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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 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

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s ethos of care is one of immediate acceptance and empathy, irrespective of a child’s circumstances. The home is flexible and responds to each child’s unique set of needs.

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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: 12 October 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the previous inspection, a case review was held, and two compliance notices were issued under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. These relate to regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). These were monitored as part of this inspection and the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/10/2022 Full Inadequate 01/03/2022 Full Good 28/05/2019 Full Outstanding 08/05/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and another child has moved in. The transition planning for each child was individualised and adapted throughout the process to ensure that each child’s views, wishes and feelings were considered. Social workers said, ‘Staff went over and above to make sure that the move was well planned,’ and ‘The plan was changed to ensure that it was right for [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children spent time talking to the inspector about their progress and experiences and expressed their positive view of living in the home. Most children have lived in the home for a long time, and positive relationships were observed with staff. There was laughter in the home, and children and staff were observed enjoying activities together and making plans for the Christmas period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children talked about the positive changes that the responsible individual had introduced into the home since the last inspection. They talked positively about the newly introduced routines and boundaries, including new, age-appropriate bedtimes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in education, training and employment. They have made progress at their individual provisions. Education records now include the progress that children have made and the targets they are working towards. During the inspection, children sought out staff after education to talk about how their day had been. Staff provided appropriate advice and support to encourage children’s learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Progress is recorded and evident in all aspects of children’s health because staff are now well informed about their needs. Consequently, children are physically fit, and their general health is regularly reviewed. Staff ensure that children’s emotional well- being is thoroughly addressed. They work closely with the company’s therapists to ensure that children are receiving the right levels of support to improve their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported and encouraged to maintain and develop time with their families and friends, in accordance with their care plans and placement plans. The staff are proactive in their approach and have helped, in some cases, to rebuild relationships with family members. For example, one social worker commented that, ‘The staff team works hard with mum to help her understand the importance of setting appropriate boundaries. Family time has improved and the quality is much better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The responsible individual and staff have taken steps to ensure that the home is clean, warm and homely for children. This has made it a more welcoming living environment for children. However, children’s bedrooms still require attention. The responsible individual confirmed that this work is planned for January 2023. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 4

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

Since the last inspection, immediate action was taken to ensure that an allegation made by a child was reported and recorded appropriately. Training has been provided for all staff on how to deal with allegations. Staff were confident in the processes in place and how to deal with a whistle-blowing concern.

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

The responsible individual and staff have ensured that all risk assessments are now up to date and include all known risks. The risk assessments include strategies that staff are expected to follow to reduce all known risks for each child. Review dates are in place, although staff are now using the risk assessments as live documents, updating them as incidents occur.

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

A review of all recent safeguarding concerns has taken place. Appropriate strategies are now in place to ensure that internet access is safely managed. Daily monitoring systems have been introduced, and all staff have access to children’s passwords. The staff have completed direct-work sessions with all the children. This work addresses numerous areas to help the children stay safe. For example, it covers internet safety, community safety and substance misuse.

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

Since the last inspection, there has only been one missing-from-home incident. This was appropriately and safely managed by staff. This demonstrates that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe. Furthermore, since the previous inspection, staff have had safeguarding training, including topics such as missing from home and exploitation. Staff told the inspector that this was helpful. This training has helped staff fulfil their roles.

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

Since the last inspection, medication procedures have been reviewed. Recording is detailed and includes all relevant information. A weekly audit has now been introduced for managers. This will ensure that errors are quickly identified and rectified. Staff have received medication refresher training and are clear on the expectations regarding the safe administration and recording of medication.

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

Negative behaviour displayed by children is addressed by the staff team using a restorative approach. This approach encourages children to reflect on any concerning behaviours and take responsibility for their actions while also gaining an understanding of the impact of their behaviours on others. Consequences are now age-appropriate and recorded with clear management oversight. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. However, work has been completed with all staff about the procedures in place and how any incidents should be recorded and reported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a period of change since the last inspection. The registered manager in post at the time of the last inspection is no longer employed by the Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 5 organisation. The responsible individual has offered consistent managerial oversight during this time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager has been recruited to work in the home. He has relevant experience and has spent individual time with the children, the responsible individual and the staff team. He has reviewed the audit plan for the home to understand the strengths and further areas for development in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have taken action to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. Rotas are now clear and include all relevant information, including the hours that managers work. All staff have received relevant training, and a new monitoring system is in place to ensure that training remains current and supports staff in meeting children’s needs. Team meetings have been held, and all staff have received reflective supervision to support them in their roles. Children’s key documentation has been updated, and missing information from the placing authorities is now in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and staff spoke about the improvements in the home since the last inspection, such as changes to bedtimes for children and staff working more consistently as a team. Staff like working in the home and feel well supported in their roles by the current management team. They report that they feel more empowered in their roles and are listened to. Staff said, ‘There are now clear management structures, the paperwork has improved and a much higher standard of work is expected,’ and ‘I feel everybody has worked extremely hard since the last inspection and really pulled together. The children are all thriving. This is a great family environment for the children and the staff team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are extremely positive about the how the home is contributing to children’s progress and how well the staff communicate with them. Professionals reported that, ‘Staff communicate well and provide consistent updates,’ and ‘I receive weekly updates, which cover the child’s engagement, routines and behaviours around the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal monitoring of the home is now more robust and supports the manager’s understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the home. However, external monitoring of the home still does not provide a robust evaluation of practice in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 6

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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 independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the independent visitor should ensure that the report provides a clear statement of opinion and robust evaluation of practice in the home. 24 January 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 for children’s home: 1254055 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

Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1254055 8 regulates and inspects 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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