Children's Home run by Sea Sanctuary in Cornwall

Inspection report children’s home: 2530977 1 Registered provider: Sea Sanctuary

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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 children’s home provides accommodation, care, support and therapy for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is a ship which is permanently moored to the quayside on a tidal estuary. This service is in its infancy, having been registered in late May and taking the first young person in July of this year.

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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: This is the first inspection since registration

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2530977 2

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment practice safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that all references provided as part of staff recruitment are verified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

To date, the home has accommodated one young person. Careful consideration prior to admission concluded that the staff could meet the young person’s needs. A good and comprehensive plan to move the young person from a secure hospital placement was carefully orchestrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care provided, and its success, is based on continuous, consistent, reflective practice. This involves daily consultation with the young person about their circumstance, wishes and feelings. Care planning is informed by the use of therapists and mental health experts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of support provided has enabled the young person to make exceptional progress from a very difficult starting point. Secondary school attendance, engagement in community activities including team sports, and the undertaking of new and adventurous activities constitute a first for the young person. This demonstrates how far the young person has come as a result of being provided with good support, nurture and opportunities to develop.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is supported to spend quality time with their family. Family relationships are improving. A significant family member described the young person as ‘much happier’ and the progress made as ‘amazing’.

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

Staff receive essential safeguarding and related training. They understand how to keep young people safe. The young person told the inspector that they feel safe in this home. They trust the staff to look after them. This home is the young person’s longest placement in recent years outside of a restrictive or secure setting, bringing much- Inspection report children’s home: 2530977 3 needed stability.

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

Risk is sensibly considered, appropriately documented and discussed with the young person and staff daily. This enables the young person to develop understanding of the impact of their behaviour. Risk management is a considered balance between avoiding unnecessary risk while supporting the young person to learn from taking age-appropriate risks.

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

Mutually respectful and trusting relationships between staff and young people support positive behaviour management. Restrictive approaches used in previous placements are avoided. This supports the young person to recognise their feelings and emotions and develop self-regulated responses. There is a significant reduction in the young person’s severity and frequency of self-injurious behaviour. Restrictive practice, including physical interventions, is kept to a minimum.

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

Staff recruitment records are kept both electronically and on paper. Evidence of reference verification was not readily available to support what is otherwise safer recruitment practice. The young person has contributed to the recruitment of staff, and it is planned that their role in recruitment will be further extended to inclusion on an interview panel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager is in charge of the home. She has the confidence and support of a senior management and therapy team. The registered manager has the autonomy to make decisions in the best interests of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Alongside daily reflection, leaders and managers analyse the success of the care provided over longer periods. From this information they have written and implemented a development plan which builds on strength and addresses weakness of the service. Practice development is further enhanced by scrutiny from an independent visitor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The care provided is aspirational for the young person. Careful matching of young people who will be able to live together is considered so important that more than 50 referrals for placements have been considered unsuitable and turned down.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have found it difficult to recruit qualified, experienced staff. However, staff receive good support. This includes regular, meaningful and clinical supervision. Staff have access to a thorough induction process and continuing training and development. For example, staff are working towards a mental health qualification. The expectation is that this is completed before their probation period ends. In addition, staff do not work alone with young people during this period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This unique environment presents as cosy and homely as well as being spacious. When there is a need for repairs or improvements they are often completed on the same day, or as soon as possible. Inspection report children’s home: 2530977 4

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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: 2530977 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Waterside Court, Falmouth Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 8AW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kimberley Ibbotson

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Inspector(s)

Janice Hawtin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2530977 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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