Children's home run by Sandcastle Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 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 home offers care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2019.

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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: 2 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2021 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their social, physical and emotional development. The manager and staff build excellent relationships with the children and encourage them to share their views, wishes and feelings about their care. The manager and staff have high aspirations for children and provide a caring and nurturing environment for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff provide children with individualised care. Children’s plans are understood and followed by staff. This ensures that children receive consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Prior to moving into the home, children did not attend full-time education. However, children now attend education where they are thriving and meeting their educational targets. This is significant progress for all children living at the home. The staff and the manager work closely with teachers and educational professionals and regularly review education plans to ensure that the children are supported to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s health and well-being and encourage children to attend routine health appointments. Children engage with the company’s therapist and sessions are arranged to include children’s interests and hobbies. For example, one child enjoys art, so plans were made for the children and therapist to work on a piece of art together. Staff provide children with a variety of activities and one child has learned how to swim since moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are carefully planned and well managed. This helps children to feel listened to and informed about the changes that are happening in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard and children are encouraged to have a choice in the decoration of their bedrooms to personalise their own space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their family and friends. Staff have good relationships with family members, which means that children can maintain relationships with people who are important to them. One member of staff said, ‘We are like family. I’ve been told by the child’s sister I don’t even have to knock on the door when we go over and just to go in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children have good relationships with their neighbours, they come over to have a drink with the staff and children. One child has helped the neighbour on several occasions with gardening work. This helps children to feel a sense of belonging in their local community. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 4

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

Safeguarding practice is proactive because staff are vigilant, recognise any risks to children’s safety and understand children’s vulnerabilities.

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

The safety and welfare of children are at the centre of staff’s practice. This helps staff keep children safe. Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans address their vulnerabilities and include clear strategies for staff to follow in practice. Plans are reviewed and updated following any incidents.

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

The relationships between staff and children are based on respect and understanding. Children say that they are safe, and staff help them to stay safe. Children say that they get on well with their key workers. One child said, ‘She sorts everything out for me, I like her.’

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

There has been a reduction in incidents when children are missing from home. If children go missing, staff actively search for them and liaise with the relevant professionals so that children return home safely. One professional said, ‘The child was merely existing before moving here, now they are living.’

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

Staff ensure that children are safe when they access the internet. Staff support children to understand the risks associated with the internet and social media. Staff are consistent in applying the rules of safe internet use and have addressed any identified concerns appropriately.

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

Positive relationships between children and staff mean that staff can de-escalate any incidents effectively. The manager and staff provide children with lots of hugs and reassurance. As a result, children feel safe, valued and loved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced registered manager in post. Staff are positive about the manager and say that they are supported, valued and respected. One member of staff said, ‘The manager is so passionate about the home and our young people that it’s contagious and all the team feel the same.’ Therefore, staff morale is high. The inspector observed a positive and warm atmosphere in the home, where staff were singing and having fun with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from reflective practice-based supervision sessions. Team meetings are also helpful for staff. Team meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify any areas to improve the quality of care they provide for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff benefit from a thorough induction. The manager provides new staff with opportunities to complete training and shift work before they start working at the home. This helps the manager to ensure that children are cared for by staff who can meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 5 The manager has effective monitoring and review systems in place. This helps the manager to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the care that staff provide for children. This is enhanced by the regular feedback that the manager receives from relevant professionals, children and their families. This helps the manager to consistently develop staff practice and the care provided for children. The manager’s review of the home would also benefit from feedback from relevant professionals. A recommendation is made to improve this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is suitably located so that children are safeguarded effectively and can access services to meet the needs identified in their relevant plans (see regulations 12(2)(c)). Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process, ‘Children’s homes regulation amendments 2014: Advice for children’s homes providers on new duties under regulations that came into effect in January and April 2014’. In particular, ensure that stakeholders’ views are taken into consideration. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendation

 For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children's homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. In particular to ensure a plan / routine is in place when the children are not accessing education during the day. ('Guide to the children's home regulations including the quality standards', page 26, paragraph 5.3)

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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: 2534580 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: Sandcastle Care Limited, 49 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9DG

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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