Children's home run by Aspris Care North West Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number operated by a large private organisation. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in place who registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2022 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Outstanding 11/12/2018 Full Outstanding 06/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 3

p.2

inadequate

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home. For one of these children, the provider made the decision to end the placement due to an increase in safeguarding concerns. The child’s progress and experiences are poor. For example, the child was not engaging in any education at the time she left the home. This means that some children’s overall progress and experiences have been adversely affected.

p.3

inadequate

Between June and August 2022, the provider made the decision not to admit any children into the home. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child moved in recently and has settled in well. The child spoke to the inspector. The child told the inspector that they are happy and liked living at their home. The child understood how to make a complaint and spoke fondly about the manager and key worker. The child spoke about their recent birthday celebrations, which they enjoyed.

p.3

inadequate

The inspector found serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the management of risks to previous children’s safety, which limit the overall experience and progress of children. These weaknesses had a significant negative effect on a child’s safety and welfare. The child no longer lives at the home.

p.3

inadequate

The child living at the home at the time of the inspection was not yet attending an educational provision despite residing at the home for over eleven weeks. A local school has been identified, but the child was yet to start. This means that the child has missed out on a full half term of education. As a result, their education and time with peers have suffered.

p.3

inadequate

The home environment is friendly and welcoming and maintained to a very high standard. The home is personalised with the child’s belongings throughout. This supports children to feel important and valued.

p.3

inadequate

The child living at the home at the time of the inspection is already participating in various activities and hobbies which are encouraged and promoted by the staff, including attending the gym, swimming, pumpkin picking, watching local football teams and cooking. This makes children feel proud and helps them to enjoy happy memories.

p.3

inadequate

Children’s health and well-being are promoted by staff. Staff ensure that healthcare plans identify children’s individual health needs. Statutory health assessments have been completed, and children are supported to attend required medical appointments. Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 4

p.3

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

During the three months before the current registered manager was in post, children were not adequately helped or protected because of the poor safeguarding arrangements in the home. Safeguarding practice at that time was inadequate and did not promote the safety and welfare of children. This was detrimental to all of the children living at the home at that time.

p.4

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

Leaders, managers and staff did not understand their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that children were safeguarded effectively and failed to take effective action when safeguarding incidents occurred. This led to limited action being taken to ensure that the safety and welfare of all children were promoted.

p.4

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

The child living at the home at the time of the inspection appears to have settled in well and, since moving in, there is no evidence he is going missing. The child has not needed to be restrained and has not had a consequence for unwanted behaviour.

p.4

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

Prior to the new manager being in post, restraints had not been managed in line with safeguarding procedures, and physical interventions were not used in accordance with the legislative framework to protect the child and those around them. Incidents were not reviewed or monitored, and the views of the child were not sought. Managers and responsible individuals have signed these off as acceptable practice with no independent oversight and poor evaluations of staff practice. Prior to the inspection, this had not been recognised by the provider as an area of weakness.

p.4

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

During an incident when a child who used to live at the home was distressed and displaying self-harming behaviours, the record of the incident was poorly recorded and did not include an evaluation from the manager at the time. Staff did not take action to respond to the child’s needs. No welfare checks were carried out to ensure that the child was safe and felt supported despite this being out of character. There was no follow-up work completed with the child, and no emotional support was offered. This means that the child did not receive the support and care she needed at that time. This does not demonstrate nurturing care.

p.4

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

At times, there has been an insufficient number of staff employed at the home to safely care for the children. This means that children are increasingly vulnerable when incidents occur, as there are not always enough staff to respond. When children go missing from home, staff cannot go out searching as they are lone working at times.

p.4

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

The inspector found that since the current registered manager has been in post, children have been safeguarded appropriately. When incidents have occurred, appropriate action has been taken. Their individual risk management plans are followed by staff, and strategies are effective in ensuring that children are safe. Appropriate safety and monitoring measures are now in place but are in their infancy. Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The inspector found serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the management of risks to previous children’s safety, which limit the overall experience and progress of children. These weaknesses had a significant negative effect on a child’s safety and welfare. The child no longer lives at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Between June and August 2022, the provider made the decision not to admit any children into the home. The provider wanted to focus on staff training and development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager and responsible individual were moved from within the organisation. The new manager and responsible individual are suitably experienced.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022 and has been a registered manager previously for this provider. The manager displays strong leadership and is very child-focused. He leads by example. Staff and children told inspectors that since the manager took over the running of the home, there have been significant improvements. Staff told the inspector that the manager is supportive, knowledgeable and ‘wants the best for children’. The inspector observed warm interactions between the child and the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Prior to the new manager being in post, the leadership and management of the home were poor. This resulted in children’s care and safety being compromised. A child’s placing authority raised serious concerns about staff practice and the provider’s inability to safeguard a child and protect them from harm. The local authority took action which prevented children from the region moving into the home. This was reviewed and subsequently lifted once the local authority was satisfied that improvements had been made. The provider did not notify Ofsted that this action had been taken against the provider.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to take prompt action when serious safeguarding incidents have occurred. Inaccurate and limited information contained in safeguarding records had not been identified as a shortfall and was not addressed with the managers at the time. The previous responsible individual recorded an incident as though she was involved and present. This is not accurate. The record did not include key information and was poorly evaluated, and there was no record of the child’s views.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers did not share all relevant information with new managers. Therefore, the new manager was not provided with relevant information in relation to the staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During the inspection, all staff reported improvements in the management of the home following the new registered manager being in post. Staff now have regular reflective supervision. They all now feel that they are valued, have a voice in the running of the home and feel supported. Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 6 Ofsted is of the view that there were serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the management of risks to children’s safety prior to the new manager and responsible individual being in post. Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 7

p.5

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.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)) 1 December 2022

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 1 December 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 8 promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.8

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; and

p.8

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)(c)(d)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 1 December 2022

p.8

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 is made which includes—

p.8

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; 1 December 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 9 the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.9

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.9

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 1 December 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or 1 December 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 10 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.9

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.10

Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that all serious incidents are reported and that the information provided is accurately recorded.

p.10

Recommendation

 The registered person should, whenever possible, ensure that staff in day-to-day contact with children include staff from different gender groups. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)

p.10

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: 1262657 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

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

p.11

Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1262657 12 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.11

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.12

Inspector

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

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12