Children's Home run by Sea Sanctuary in Cornwall

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides accommodation, care, support and therapy for up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is a ship which is permanently moored to the quayside on a tidal estuary. The registered manager has been in post since this provision opened.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 12 November 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2530977 2

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The care of children

This unique environment presents as cosy, homely and spacious. Children enjoy a wide range of activities. Children have direct access to the water. They enjoy time on paddleboards, fishing off the ship and swimming.

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The care of children

Children have strong positive relationships with staff. Relationships are built on mutual trust, honesty and respect. Children talk to staff about their worries and concerns. Staff invest time in the children to understand what they are feeling so that they take the right action to help them.

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The care of children

Children are involved in decisions that may have an impact on them. Conversations between the adults and children take place before any decisions are made. For example, one child suggested an approach to their care they hoped would reduce incidents of them going missing from home.

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The care of children

When children are not receiving the support or services they need, staff advocate well on their behalf. Appropriate levels of challenge are applied. This ensures that children get the help they need sooner.

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The safety of children

Children have access to specialist services to help them understand risky behaviours. This, coupled with open conversations with staff and in-house therapists, helps children to reflect on their actions and reduce risks.

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The safety of children

When children go missing from home, staff take immediate action. They tirelessly search for children in known areas and knock on doors where they suspect the children may be. A recent decision was made to try and disrupt an emerging cycle for one child going missing. This had a positive impact and allowed the child to make more positive choices.

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The safety of children

Staff are faced with some significant and, at times, dangerous incidents to manage. On the whole these incidents are managed well. However, there have been two recent incidents that have resulted in the police being called to support staff with managing children’s behaviour. This approach could give a message to children that staff are unable to contain and manage them without help.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders are dedicated and passionate. Children are at the heart of their practice and they want the best for children. The registered manager leads with creativity, clarity and determination. There is a willingness to reflect on practice and accept that things do not always work. There is also a desire to get it right for children. As a result, children are receiving care that meets their current and emerging needs. Assurance visit report: 2530977 3 The registered manager provides staff with good-quality records to underpin practice. The plans are further endorsed through team meetings, consultations and good-quality supervision. This ensures that staff understand what is expected of them.

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Leaders and managers

Feedback from other agencies is positive. Managers understand the importance of working in partnership with other professionals. This enhances the support available to the children. Social workers are complimentary of the care provided to children and the quality of communication from leaders. One social worker told the inspector that, ‘Other services would have given up, but this one keeps going and working with the children; they are amazing.’

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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, 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff deescalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, avoid unnecessary use of the police to support behaviour management and/or reinforce parental messages. 23/11/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Waterside Court, Falmouth Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 8AW Assurance visit report: 2530977 4 Responsible individual: Kimberley Ibbotson

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Inspector

Tracey Ledder, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2530977 5 to 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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