Children's home run by Sandcastle Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 1 SC1255520 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 is privately owned and run and is registered to provide care for up to two children.

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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: 1255520 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Full Good 12/02/2020 Full Good 20/11/2018 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection. The child benefits from excellent care from a passionate team of staff who persistently focus on promoting resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to express his views to other adults, such as social workers, and take part in decisions that affect his life. The child’s plans include his views and wishes about the care that he receives, and staff regularly carry out consultations with him to ensure that he is empowered and has a voice in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from individualised support, which is child centred and trauma informed. The staff work closely with the in-house therapist to support the child to move forward positively. The child is in good health and is supported to attend all medical appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to reflect on his behaviours and engage in restorative practice. For example, in response to offending behaviour in the community, staff have encouraged the child to give back to the community by supporting children who are disadvantaged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not yet in full-time education and is eager to return to school. The staff have worked hard to be innovative and make learning fun. For example, they have enjoyed educational trips to Edinburgh Castle, motor museums and other historical places. The manager has liaised with the placing authority and has attempted to source suitable provisions. However, she has failed to escalate concerns when education was only agreed for one hour per week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with those who are important to him, and he regularly spends time with his family. Feedback from a parent was extremely complimentary of the support delivered by the staff and the positive and nurturing relationships that have developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a comfortable and well-maintained home. The child talked about how he had the opportunity to choose his bedroom and explained that he had not yet personalised his bedroom as he wishes to return home to family.

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

Initial assessments prior to children moving in are detailed and consider their individual needs and how they will be supported by the team. One child was inappropriately placed at the home due to insufficient information shared by the placing authority. This resulted in a placement breakdown and an unplanned move. The manager failed to challenge the placing authority and escalate her concerns about this poor practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 4 Risk management plans are regularly reviewed and contain clear strategies to support staff and safeguard the child. Any changes to risks are considered and plans are amended accordingly. For example, a child was frequently missing from home. The manager regularly attended strategy meetings and used these forums to inform risk management and safety plans in agreement with professionals.

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

The child responds well to incentives and positive praise from the staff team and has begun to understand that the boundaries in place are to keep him safe and promote positive behaviour. As a result, consequences are rarely required.

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

There have been two occasions when children have had to be held to keep them safe. On both occasions, the holds were effective, and children were supported. However, one child alleged that they were injured. The manager shared the allegation with the relevant professionals and the matter was investigated. However, the manager had not evidenced that the child was offered medical attention following the incident.

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

Staff work in partnership with the youth offending service and have carried out direct work with the child to educate him on risks he is vulnerable to. The staff have been innovative and have encouraged the child to complete age-appropriate training on why staff worry when he is missing from home, the signs of grooming and risks of county lines.

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

Overall, staff are tenacious in consistently following children’s individual support plans. This helps to ensure that children are safe in the home. However, on one occasion, a staff member did not follow a child’s support plan, which resulted in significant damage in the home. This was appropriately identified as a learning and development need and appropriately addressed by the manager.

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

Health and safety checks are regularly carried out. However, the manager has not ensured that the portable appliance testing in the home has been carried out within time frames.

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

Recruitment checks are robust. All new staff have been suitably vetted following safer recruitment guidelines prior to starting work in the home. This promotes safe working practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is now improved management oversight of the home. The manager is new to the role and is not yet registered with Ofsted. She is child focused and committed to making improvements and developing the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As part of the home’s development, the manager is committed to staff supervision and reflective practice. The manager and the staff team receive regular supervision, which supports their continuing development. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 5 Staff receive regular training to ensure that they fully understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. They are vigilant to any signs that could suggest the child is at risk and are clear on the action they would take.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a multi-agency approach in the home. Staff work closely with police and missing-from-home coordinators when the child has been missing from home. The manager has challenged professionals regarding independent return home interviews, as these have not always taken place in a timely manner. This is a missed learning opportunity to further reduce risks and ensure the child’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated to reflect changes to the staff team. However, this was not shared with Ofsted within the regulatory time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s register does not contain all the information required under regulation 37. A requirement has been made to address this. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 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, the 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager should ensure that there is professional challenge when services are not fulfilling their statutory obligations to children.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager should escalate requests when documentation is not received within a satisfactory time frame. 8 May 2023

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that all health and safety checks are carried out within the necessary time frames. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 8 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 7 The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (2) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that the statement of purpose includes staff employed in the home and is shared with Ofsted following changes.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that there is a clear record evidencing that children are offered medical attention following an allegation of injury. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. 8 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 8 (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that the home’s register meets the regulatory requirements.

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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: 1255520 9

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Titterington

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1255520 10 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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