Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 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

The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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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: 1241970 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Good 18/12/2018 Full Outstanding 24/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and comfortable. It is personalised to meet the needs of the children. Photos of the children and their artwork are displayed in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are enabled to build trusted and secure relationships with staff. Staff speak warmly and positively about the children and invest time in getting to know them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend school and do well in their education. Staff actively support the children to explore post-16 options. One teacher said that the staff are ‘receptive and responsive’, and regularly share updates about the child’s day. This means that the child can see trusted adults working together to support them to achieve their educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain good physical health. Children are encouraged to eat healthily and attend all their health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to. They are involved in decisions about their day-to-day care and their views are acted on when appropriate. Individual sessions are undertaken with children on important issues such as relationships, school, sexual health and keeping themselves safe. Staff also support children to develop their knowledge and understanding of current affairs and cultural activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff actively promote children’s family time. The staff maintain regular communication with children’s family members, and family are welcome to visit the home. Children are supported to have overnight stays with their family and spend time with their friends. This helps children continue to see those who are important to them and maintain a positive sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to carry out daily tasks independently in line with their individual needs, including cooking, budgeting and shopping. One child is now attending health appointments independently. This is helping the children to prepare for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in activities such as skating, bowling and going to the zoo. The staff arrange meals out and theme events in the home. One child went on holiday in the summer, and they also helped prepare a charity garden party. This is helping the children develop their social skills and resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have memory books of their time in the home. This supports the children’s ability to reflect on their experiences and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s therapist visits regularly and works with the children individually. The therapist supports the staff in delivering therapeutic care to the children. However, Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 4 the children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans do not always include the individual therapeutic approaches identified by the therapist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children come to live at the home, matching is carefully considered. However, a robust transition plan is not always in place to support the child’s move into the home.

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

Children currently living in the home said that they feel safe. They can talk to staff about any worries they have.

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

Assessments of risk and behaviour management plans are detailed and understood by staff. This ensures that staff take the right action when children go missing from the home. For example, staff make every effort to contact and locate the child, working closely with the police and the placing authority. However, an independent return home interview does not always take place in a timely way when a child returns home after having been missing.

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

Restraints are proportionate and used as a last resort. The recordings of restraining incidents are detailed and show a range of de-escalation strategies used in attempts to avoid the restraints. Staff and children receive a debrief after an incident.

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

The managers and staff know what to do in response to any allegations. Referrals made are timely, and actions are put in place to minimise the risk to children to allow the necessary enquiries to be made. Proper investigations are carried out to address all issues of concern and relevant agencies are updated with the outcome.

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

Searches of bedrooms are carried out sensitively by staff. All searches are recorded appropriately. The reasons for the searches are clear and there is management oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the home. He is suitably qualified and intends to apply to Ofsted for registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is adequately staffed for the children currently living in the home. There are experienced lead practitioners in place who know the children well and are a positive role model for staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring and review systems are in place. The manager completes monthly audits to ensure that he has regular oversight of all records. He understands what is working well and the areas for improvement. This means that the manager and staff can identify and act on shortfalls to improve the quality of care that the children receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 5 Staff describe the manager as being supportive and said that they enjoy working in the home. Team meetings take place regularly, and these allow for feedback and discussion. Staff have regular supervision; however, the records do not always evidence that staff have had an opportunity to reflect on their practice. This limits the manager’s understanding of staff strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and meet the children’s individual needs. For example, staff have completed training in supporting children who have experienced grief and loss, and in protecting children from child sexual exploitation and self-harm. This helps staff have a good knowledge and skill base to safeguard children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have an opportunity to reflect on their practice during individual supervision sessions. This should be recorded, as appropriate, on the staff supervision record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)  The registered person should ensure that an independent return home interview takes place within 72 hours of a child returning home when they have been missing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that the individual therapeutic approaches identified by the therapist for each child are incorporated into their assessments and plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)  The registered person should ensure that there is a robust transition plan in

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Recommendations

place for children moving into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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: 1241970 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Titterington

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Inspector

Dawn Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1241970 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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