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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 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

This home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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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: 17 January 2023

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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: 2582250 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a spacious and homely environment in which children make good progress. It has a calm and relaxed atmosphere, which helps children to feel safe and secure. Both children call it their home. Photos of the children are displayed in the home, and the children keep small animals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and speak warmly and knowledgably about them. They build good and meaningful relationships with the children. This enables the staff to respond appropriately to children and promote their welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to maintain good physical health. Children are encouraged to eat healthily and attend all their health appointments. This helps children to access specialist support to improve their physical health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s therapist visits regularly and works with one child individually. The therapist supports the staff to deliver person-centred care to the children. This helps to ensure that children are cared for by resilient and well-informed staff who can meet their individual needs and keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are engaging in education and making progress. Staff support the children to attend and do well in their education. Staff supported one child to attend activity days at college during the summer holidays. This helped the child to decide what college course to study.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to see their family and friends, and they are welcome in the home. The staff maintain regular communication with parents and facilitate overnight stays for the children with family members. One parent said that the communication with staff is good, and they feel comfortable asking them questions. This helps the children to maintain their identity and continue to see the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved in decisions about their day-to-day care, and their views are acted on when appropriate. Individual work is carried out with children on important issues, such as education, sexual health, family time and keeping themselves safe. The children’s views are recorded.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported by a mentor who offers them a safe place to discuss any issues and supports them to access new experiences, explore interests and develop new life skills. However, one child’s mentor has been absent for several months. This has impacted on the child’s opportunity to build a positive relationship with a trusted adult outside of the home and school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to enjoy new experiences. The children have been on holiday to London and Lanzarote this year. One child attended a summer camp with Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 4 the National Citizen Service. This provided them with an opportunity to develop their confidence and make new friends. Children are supported to engage in activities such as boxing, charity runs and going for a drive. However, one child spends a lot of time playing on their games console.

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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, such as budgeting, laundry, shopping and using public transport. This helps to prepare children for adult life.

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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 their ability to reflect on their experiences and progress. Children have life-story books that provide an account of their history and reasons for living in the home.

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

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. Behaviour support plans help staff to understand children’s behaviour and support positive change. Positive behaviour is promoted. Children are praised and receive incentives for doing well. Consequences are proportionate and fair.

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

The children understand that boundaries are in place to protect them. The children say they can talk to staff about any worries they have. The staff team educates the children to make safer choices and to keep themselves safe.

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

Risk assessments are carried out and updated regularly. There are strategies in place to protect children from harm. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques, and physical intervention is not used. Records of incidents are detailed, and management evaluation is evident.

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

There have been no instances of children going missing from the home. Staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow should this happen.

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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 home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. There is a stable core staff team in place, and agency staff are not used. This helps to promote continuity of care for the children so they can develop ongoing relationships with trusted adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child centred and keen to achieve positive outcomes for the children. The manager knows the children well and is a good role model for staff and children. The manager ensures that the children’s plans identify their individual needs and consider the local authority care plan for each child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 5 Staff describe the manager as ‘supportive’ and say that they enjoy working in the home. Staff receive regular supervision. However, the records do not always evidence that staff have had an opportunity to reflect on their practice on an individual basis. This limits the manager’s understanding of staff’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring and review systems are in place. The manager carries out monthly audits to ensure that she has regular oversight of all records. She 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.

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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 children’s individual needs. For example, staff have received training in subjects such as self-harm, child sexual exploitation and children’s mental health. As a result, staff have a good knowledge and skill base to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have opportunities to expand their learning from presentations delivered at team meetings. For example, there have been presentations about cultural diversity and managing allegations. Despite there being a strong learning culture in the home, staff are not aware of the local offer which sets out the support available for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 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 make sure that the staff are aware of the local offer which sets out the support available for children with SEND. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.4)  The registered person should ensure that all children have access to an independent visitor/mentor if they want one. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should ensure that children are supported to engage in a range of activities inside and outside the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraphs 6.4 and 6.5)

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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: 2582250 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: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Inspector

Dawn Walker, Social Care Inspector Cathy Trengove, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 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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