Children's home run by Seaside Care Homes Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 1 Registered provider: Seaside Care Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and highly complex healthcare needs. Due to these highly complex healthcare needs, the home is also registered with the Care Quality Commission for the treatment of disease, disorder or injury and personal care.

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which was registered in November 2017, replaces a smaller, previously registered home. This home provides both long-term and short-break accommodation. The children who live at the home or visit for short breaks are, in the main, children who would have lived at or used the previous service.

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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 good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for outstanding.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 2

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Recommendations

 Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, risk assess the use of the pull cords on blinds in the absence of an appropriate securing mechanism.  Any home using CCTV or other monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  As with all the Quality Standards, the responsibilities and accountabilities in this

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Recommendations

standard fall on the registered person. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.2) In particular, the registered person should ensure that the independent visitor’s reports completed under regulation 44 have been submitted to and received by Ofsted.  Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This newly registered home replaces a smaller home. The transition for the children to their new home was well planned. The staff used social stories and brought the children to visit the new home to help them understand the change. Consequently, the children have settled well and continue to thrive. One parent said about their child, ‘He is very well settled, safe and relaxed. He smiles a lot more. He’s coming along well and blossoming.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The competent and well-trained staff have consistently high aspirations for the children’s health and well-being. The staff have a wealth of current knowledge and refer to recent Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 3 research to ensure that the children maintain optimum health. The application of this knowledge ensures that the children’s highly complex individual needs are extremely well met. The staff nurture the children, showing them love and attention. One parent said, ‘They [the staff] really do care and go the extra mile.’ Another parent said, ‘They [the staff] are so thoughtful. For example, they saw that he [the child] was scratching the skin between his thumb and finger so one of the staff made an individual little glove to protect him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children clearly enjoy their short breaks and seeing their friends. One parent described how their child counts down the days and packs their bags ready to go. The child’s only disappointment is they cannot go more often. The child said, ‘I like the staff, they make me laugh.’ A teacher said, ‘He [the child] is bursting with excitement when he goes.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff observe and use their knowledge of the children’s individual communication methods to help the children to express themselves and make choices. For example, one child was able to choose, through their observed non-verbal responses to staff’s questions, to have time out of their wheelchair to relax in the play pod. On another occasion during the inspection, a child was able to choose between their two favourite television programmes by touching the staff member’s left or right hand.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Strong partnership working with families ensures that when possible the family members remain as critical figures in their children’s day-to-day lives. One parent said, ‘It’s brilliant. The staff make us all feel like a family and we are able to see him whenever we want. It just feels like home.’ Parents say that they are exceptionally well supported to help ensure that their children remain central to the family, and to significant events. One parent, referring to an occasion in which the staff had supported the family, said, ‘It was the coldest day of the year and absolutely freezing down on the seafront, but the staff never made a murmur about the inconvenience or cold.’ The parent said that the support from the staff during this emotional time meant the world to him and the extended family as a whole.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff and manager work exceptionally well in partnership with others to improve the children’s experiences and outcomes. For example, a staff member from the home stays with one child throughout their school day to provide the complex care that the child needs. Without this support, the child would not currently be able to access school and the educational and social opportunities it offers. The children are stimulated and experience an immersive learning environment of physical and sensory activities that are set at their particular levels.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Inclusion is central to the philosophy of care and the staff refuse to see disability as a barrier to trying new things. One parent said, ‘The staff just bring a whole level of extra experience to him [the child].’ The staff are again planning a trip to a local festival at which, last summer, the children enjoyed the opportunity to try activities such as rock climbing. The staff are creative and seek out opportunities to provide the children with happy memories. The staff arranged for one child to meet his heroes, the players of the local football team, at the stadium. Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 4 The home is making a considerable difference to these vulnerable children and their families. Most importantly, the children say that they enjoy and look forward to their short breaks. One said child that if she was a judge on a talent show, she would press the gold buzzer as ‘it’s the best’.

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

The children feel safe and come to trust the staff, who are significant people in their lives. One parent said, ‘The minute he came it was clear that he felt safe and secure.’ Another parent said, ‘When he is being driven there [the home], he recognises the local landmarks and gets very excited.’ Parents have absolute faith in the staff and are confident that the staff have their children’s best interests at heart. One parent said that their child going to the home ‘gives me so much peace of mind’. Another parent said, ‘I trust them totally, it’s a brilliant service.’

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

Some parents said that they have been persuaded to allow their children to benefit from short-break services due to their faith in the staff. One parent said that their child had not previously been able to enjoy such opportunities, as the parent did not believe that anyone would be able to meet their child’s complex needs. This parent said, ‘I can’t say enough positive things about them [the staff]. I would never let him [the child] go anywhere else.’ This confidence is mirrored by professionals working with the home, one of whom said, ‘I think it’s a wonderful place.’

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

The staff are clear about their primary duty to safeguard the children and the whistle- blowing procedures in place.

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

Effective collaborative working arrangements promote children’s welfare. For example, during the inspection, a school teacher rang the manager to seek advice on the best management strategy for a child with complex epilepsy who was having a seizure. The manager is clear that medication management and the delivery of complex care are the main areas of risk. Consequently, the manager ensures that all staff who undertake these activities are highly trained, and that their competence is monitored.

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

Comprehensive and regularly reviewed risk assessments and care management plans guide staff in how to manage risk. The children are supported to take calculated risks. The staff are planning to support some of the children try new things, such as a zip-wire ride in the summer.

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

The staff recognise behaviour as a means of communication, and seek to ensure that the child’s needs are met. The use of any environmental restraint, such as wheelchair lap straps, is agreed and recorded in the children’s care plans. The home does sometimes use audio monitors as a means of being alerted to children’s epileptic seizures. However, there are no written agreements in place around the use of these measures to ensure that there is transparency and that children’s dignity is not being unnecessarily undermined. Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 5 The building is well maintained and safe. However, blinds with pull cords are fitted throughout the home. The manager was not certain that all pull cords have an appropriate safety mechanism to secure them or guard against breakage. This means that there is the potential for a child to be hurt if they become inadvertently tangled in one of these cords. The current group of children using the service is non-ambulant; no

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

children are left unsupervised, other than at night; and these cords are not situated near any beds. Therefore, the potential risk is minimised. However, this may easily change according to the children using the short-break service.

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

The manager’s review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home identifies low risks in relation to criminal activity within the community. However, there is little information or evaluation in respect of any risks or opportunities regarding health and education, and a lack of strategies for managing these. This has no impact on the children, as the manager has a good knowledge of the local area and how to support the children. However, opportunities have been missed to formally document this knowledge so that it is more widely available to the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This service is consistently very well managed. The manager, who has been registered with Ofsted since 2015, has successfully led the staff team through the transition into this new home, ensuring that the quality of the care and support that children receive remains extremely high. The manager and the responsible individual are both highly qualified paediatric nurses who have extensive experience in working with children who have complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides enthusiastic, effective and visible leadership. She is passionate about her role and has a clear vision for the service. She purposefully communicates and models her aspirations to deliver a high-quality and very child-focused service with effective prioritisation of children’s needs. The home is held in high regard by families and partner professionals, who rate the home as excellent. The manager and senior staff have developed exceptionally effective working relationships with families and partner professionals. One parent said, ‘[The manager] is amazing. She always wants to know everything about him [the child] and how to support him.’ A teacher said, ‘We know the manager is only a phone call away.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children benefit from an enthusiastic and dynamic staff team that enjoys its work. Staffing changes are few and staffing levels are high. This allows staff to spend valuable time supporting each of the children and developing a comprehensive knowledge of their individual needs. The manager provides a positive working environment for the staff in which their opinions are respected and they feel valued. Staff members’ comments included, ‘It’s a delightful place to work;’ and, ‘I love working here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff understand their roles, and are well supported and challenged to develop reflective practice through regular and focused supervision. The staff benefit from Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 6 comprehensive training arrangements, which help them to gain the knowledge, confidence and skills that they need to carry out the complex care tasks that they perform The staff are individually motivated to deliver a superior service to the children. The staff all speak warmly about the children, highlighting their strengths and personalities. The home provides a very nurturing atmosphere that is valued by parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective internal monitoring systems are in place and the manager has a strong sense of the strengths and areas for development in the service. The independent visitor provides copies of their comprehensive monthly reviews of the service to the manager. However, these reports have not been sent to Ofsted. This does not have an impact on the children or the management of the home. However, it does limit the ability of Ofsted as the regulator to have accurate overview of the service if good quality regular information is not provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a sincere desire to provide an exceptional service. The manager consistently promotes research-based practice, ensuring that staff have the most up-to- date information on relevant clinical and care practice. This, on occasion, has helped medical professionals to reconsider medication management in the best interests of the child. The manager is committed to implementing a meticulous management approach and any issues are identified and swiftly resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One parent summed up their views, which echoed those of other parents, as, ‘I didn’t think in a million years he [the child] would get anything like this. It’s amazing.’

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: 1267413 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Seaside Care Homes Ltd

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Inspector

Joanna Heller: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 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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