstrates her understanding of the children, the staff team and how the home is operating. These systems also help the manager identify any shortfalls, areas for development and good practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s bathrooms and showers are regularly maintained.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 November

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 25 November Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 6 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, seek medical attention for children without delay to ensure their safety. When this is out of working hours, staff need to notify the emergency duty team and the home’s on-call manager.

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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: 1223681 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1223681 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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