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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in March 2020, and the manager registered in October 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home and were spoken to by the inspector.

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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

Date of last inspection: 31 October 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Good 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: outstanding

Children’s moves out of the home are exceptionally well planned and managed. There are clear plans in place to support children to move on, which demonstrate how children’s views are considered. For example, when one child moved out of the home, arrangements were made for the child to maintain contact with staff and have lunch with them once a month.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are making significant progress in education from their starting points. Managers and staff work closely with education professionals to identify and overcome any barriers to learning. Children who had previously not attended school now attend full time and are proud of the progress they are making. This means that children’s education targets have considerably improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are in good health. Staff support them to attend health appointments. All appointments are up to date. Children are encouraged to book and attend their own medical appointments in line with their age and stage of development.

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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. They provide excellent care, which promotes exceptional progress for children from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The managers, staff and children can clearly demonstrate the positive impact that living in the home has had on enhancing the children’s lives. For example, one child is supported to attend the council for children in care. They are also making a video for all staff in the wider organisation about how to support a teenage mum in care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children’s views are regularly sought and captured well in the day-to-day operation of the home. Staff use creative ways to communicate with the children to gain their views, based on their age and understanding. Children’s views are fully considered in their care planning, and staff advocate well on behalf of them.

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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 members travel significant distances to support children to spend meaningful time with their families. One child was supported to spend school holidays with family, with a view to increasing this to weekends to support a move home in the future.

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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. Health and safety checks are conducted regularly, and health and safety risk assessments are reviewed regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 4

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

Staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. They take the time to talk to the children and educate them about risk. Staff support the children in finding alternative strategies to de-escalate situations. This significantly reduces risks and improves the children’s ability to keep themselves safe.

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

The children have a strong sense of well-being, and there have been no missing-from- home incidents since the last inspection. When the children do go missing, staff understand the steps needed to be taken to return the children safely to the home.

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

The manager and staff strongly encourage and support the children’s positive behaviours. Clear rules and consistent boundaries are in place, which reflect the children’s age and understanding. Staff carry out focused work and reflection with the children to help them to identify creative ways to manage their feelings. One social worker said, ‘The staff are familiar with the child’s non-verbal cues and can interpret their behaviours to support them. This helps the children to understand the impact of their behaviours.’

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

The manager and staff work hard to build trusting relationships with parents so that they feel confident in the care their children are receiving. When it is appropriate to do so, managers include parents in the care planning and service delivery for their children. One parent said, ‘Support is amazing, and it’s good meeting the staff and being involved in my child’s care.’

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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 children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager who advocates well for the children. The manager ensures that she is visible and accessible to the staff and children. The children are extremely fond of her, and she speaks about the children with pride, warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

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. One social worker said, ‘I feel lucky finding this home; we have struck gold.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children’s care plans are individualised to their specific needs. The registered manager updates children’s plans monthly or following a significant incident. The children contribute to their plans, for example by including information about what Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 5 makes them upset and how staff should respond to this. This ensures that staff understand how to respond effectively to the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are effective monitoring and review systems in place that help the manager to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the service. This enables the leaders and manager to take swift action to address any shortfalls and develop staff practice and the care provided for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals involved with the children are extremely complimentary about the efforts of the manager and staff to support the needs of the children. For example, the manager recently successfully challenged professionals regarding the outcome of a court assessment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 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: 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: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Rafferty

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Inspector

Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2582250 8 inspects 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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