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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 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 is a privately owned and managed children’s home that provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2021. There is a new manager in post, who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2023 Full Good 27/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to make progress in many areas of their lives. Children have lived in the home for a significant period of time and have developed a sense of permanence, stability and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are supported and fully understood by the manager and staff. One child became seriously unwell last year and spent some time in hospital. During this time, the staff worked collaboratively with the child’s placing authority and birth family to share information and updates.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have personalised their bedrooms and communal areas of the home, and there is an array of children’s photos and certificates displayed throughout the home. These capture children’s memories and experiences well and show the children having lots of fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is presented well, with a welcoming feel. The plans for improvements are under way, including new sofas and a downstairs bathroom. Children are supported to keep their bedrooms tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted and encouraged. Children are making progress as a result. When children struggle with their education, staff support them by identifying any barriers to their learning and are proactive in meeting with schools to find solutions together. A headteacher said, ‘Communication from staff is excellent; we love hearing all about his experiences. He runs into school and out of school with a big smile on his face everyday.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to be active, and both children regularly attend the gym. However, children are not offered a varied and healthy diet. Furthermore, when children miss meals, this is not identified or addressed by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their views, but when they do, these are not always considered. When one child made specific requests to celebrate his birthday, this did not happen, and it was not clear why. This does not demonstrate personalised care.

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

Safeguarding practices are effective. Child protection concerns are rare and are always well managed. Risks to the children are known and understood. Risk assessments are clear and give staff guidance to follow to keep children safe.

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

Positive behaviour management is embedded into everyday practice. Staff are consistent in their approach to supporting children. Staff prevent behaviours from escalating by using effective de-escalation techniques and distractions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 4 Leaders and managers adhere to safer recruitment procedures. This ensures that staff are suitably vetted before starting employment.

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

Staff provide a calm and relaxed environment which helps children to feel safe and secure.

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

Missing-from-home procedures are followed when children leave the home without permission. Children have individual missing-from-home support plans that provide staff with clear steps to follow in the event that children go missing. Children and staff are given the opportunity to reflect after a missing-from-home incident and clear management oversight of records ensures that staff’s actions are appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the entire staff team, including the registered manager and responsible individual, resigned, all around the same time. This unsettled the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has applied to register with Ofsted. There is now a stable staff team in place, and staff are happy in their work. Staff benefit from regular informal and formal support which is reflective in nature. This ensures that any areas for improvement are identified and addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work closely with social workers, family members and education professionals to provide children with consistent, joined-up care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a variety of training that is unique to the specific needs of the children they care for. All mandatory training is up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff have completed the required level 4 diploma or equivalent qualification. Those who have not yet completed the qualification are working towards it and aim to complete it within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has introduced monitoring and review systems. However, he has not identified that the quality of weekly reports completed by staff is varied and inconsistent. The manager has not made it clear to staff what the expectations are.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent monitoring of the home is effective. The independent person visits the home monthly, and the manager welcomes the feedback provided. However, the independent person does not seek feedback from professionals or family members and will often not engage with children or seek their views about the quality of care they receive. This is a missed opportunity to gather information to inform the independent monitoring of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 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

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when children share their views they are considered fully. 28 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

(When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 28 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change, negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being such as, but not limited to, nutrition and healthy diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 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: 2605512 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

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2605512 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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