Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 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 one of a number of homes that is owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to two children with social and emotional needs. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in February 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home has trusting and positive relationships with staff. They said that if they have a problem they can talk to staff and they feel listened to. They also understand how to make a complaint. When they have raised concerns, their issues have been addressed and responded to. This positive response ensures that they feel that their views are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s support plans are individualised and include the children’s views. They are detailed and provide clear guidance for staff to ensure that they provide a consistent approach to the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a wide range of activities to meet their needs. Their hobbies are supported. However, alternatives are also explored with them to help and encourage them to try new things.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff support the child’s education. When the child was not attending school, they were supported to have a home tutor. The manager challenged relevant professionals to ensure that the child had access to a school that would meet their needs. When the child faces difficulties at school, the manager and staff work proactively with school staff to address any issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work positively with families to promote meaningful family time in line with agreed plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. They have access to local health services when they need them. They are supported to have a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise. Children are provided with therapeutic care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is well presented, warm and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is individualised to meet their needs and interests.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed, and staff understand the individual risks for each child. The manager and staff work collaboratively with external professionals to support the children’s needs.

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

When children go missing from care, there are clear and comprehensive plans in place for staff to follow. The staff are proactive in their responses when children go missing from the home, which has meant that children are often quickly located. The manager and staff work collaboratively with external professionals, such as the local police and missing-from-home team, to ensure well-coordinated responses when children do go missing from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 4 When it has been necessary to hold a child, it has been reasonable and proportionate. Following a hold, children have been spoken to, ensuring their understanding of why the hold was necessary. The manager monitors and evaluates all records of restraint.

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

The manager enlists the support from external agencies when needed, and direct work is completed with children following any incidents. However, there are missed opportunities for staff to help children understand how to keep themselves safe around issues such as substance misuse, healthy relationships and sexual health.

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

When children raise a concern, they are supported appropriately and all relevant professionals are informed. The manager and staff work collaboratively with professionals to ensure that the children receive any necessary support and their needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an ambitious vision, with high expectations for what all children can achieve. The manager has a good understanding of the children’s progress and needs, and instigates appropriate action when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are positive about the manager, and describe a supportive environment. Staff spoken to said that the manager is readily available to provide advice and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing is consistent. There is a core team of staff in place, who are suitably trained in mandatory subjects. However, not all staff have training that is tailored to the specific individual needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision take place regularly. However, they are not used to effectively reflect and learn from events, meaning that there is a lack of focus on children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use internal and external monitoring of the home effectively. The manager has a good vision of the development that she wants to achieve in the home and for staff growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a robust assessment process, which is used to assess the needs of children who already live in the home and children who may be new to the home. This ensures that there is a child-centred approach when making decisions about whether children should live together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that plans for children comprehensively identify their needs. However, they do not take into account the local authority care plan for the child as they do not have access to the plans. These were requested during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children receive appropriate help and advice to understand how to keep themselves safe. 6 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that up-to-date placing authority plans are available to staff. 6 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have completed training specifically for the children’s individual needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff practice is reflected on, and lessons learned are used to improve strategies that support the needs of the Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 6 children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2564415 7

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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

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2564415 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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