Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 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

The home is part of a large organisation. The home provides care for up to two children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post. She registered with Ofsted in March 2020.

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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: 2582248 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived there for almost six years and describes the home as his family home. Another child said it ‘feels like a home and I actually like being here’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have detailed care plans which are written in line with the local authority’s aims and objectives. This means that staff have up-to-date information about the children’s needs. As a result, the children receive good-quality care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made progress since living at the home. One child attends education full time and is making progress. Another child has a tutor come into the home three days a week, which is progress from her previous non-attendance. However, when the child is not receiving education, her care should be more structured to prepare her for further education. A recommendation has been made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs, including their emotional and psychological needs, are being met. The organisation’s therapist visits the home weekly, and each child has a therapeutic formulation plan to address their psychological needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of relationships, and they support children to see their families. Children benefit from this, and it helps them to maintain positive relationships even though they are living away from home.

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

Staff understand children’s individual risks. Written risk assessments give clear strategies for staff to follow to manage any presenting risks. However, strategies are not always followed when incidents occur. On one occasion, a child returned under the influence of alcohol and staff did not seek medical attention. On another occasion, a child’s friend was allowed into the home without any clear risk assessment in place. A requirement has been made.

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

When children go missing from care, staff are proactive in their attempts to find them and ensure that they return home safely. Staff have good knowledge of the individual children’s friends and places where they like to spend time. This knowledge helps staff to get children home as quickly as possible. Recording of these incidents is detailed and clear. Information is shared in a timely manner with key people and agencies. As a result, the number of missing from home incidents, particularly in relation to one child, has reduced. This child said, ‘I feel safe now and I don’t even go missing anymore.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 4 Children have clear behaviour support plans in place, which contain clear strategies for staff to follow. Staff are skilled at de-escalating situations and physical restraint has not been used. Staff and children are debriefed after incidents, which gives

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

Key-work sessions are individualised to the needs of each child or young person. Areas of risk are discussed in line with the child’s plan. This shows that children are being helped to learn to keep themselves safe.

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

Managers recruit new staff safely. Safe recruitment procedures make sure that children are protected by preventing unsuitable adults from working in the home.

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

When concerns are raised by children regarding staff members, appropriate action is taken swiftly to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a registered manager in post. She is qualified and experienced. The staff said the manager is approachable and knowledgeable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team are ambitious for the children. They know their progress well and work hard to help the children reach their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team. This means children are able to build positive relationships with staff, which were observed by the inspector. A consistent staff team provides children with continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children arrive at and leave the home in a planned way. Transitions are well managed. Children’s needs and risks are considered before the decision for them to live together is made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is experienced, and all staff members are qualified. There is a good training programme in place to ensure that staff have the necessary skills to meet the complex and challenging needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and monitoring processes are effective. This has ensured that any shortfalls are identified and addressed. The registered manager ensures that debriefs are completed following any incidents. As a result, the registered manager has a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas of development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision, which provides them with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify any development opportunities. Appraisals take place, but do not include the views of other professionals or the children. A recommendation has been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that children do not bring people into the home when they return from being missing. It also relates to ensuring that staff follow risk assessments and seek medical attention when children are under the influence of alcohol. 2 May 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals include the views of other professionals who have worked with staff over the year, and the views of children who have been cared for at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 6  The registered person should ensure that children are engaged in full-time education. In the interim, the registered person should ensure that the child is supported to engage in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 81, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2582248 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

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2582248 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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