Children's home run by Seaside Care Homes Limited in Havering

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from their stays because they are looked after by staff who know them well and are attentive to them. All young people have significant and complex health needs so managers assess new referrals carefully. They spend time with young people at home to discuss their care with their parents. Young people then visit the home and meet staff. This means that young people become familiar with their surroundings while staff build up a comprehensive picture of their daily routines. Consequently, young people are safe and look forward to their stay. The mother of one young person said: ‘I know that he is happy to go as when I tell him his face lights up and he smiles.’ However, the registered manager is not systematically recording this process. She acknowledges this and is developing a checklist that will record all initial enquiries in the young person’s file.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers work alongside parents, teachers and health professionals to make sure that young people make progress in their individual goals. These can vary from improving communication, developing their mobility and making choices. One young person is learning to tolerate saying goodbye when staff or young people leave the building. She has recorded: ‘Don’t leave me alone and offer me plenty of reassurance.’ Another young person has started to attend a local youth club which she enjoys. As a result, young people develop skills and remain secure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people go to school and partnership with teachers is exemplary. The headmistress for the local school said: ‘Young people definitely benefit from being in the home. If anything goes wrong, we all deal with it immediately and directly. We have total confidence in one another.’ Young people benefit from this highly integrated approach.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have no sense of danger so staff and managers have to ensure that the home and environment are completely safe. Incidents of negative behaviour are extremely rare but accurate individual risk assessments are matched with up to date management strategies to ensure their personal safety. In addition, the premises is subject to routine checks and any issues are discussed at management and staff meetings. Managers take a positive approach to learning from mistakes. For instance, staff recorded some difficulties during a recent fire drill. The manager clarified the problems and another drill was held the following day with a successful outcome. Managers protect young people with this purposeful approach.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are ambitious for the service and want to continue to provide vulnerable young people with new experiences that they can enjoy and which add to their quality of life. They focus on continuous improvement in the home and place a premium on professional development for staff as part of this work. They are currently exploring ways to develop staff skills through mentoring schemes and further training. All staff receive monthly supervision and annual appraisals. The supervision records for the registered manager need to be updated to provide a full history of discussions. The senior managers in the company are addressing this as a matter of urgency. Young people benefit from being looked after by staff who feel valued and who are knowledgeable about the care they provide.

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Information about this children's home

The service is a privately owned children's home that provides respite care and accommodation for four children and young people. The home accommodates children and young people who have a learning or physical disability, complex medical needs and who may have life-limiting conditions. Children and young people have packages of care varying from living at the home as a semi-permanent placements, occasional overnight stays or short visits after school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that they only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs with particular reference to complying a complete record of all enquires, responses and assessments following an initial referral.(The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 56 paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 Detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice with particular reference to keeping a full record of supervision sessions for the registered manager. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53 paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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