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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2550015 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 run by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 with by the inspector.

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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: 17 December 2024

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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: 2550015 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Good 23/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2550015 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has positive relationships with staff, who understand their needs well. The staff are child centred and prioritise the child’s needs. The child said, ‘I feel safe and the staff care for me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff provide care that meets the child’s overall needs. The manager works closely with health professionals to ensure that the child receives healthcare that is relevant to their needs. This support is helping the child to achieve good health outcomes. For example, their emotional health needs are being addressed by the organisation’s therapist. The guidance from the therapist supports staff practice. This is helping the child to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans for the child clearly set out what is needed to help them progress in all areas of their lives. These plans help staff to enhance children’s progress and experiences in practice. Plans focus on actions that staff need to take to care for the child effectively. Staff consider the barriers that could impact on the child making progress. The child carries out focused work with staff to help them meet the aims and objectives of their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a nurturing environment where the child’s views are regularly sought, acknowledged and understood by staff. Staff meet with the child and talk to them about their views, wishes and feelings. The child has an active role in the care that is provided for them. They are involved in all decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean, safe and welcoming. Health and safety checks are conducted regularly by managers and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions take place with the child about important topics such as substance misuse, education and emotional well-being. This work helps to educate the child to ensure they have a better understanding about these areas. However, the child does not always have access to equality and diversity information. This is a gap in the child’s knowledge.

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

The child’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed by staff. Managers and staff update the child’s plans to include their current risks and behaviours. Plans provide staff with clear guidance on the actions to take to keep the child safe. This helps to ensure that the child is safeguarded effectively.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour. Positive rewards outweigh consequences. This helps the child to feel valued. The child has individualised, achievable reward charts, and they are involved in the planning of their short-term and long-term goals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2550015 4 The child has secure and trusted relationships with the staff team. The child is treated with dignity and respect.

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

Staff work closely with the organisation’s therapist to make sure that their practice is tailored to the child’s individual needs. For example, a therapist visits the home weekly, working closely with staff to help them understand the needs of the child. The therapist shares behaviour management strategies with staff. Staff use these strategies. This supports the child to manage their feelings and behaviour.

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

The child knows how to make a complaint. When the child made a complaint, their concerns were listened to and addressed by leaders and managers. The child was kept updated about the actions taken and the outcome of their complaint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is no registered manager in post. There is an interim manager who has applied to register with Ofsted. He is enthusiastic and committed to improving the quality of care staff provide for children. The manager has a clear vision for the home and promptly addresses any identified shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have effective working relationships with relevant professionals. The interim manager works closely with professionals to ensure that the child receives the right support. The interim manager is a good advocate for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager and staff share relevant information with the relevant authorities. One social worker said, ‘The staff are strengths-based when talking about the child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers support the staff well. They are readily available for staff. Staff say that they can speak to the managers at any time if they need support. One staff member said, ‘I am drawing from his experience and knowledge.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and reviewing systems in place. This is helping him to monitor staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Scheduled reviews include annual staff appraisals, and staff supervision and team meetings are held monthly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2550015 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to identify and provide appropriate opportunities for children to develop themselves in accordance with their wishes and feelings and as part of the home’s plan for their care. Specifically, to have access to information and experiences that support the development of equality and diversity skills. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources. Specifically, they should be able to take into account and act on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: 2550015 6

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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: 2550015 7 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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