Children's home run by Sandcastle Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 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

A private provider operates the home. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post who registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in 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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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: 2534580 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2023 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has remained living at the home. One child’s move was well planned and in line with the child’s wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made progress. The registered manager and staff know the children well and understand their individual needs. The children said that they enjoy living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have warm and nurturing relationships with children. This helps children to maintain a sense of belonging. This supports the children to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s relationships with people who are important to them. Staff ensure that children spend time with family members and friends. Staff are in contact with children when children spend time with their families. This helps to keep children safe. One family member said, ‘[Child’s name] is really settled, we have noticed the difference.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child attends education, where they are making progress. One child does not attend education. The registered manager is persistent in their attempt to secure education for the child. One professional said, ‘I can’t fault the home re education. They have a file of all the emails they have sent to try and progress [child’s name’s] education.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff complete regular key-work sessions with children. Children can choose their key worker. Records of these discussions with children demonstrate that this is appropriate to their individual needs. However, staff do not ensure that children receive support to help them develop their independent living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff try to improve one child’s daily routines. However, strategies are not always effective. This could impact on their overall progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is maintained to a good standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. This ensures that children live in a clean and homely environment. However, the external area needs repair. This is in relation to the garden path.

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

Staff know the children’s vulnerabilities. Staff talk to children about potential risks. This helps children to understand the risks they may face. Staff have strategies to manage situations when children are upset or in crisis. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 4 Children’s risk assessments include relevant information in relation to children’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff work well with children and safeguarding professionals to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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

The organisation’s therapist is available to support children and staff. This support helps to improve staff caring practices. The therapist provides support in relation to children’s emotional well-being. The therapist provides strategies for staff to follow in practice. This helps staff to manage children’s behaviour.

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

Children’s care plans and risk assessments are individualised to their specific needs. However, not all risk assessments are reviewed in line with a reduction in risk, such as door alarms on children’s bedrooms.

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

Children contribute to their plans. For example, one child said, ‘My risk assessment has now changed, and I am allowed free time in the local community, and I can now use public transport alone.’

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

Since the last inspection, there has been a reduction in incidents when children go missing from home. When children do go missing, staff understand and follow the home’s missing-from-home policy. Staff are proactive to ensure that children return home safely. When the children return home, they are welcomed warmly by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by the registered manager. She is enthusiastic and committed to helping children to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has monitoring and review systems in place. These systems are helping her to review staff practices. However, there are some gaps in these systems as the registered manager does not ensure that all strategies are continually reviewed to ensure they remain effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a thorough induction. Staff receive regular supervision from the manager or suitably trained senior practitioners. Supervision records demonstrate that staff reflect on their practice and discuss children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff say that they feel confident in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relationships between staff and external professionals are positive. The registered manager works effectively with relevant professionals. This ensures that children receive good all-round support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a good advocate for children. She challenges other professionals as necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that strategies are continually reviewed to ensure they remain effective to help children reach their full potential. 31 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that opportunities for children to learn independent living skills, which meet the age and stage of development of the child, are planned in a timely manner to prepare them for independent living.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained internally and externally. Specifically, ensure that repairs to external paths are completed in a timely manner to reduce risk of injury. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)  The registered person should ensure that the home provides a homely and domestic environments. This is specifically in relation to the use of alarms on children’s rooms, which should be reviewed regularly and removed as soon as risks have reduced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to engage in suitable structured activities when they are not in school. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that staff put in place a routine that supports a return to education.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2534580 7

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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: 2534580 8

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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: 2534580 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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