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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2019 and is one of several homes operated by a large private organisation. The home 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 manager has been in post since January 2021 and registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/06/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have lived at the home for over two years. There are positive and trusting relationships between staff and children. One child said the staff ‘have been here for me more than anyone else’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in education and are making good progress. One child has an unconditional offer for their chosen college course for September 2024. The manager advocates well for children’s education. One child’s teacher said, ‘[Name of child] now has a fantastic secure base from their staff and as a result is growing in confidence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and opinions are considered by staff in making decisions in the home. Staff use creative ways to communicate with children, based on their age and understanding, to ensure they find out their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to work towards their individual targets for development. Both children have made progress in many areas of their lives, including independence skills, confidence, peer relationships, behaviour and being able to manage their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend quality time with family members and friends. Children enjoy a variety of activities and enjoy spending time with the staff in the community, going to concerts, restaurants and on day trips.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are animal-lovers and they have a pet rabbit they look after. The children love to spend time with dogs and members of staff bring their dogs to visit the home. However, the relevant policy was changed recently and dogs were no longer allowed to visit the home. This really upset the children and they made a formal complaint, which resulted in the decision being reversed. This demonstrates that children’s views are important and acted on. The children were delighted with the outcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a welcoming and relaxing environment, with photos of children and staff throughout. Bedrooms and communal areas are personalised. This gives children a sense of belonging.

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

Children say they feel safe and speak highly of the staff caring for them. Children’s risk assessments are up to date and include all known risks. They provide clear guidance for staff to follow when there are difficult times. Children’s risks are understood by the staff team.

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

Effective direct work with children has helped staff to understand children’s risks and supported them to manage risks effectively. As a result, risks have reduced significantly for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 4 Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks. They benefit from reasonable and proportionate plans that promote their independence and prepare them for their futures.

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

Children who have previously gone missing from home no longer go missing. When children are out in the community, they keep in touch with staff and follow the plans that are in place. If children are reported missing from home, there is a clear protocol in place for staff to follow and arrangements for children to receive return home interviews within set timescales by an independent person.

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

Incidents requiring the use of restraint are rare and have reduced for children. If restraint is needed, it is used in line with regulation and as a last resort.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged in the home. Staff use appropriate consequences and rewards to help children understand their feelings and acceptable behaviour.

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

All safeguarding incidents are managed appropriately and without delay. Staff work effectively with partner agencies to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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

Children’s individual health needs are understood by staff. Children who are prescribed medication are supported to take their dose as prescribed, however, there are inconsistencies in the time of day the medication is given. On occasion, medication has been administered late at night, which could potentially result in the child being drowsy the following day and could impact on their mood and concentration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a calm and skilled leader. The children are at the heart of everything. The manager recognises the home’s strengths and areas for further development. Effective steps have been taken by leaders and managers to nurture the staff team to improve cohesion and retention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual is visible in the home and has oversight of the home’s operation and quality of care. This highlights the positive impact living in the home has on children’s progress and permanence. The registered manager and responsible individual work well together and share the same ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is consistently positive. An independent reviewing officer described the manager as ‘very tenacious and hardworking’ and said that she challenges others when necessary to ensure children are fully supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In the last 12 months, leaders and managers have had a strong focus on developing practice further, particularly in relation to expectations and standards in the quality of plans and records. This has been well received by staff at all levels. Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 5 The independent person regularly visits the home and leaders and managers respond appropriately to their feedback. Action is taken without delay to improve any areas identified for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are regularly sought and captured well in the day-to-day operation of the home. Their views are fully considered in their care planning. Staff advocate well on behalf of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides good-quality supervision to the staff which is regular and reflective. However, the management team does not ensure that all staff receive an appraisal each year. There is no record of how they review and appraise staff practice on an annual basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who are not yet qualified are supported to complete the required qualification. However, not all have done so in the required timeframe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a) (2)(a)(ii)) 1 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma") or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the 1 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 7 date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 2537058 8

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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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Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2537058 9 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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