Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 1 SC363398 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 provides care for up to four children who may experience a range of learning, emotional and/or physical difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2022 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Full Outstanding 20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 3

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outstanding

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved on to supported living and one child has moved in. The inspector spoke and engaged with all the children during the inspection process.

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outstanding

Children are exceptionally well cared for. The home is comfortable, furnished and decorated to a high standard. Photos of the children enjoying various activities and having fun are displayed throughout the home. A significant amount of care and attention has been taken to provide a calm, welcoming home with a family atmosphere.

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outstanding

Children living in this home have specific and complex needs. The individualised, high-quality care provided ensures that children make exceptional progress and have improved and positive experiences.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are regularly monitored. The manager advocated for children and the need for further enquiry and assessment when there were concerns that a child’s health needs were not correctly identified. This resulted in a child getting the correct diagnoses and interventions necessary to support them.

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outstanding

Children have meaningful hobbies and interests. They engage in local activities, including swimming, horse riding and trips to a theme park. Therefore, children engage with others outside of the home, create additional support networks and, most importantly, have fun.

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outstanding

Children communicate in different ways, and some are non-verbal. Staff creatively use short stories that describe social situations to assist children to understand and participate in daily routines. This approach encourages children to be as independent as possible and to make effective choices about their everyday lives, such as what they may like to drink or eat, or what activities they may like to be involved in.

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outstanding

Some children rely primarily on using their behaviour and gestures to communicate their immediate wishes and depend on staff to interpret them correctly. A consistent staff team has enabled children to interact well. As a result, children’s communication skills have improved.

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outstanding

Exceptional safeguarding arrangements protect children from the risk of harm. Children, including the most vulnerable, feel safe and develop a strong sense of well-being. Children live in a safe and very homely environment. Managers make Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 4 sure that the accommodation and facilities meet children’s needs, including their communication and sensory needs. The house and gardens are maintained to a very high standard to protect children from avoidable risks.

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outstanding

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of each child’s complex needs and the additional vulnerabilities of disabled children. They provide children with an excellent level of supervision that protects them from the risk of harm, including from accidents.

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions when children have been missing from home. The manager ensures that staff frequently revisit children’s missing-from-home procedures and protocols. Therefore, staff are familiar with these risks and are confident in the event of an incident.

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outstanding

It has been necessary for staff to physically intervene when children have displayed behaviours that may result in harm to themselves or others. Records of these incidents are robust and demonstrate that holds are proportionate and appropriate. Where there has been an increase in the use of physical intervention, the manager has taken additional steps to identify trends and patterns by carrying out additional debriefs and further investigating escalation techniques. This helps to prevent future incidents and ensure children’s well-being.

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outstanding

Protocols and procedures in place to prevent and respond to children’s unsafe behaviours are robust and well thought through. They provide staff with explicit guidance on responding to incidents should they occur. This highly effective planning manages and minimises risks to children and others.

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outstanding

Staff are familiar and confident with the behaviour management techniques documented to help children. They have a sound understanding of children’s needs and how they are to help and respond to children at times of crisis.

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outstanding

The provider uses safer recruitment processes to help prevent unsuitable adults from working in the home. In addition, detailed induction assessments ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge to work safely with children. Continuous supervision and feedback from managers underline the importance of open, reflective and transparent practice, to help keep children safe.

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outstanding

The home provides a very safe and secure physical environment. All required health and safety checks and procedures, including the routine servicing of equipment, are up to date. Fire safety precautions are explained to, then practised and understood by, the children and any new staff starting in the organisation. Damage to property and wear and tear of fixtures and fittings are quickly addressed. The home is warm and welcoming and provides children with a comfortable and homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. The manager has considerable expertise in supporting children with autism Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 5 spectrum disorder and complex additional needs. The manager and deputy manager make a confident and highly effective leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they feel supported and that morale is high. New staff members feel welcomed into the team. Staff benefit from a robust induction programme, effective team meetings and relevant training to meet children’s needs. They also have access to support from the in-house therapy team to further strengthen their practice and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring systems in the home are exceptional. The manager regularly seeks to identify shortfalls in staff practice and knowledge. Furthermore, leaders and managers use a series of dedicated monitoring tools and audits to regularly review documents in the home. This ensures that shortfalls are quickly identified and addressed and that care standards are maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses research to inform practice by providing direct sessions to staff on topics that are important to children. These sessions include input from experts in those fields, to support staff to fully understand this approach and the intended outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Communication with partner agencies is highly effective. Placing authorities and families are kept up to date with the progress children make and are regularly consulted about their care. Feedback from children and stakeholders is used to continually develop the service. Development plans clearly identify the home’s strengths and areas for further development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 6

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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: SC363398 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

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC363398 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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