Children's home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Wyre

Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may experience emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2016 and the manager registered on 27 March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to by the inspectors.

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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: 16 October 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: 1231399 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2023 Full Good 16/03/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good 12/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child currently living in the home. Three other children have moved on since the last inspection. Children are supported with their moves out of the home and staff work hard to support positive endings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when they move into the home. Each child visits the home before they move in, and staff work hard to gather as much information as they can about the child to make them feel welcome and understand their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have secure and trusted relationships with the staff team. Staff have a nurturing and caring approach. Children are treated with dignity and respect and make positive progress living in the home. Staff work closely with the home’s therapist to make sure that their practice is tailored to children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well. They speak about them with love and affection and are ambitious about their futures. Appropriate boundaries and routines are in place. This provides children with structure and consistency of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s cultural needs are well understood. Staff support children to access church and spend time with other children to understand their interests and heritage. Children are supported in accessing a range of community-based activities to support their identity. This includes accessing the gym, ice skating and driving lessons. Reward schemes are in place to help build independence skills and children routinely work with staff to make exciting and nutritious meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children complete regular key-work sessions and can pick their individual key worker. Key work is appropriate to the child’s individual needs and is well evidenced. Children are at the centre of practice and encouraged to explore their aspirations. This has included children going on holiday abroad with staff. Photographs placed around the home celebrate these experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm environment that is clean and personalised. Children contribute to the decoration of the home, and success and achievement certificates are displayed on the walls. Children say that they have good relationships with the staff and that they feel cared for. Staff speak of making sure that children feel loved. This makes children feel validated and their voice heard.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of their responsibilities for safeguarding children. Children are kept safe with close adherence to policies and procedures. Children have individualised risk assessments which are detailed and set out what actions staff should take to keep children safe. Staff understand and follow these strategies. Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 4 Incidents of children going missing from home are responded to quickly. Children have return home interviews and are regularly risk assessed. Staff communicate effectively with one another and they maintain daily logs to make sure the child is kept safe.

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

The staff collaborate closely with external professionals to understand the children’s lived experience. Information is shared with all agencies and the home advocates for children if information is not shared by other agencies.

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

Children are allowed to develop and take risks in line with their age and understanding. This includes developing their independence skills and staying with friends overnight. Time spent with families is sensitively supported. This allows children to maintain and build their family networks.

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

Children are rarely restrained. If this occurs, there is a thorough review. This allows for learning to be shared and risks evaluated to avoid similar circumstances occurring in the future.

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

When allegations are made by children against staff, managers listen and take children’s concerns seriously. Managers and staff respond swiftly and put arrangements in place so that children are safe and protected. Children are supported to discuss how they feel and any concerns they have. Children are kept updated so they can understand what action has been taken.

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

Children are supported to share their feelings. The child currently in placement shared that they felt safe and protected by the staff that care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff speak about the child with warmth and enthusiasm. They advocate well for the child in all aspects of their lives. For example, the child has been supported to join an outside activity and gain awards in it since moving into the home six weeks ago.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is working towards gaining a relevant leadership and management qualification. The leadership team supports the staff well. The manager has an open- door policy and is readily available for staff. The staff say that they can speak to the manager at any time if they need support. One staff member said, ‘The support he offers is amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a thorough induction and probation process. There is a 12-week induction programme which includes the provider’s training and child-specific training. Staff also work in the same staff team on each shift, which provides consistent and mutual support. This enables effective care for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 5 Relationships with external agencies and professionals are effective and positive. The registered manager collaborates closely with external professionals to ensure that the child receives the right support. Significant events are shared appropriately. One social worker said, ‘They are very good at communicating and keeping me informed about the child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager actively promotes tolerance and equality to support the child, who has specific religious needs. The manager and staff support the child to develop their own identity by taking time to support them to access their religion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive monthly supervision as well as attending monthly staff meetings. In addition, staff have regular sessions with the home’s therapist. However, supervision records do not show reflective discussions around staff practice and professional development. Furthermore, appraisals do not take into account the feedback from professionals and children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 6

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Recommendations

 All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. Specifically, this should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. Specifically, supervision should allow them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guild to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 1231399 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: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Inspectors

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1231399 8 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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