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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number of homes operated by a large private organisation. The provider states in the home’s statement of purpose that it provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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 January 2022

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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: 2634720 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a warm, relaxed home with a stable and committed group of staff who have high aspirations for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Clear risk management plans enable staff to minimise risks to the children in their care. Social workers spoke positively about the positive effects that the staff have had on the children’s behaviour and of their improved attendance and achievements in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the importance of education with children. They make sure that the children have good bedtime routines. These help with their attendance and ability to learn, and subsequently, children have good attendance levels.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child is currently experiencing some issues with their education. The staff are liaising closely with the child’s school to offer support in an effort to maintain the placement. They are working proactively to ensure that the child has options should their current placement not be a long-term option. Staff continue to offer support to the school, but they are also acting in the best interests of the child to ensure that the child’s needs and rights are being promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the health of children through regular health appointments. Children are encouraged to follow a healthy diet as well as participate in a range of outdoor activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities together with staff at the home but also with their families and friends. Clear risk assessments are in place to ensure that children are able to take age-appropriate risks safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child is enjoying regular trips to numerous airports to satisfy their interest in air travel. Staff have developed incentive plans to encourage positive behaviours, which are working well. The child spoke highly of staff and of the opportunities staff have provided for the child to visit airports and of the fun they had doing so. A child’s social worker described the child as ‘a different child’ since coming to live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the necessity for, and importance of, family contact, and they support children to maintain this safely.

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

A stable, consistent staff team that knows the children in its care very well means that there has been a minimal number of serious incidents, incidents when children have needed to be physically held or consequences used at the home since the last inspection. Staff use their positive relationships when carrying out regular direct Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 4 work sessions with children. These sessions can be planned or spontaneous in line with children’s needs. Clear records demonstrate the content of the conversations with children and how these help children to improve their behaviour or deal with any other concerns they may have. Direct work is also used to celebrate children’s achievements and success.

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

Children and staff benefit from regular input from an in-house therapist, with whom children have formed good relationships. The therapist offers guidance to staff about how to approach children’s negative behaviours or concerns. However, records do not always contain the advice and guidance that are provided by the therapist and how they are facilitating improved outcomes for children.

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

Clear and detailed risk management plans are in place that contain strategies for staff to follow to minimise known risks to the children. The plans in place are reviewed regularly and as risks occur, ensuring that all staff are aware of how to safeguard children effectively. This consistent approach has helped children to develop relationships, thrive in education and build friendships outside of the home.

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

The home has been fully refurbished since the last inspection, creating a homely environment for children to live in. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect the interests and personality of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. He shares his aspirations and values for the children in his care with the staff team and ensures that children receive the services that they need in order to do well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses the online systems in place to ensure that records are detailed and accurately demonstrate the care that children receive. Records also clearly demonstrate his regular management oversight to ensure that his expected standards are maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings are held regularly and are attended by the in-house therapist so that staff are able to discuss the needs of the children as a group and share their thoughts and any concerns that they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that they say helps them with their role. They say that the manager and responsible individual are always available to provide them with support, advice and guidance when needed. Staff work as a team and provide children with a consistent approach so that they have clear boundaries and expectations in which to grow and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of face-to-face and online training provides staff with the skills that they need to care for the children who live at the home. Staff speak highly of the quality of training that they receive and say that it helps them to carry out their role successfully. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 5 Social workers spoke about the professionalism of staff at the home and of their ability to share information about children when required to promote children’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 6

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s relevant plans includes a strategy for a particular type of care, treatment or intervention, for example therapy relating to neglect or abuse. Staff should understand the purpose of any such care and the way in which the past experiences of abuse or neglect may manifest in the day-to-day life of the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)

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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: 2634720 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

Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 8 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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Inspector

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