Children's home run by Seaside Care Homes Limited

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

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care 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. The manager has been registered at this home since November 2017.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2019

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

outstanding

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

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/05/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Whenever any type of restraint is used, ensure that the rationale for its use is clear. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.45) In particular, document the rationale for and the review of the use of safe space beds.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children at this home flourish despite their very complex health needs. Some children are gastrostomy fed and most require full care for all their physical needs. Specialist paediatric nurses lead the service and are always available on-site and on call. The staff continuously push boundaries so that all the children enjoy a broad range of exciting experiences. Innovative planning means that severely disabled children go climbing and play in the sea on beach holidays. Staff enable parents to join in with the children’s outings. One child went cycling with his dad for the first time because the home sourced a specially adapted bike. Children enjoy their childhoods to the full. Children at this home are loved. The staff gently explain to them at every stage what is happening to them and why. This reassures children who have limited sensory perception. Some staff use massage and physical touch to soothe children’s anxiety. This

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

lets children know that they are safe. One child requires full-time support with his tracheostomy. Staff are on-site to maintain the child’s airway while he attends school. This means that a child who was not previously able to access education now attends school full time. The child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘It is as if he has been born again since coming to live at this home.’ The staff are innovative in seeking out the most up-to-date resources and equipment. One child has a fashionable hat that has a protective inner as an alternative to wearing a helmet. This ensures that she is safe while dressing to fit in with her peers. The exceptional quality of the accommodation shows the children that they are highly valued. Professional artwork in the home is personalised with children’s names. A specially adapted swing and wheelchair-height herb garden mean that children enjoy outdoor activities on-site.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The matching process is rigorous. Support for families with transitions is exceptional. Extensive outreach support takes place at the children’s family homes. There is a versatile approach to settling in new children. A parent said, about the staff, ‘They held Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 4 my hand as well as his.’

p.3

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

The children are more vulnerable because of their complex medical needs and limited mobility. Staff attend specialist safeguarding training specific to children with disabilities. Safety is at the core of all decision-making. Medical emergencies are competently and calmly managed. Most of the children are not able to verbally communicate. The staff are highly attuned to changes in children’s behaviour and respond quickly to signs of distress or discomfort. This is particularly important as the children’s health can deteriorate very quickly. A professional said, ‘It is exceptionally well planned and delivered care.’ The manager and staff are meticulous in their planning for risk reduction. There is a detailed management overview following incidents and appropriate steps are taken to reduce future risk. Body mapping processes are rigorous. Staff closely monitor children overnight. Staff do not use physical restraint. As agreed by parents and professionals, the staff

p.4

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

appropriately use safe space beds for some children. These beds form part of agreed plans for those children. However, a point for improvement is to ensure that the rationale for their use and subsequent reviews of their use are recorded.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All members of the senior management team are visible, model good practice and promote the highest standards of care. Leaders ensure that all staff share their vision that disability should not limit children’s opportunities. The manager has a strong understanding of the strengths and areas of development of the service. She regularly seeks feedback from parents and professionals and uses this to shape future plans. The manager drives forward continuous improvement. She has implemented a social model of care to complement the existing healthcare model. The manager uses research to further inform staff practice, such as structured discussions with staff about lessons from serious case reviews. The manager is very particular when selecting staff to work at the home. She only employs staff when she is confident that they have the skills and the right motivation to work with disabled children. Consequently, all the staff consistently demonstrate

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

enthusiasm and commitment to providing exceptionally high-quality child-focused care. The staff really enjoy their work. One staff member said, ‘It doesn’t feel like a home for sick children, it’s such a happy place.’ The manager and staff have built extremely close partnerships with the children’s families and other professionals. As a result, the service is highly respected and valued. The staff are clear about the expectations of them. They benefit from a wide range of stimulating and relevant professional development opportunities. The staff said that they feel well supported and that no question that they ask is too silly. This approach and the Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 5 support that they receive help to develop their confidence and enable a transparent working environment.

p.4

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.

p.5

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 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Seaside Care Homes Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Driftwood Lodge, 17 Woodrows Lane, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 8DN

p.6

Inspectors

Angela Weston, social care inspector Joanna Heller, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1267413 7 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7