Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 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 children’s home is owned by a private organisation. The home can provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 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

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children spoke to the inspectors and said that they are happy. One child said, ‘This is the best home that I have lived in.’ The children have formed positive relationships with the staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from a stable and committed staff team. They are supported to build trusting relationships with staff, who care about them. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging, which underpins the progress they make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have positive relationships with their families. Staff arrange meaningful and safe family time between the children and family members. One professional said, ‘The home has been proactive in building relationships between the child and their extended family, which they did not have prior to moving in to the home.’ This supports children to strengthen and repair relationships with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending school and they have excellent attendance. Both children are making good progress in school. One child is a mentor and emotional well-being ambassador in school. One child has completed exams. Children’s learning and development is promoted in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children receive weekly therapy from the in-house therapist. The children have developed a strong and trusting relationship with the therapist. The therapeutic model used in the home supports staff to understand and respond to trauma-based behaviours. Formulation plans and reviews are completed by the therapist, which support children’s ongoing care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in activities that are their passion. For example, one child has weekly horse-riding lessons and one child attends a weekly drama school. This supports children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know what to do in a range of different safeguarding scenarios and know how to keep children safe. Children feel protected.

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

Children are settled in this home and enjoy spending time in the home. As a result, children have not been reported as missing from care. Inspectors observed warm, nurturing and positive interactions between staff and children. This enables children to build trusting relationships and to share any worries or concerns they may have. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 4 Risk management plans clearly identify risks, vulnerabilities and actions to reduce risks. This is combined with a detailed behavioural management document, which is clear and easy for staff to read and follow, and reviewed regularly.

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

Staff receive training to develop their skills and knowledge. All staff have received sexual exploitation training, which is specific to one child’s risks. This training has provided staff with an understanding of risk and the indictors of risk, and has supported the child, whose level of risk has now reduced.

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

There was a shortfall relating to health and safety in taking adequate precautions against the risk of fire. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager leading this team. Her team provides a good standard of quality care to children. One child said, ‘[Name of registered manager] is the best manager ever.’ The manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs. Observations of interactions with staff and the manager are positive and respectful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable team. The manager, and some of the staff, have worked in the home for many years. The home does not use agency workers, but has one bank staff who works regularly at the home. This means that children receive reliable, consistent and stable care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are benefiting from regular supervision. Records of supervision are of good quality. As well as focusing on staff’s ongoing development, they centre on supporting staff’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. They are structured and well attended. The agenda is varied but always includes discussions of the children and supports staff to reflect on their practice. The therapist attends the monthly team meetings to provide therapeutic input. This supports staff’s learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have undertaken a range of training, including mandatory training. Staff hold the relevant childcare qualification, and new starters are enrolled on training for this qualification. Staff spoke positively of the training available to support them in their role and how they implement the training in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The use of door sensors must be necessary and proportionate for each child, kept under review and revised. This should be recorded on the child’s records. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 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, 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

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (c)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, keep the use of door sensors under review and obtain children’s consent. 6 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all doors in the home are compliant with fire regulations and that the home has the correct fire equipment. 6 September 2023

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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: 2582246 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Rafferty

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Inspectors

Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2582246 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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