Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care and support for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2022.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2023 Full Inadequate 21/04/2022 Full Good 12/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 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. One child recently moved out of the home. This move was made in line with plans for his future. Therefore, the child experienced a positive end to his time spent living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to participate in a variety of activities and help them participate in their individual hobbies and interests. Staff help children to take part in charity runs and musical performances This helps children to develop their own identities and supports positive self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take time to build trusting relationships with children. Staff listen to children and advocate for them when appropriate. This caring approach helps children feel settled. Consequently, children live in a home where they feel valued, and they have a sense of belonging. One child told inspectors that they are happy living at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain relationships with their family members and other people who are important to them. Staff support children to spend time with their families so children can continue to take part in important family events. This helps children maintain a sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for children. Staff help children to understand the importance of education, and they encourage them to attend school. Therefore, children make progress in education. One child completed exams and gained employment. Staff work collaboratively with specialist agencies to ensure that children are provided with relevant advice and guidance to help with their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s individual health needs. Staff help children to attend routine and specialist health appointments, and staff encourage children to follow their individual health plans. Staff have clear and up-to-date recording systems in place to monitor children’s health needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual plans are not consistently reviewed and updated by managers to reflect their current care arrangements. Staff do not have up-to-date children’s plans from placing authorities, and the challenge from leaders to receive these plans is not sufficient. A requirement is made to reflect this shortfall.

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

There is a proactive approach to managing risk. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities. Staff take a multi-agency approach to managing risk and this contributes to an overall effective safeguarding approach. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 4 Leaders and staff also take a proactive approach to maintaining the home and respond quickly to any repairs needed. Because of this, the physical environment is safe and the potential risk of harm to children is reduced.

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

Staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. During the inspection, staff spoke confidently about children’s individual needs, and it was clear that they understand children’s triggers and what measures they need to take to manage these and reduce risk.

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

There has been a significant reduction in missing-from-care incidents since the last inspection. Staff understand the triggers that can lead to children going missing from care, and they help children understand the risks associated with going missing from care. This approach has reduced the risk of harm to children.

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

Staff review safeguarding policies and procedures. This helps staff to develop their knowledge. Staff are well trained in safeguarding. For example, staff spoken to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding about what action they need to take if a child makes an allegation against a member of staff.

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

Staff identify specialist support to keep children safe. For example, a member of the local police team visited the children and completed a presentation on knife crime for a child at risk of criminal exploitation.

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

The registered manager has completed a location risk assessment. However, this does not include consultation with all relevant people when considering the appropriateness and the suitability of the home’s location.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an appropriately qualified registered manager, who is ambitious for the children in her care. The registered manager is child focused and she leads a stable and nurturing staff team. Children receive consistent care from a stable and committed staff team. This is helping children to make progress from their individual starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager identifies specific training for staff that is relevant to children’s individual needs. For example, the registered manager arranged for specialist training in respect of a child’s health condition. This helps staff understand how to manage the child’s specific health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive frequent supervision. Records demonstrate that supervision provides staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice. Supervision also helps the registered manager to identify any gaps in staff skills and knowledge. Consequently, children receive effective care from a well-trained and competent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have introduced and implemented a more effective monitoring system to help them review the quality of care they Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 5 provide for children. This helps the registered manager continue to make improvements to the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff told inspectors that they are supported by the registered manager. Staff say that supervision is frequent and it helps them to improve their practice. Staff attend regular team meetings. These meetings are child focused and provide staff with an opportunity to discuss relevant issues regarding the care that they provide for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 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

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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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 each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children should benefit from up-to-date placing authority care plans that inform care planning arrangements. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)). 19 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)). 19 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: 2595112 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2595112 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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