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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 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

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

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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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Outstanding 14/02/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Both children living at the home were spoken to by the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have a strong understanding of the children’s needs and are passionate about their welfare. The staff provide excellent care, which promotes exceptional progress for the children from their starting points. One staff member said, ‘I honestly am so proud of both boys and how far they have come in many ways, such as in their education, social skills and confidence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children’s healthcare needs are detailed in their plans. Excellent work is carried out with the children during key-work sessions. Important topics, such as substance misuse, online safety, emotional well-being, healthy eating and personal hygiene, are covered during these sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager advocates strongly on behalf of the children to ensure that their educational needs are met. Both children attend education full time. The staff carry out focused work with the children to help them to meet the aims and goals of their education plans. Having not been in education for two years before moving into the home, one child has been supported to achieve 100% attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The managers and staff encourage the children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff work closely with the children’s families and placing authority to ensure that family time happens regularly. Staff strived to locate an older sibling of one child to establish their sibling relationship.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a nurturing environment where the children’s views are regularly sought, acknowledged and understood. Staff meet with the children to enable them to explore and express their views, wishes and feelings. One child said, ‘I like living here, the staff are really nice and care about me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests, and they attend a variety of different activities in the local community, including the gym, cycling, playing football and travelling in planes. Managers and staff have advocated on behalf of one child, who wanted to take flights to other countries, which was not company policy. The child is now visiting airports and taking a short flight with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are not risk-averse, and risk assessments are carried out to support the children to have time away from the home. This further enhances children’s experiences and develops their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children personalise their bedrooms and are settled and happy at the home. Staff ensure that the home environment is welcoming, safe, clean and tidy. Regular health and safety checks are carried out, and health and safety risk assessments are reviewed regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 4

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

The children benefit from extremely positive, caring and trusting relationships with staff. The staff know the children very well, invest time in them and promote their well-being through shared activities and celebrating their achievements. The children have a strong sense of stability and security. For example, one child did not want to move out of the home in accordance with their care plan, so staff advocated on their behalf to support the placing authority to change the permanence plan for the child.

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

Care plans for the children clearly set out what is needed to help them to make good progress. The plans consider the barriers that might hinder the children’s progress and identify ways to overcome these. The children are involved in reviewing and updating their plans. They also undertake focused work with staff to help them to meet the aims and objectives set out in their plans. This enhances the life chances of the children.

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

The manager and staff strongly support the children’s positive behaviours. Clear rules and consistent boundaries are in place, which reflect the children’s age and understanding. Due to the nature of the relationships, staff can support the children to manage their emotions and feelings effectively, including those that may result in conflict.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions when the children have been missing from home. The manager ensures that staff frequently revisit the children’s missing-from-home procedures and protocols. Therefore, staff are familiar with these risks and are confident about managing any missing-from-home incidents.

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

Children have been supported to manage their behaviour, and this has significantly improved over time. The children benefit from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively promoted. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that they are proportionate and restorative.

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

The manager and staff use research to inform and develop secure relationships with the children. Research-based help and support sessions enable the children to explore and understand a range of issues that affect their daily lives. This helps to improve outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they feel exceptionally well supported and speak positively about the manager’s high expectations and professional values. One member of staff said, ‘Without his guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I am grateful he has faith in me and has given me opportunities to show my skills.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 5 The children receive outstanding care, support and guidance from a highly committed, competent and nurturing staff team. The stable and settled staff team promotes consistency and strong attachments for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is strong multi-agency working. The manager and staff maintain excellent levels of communication with other professionals, who are extremely complimentary about their efforts to support the children’s needs. For example, one social worker said, ‘It should be acknowledged, the support they put in place is phenomenal.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager encourages high standards of care from his staff and is ambitious about what they and the children can achieve. The staff team is stable and there is an effective training programme in place. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals that consider the children’s needs and progress. However, reflective discussions are not evident in supervision records. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 6

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Recommendation

 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 staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)

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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: 2634720 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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Inspector

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2634720 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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