Children's home run by Seashell Trust

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 1 SC035518 Registered provider: Seashell Trust

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to nine children with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

Children live in three buildings on a site that includes a school and college. Most children attend the on-site school. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspectors spent time with four of the children.

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Inspection date: 27 November 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 27 November 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are settled in their home. Their positive relationships with staff have been key in supporting individual progress in specific areas of their lives. Children are provided with new and fun recreational activities in the community. Their activity planners reflect their interests and hobbies.

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Findings from the inspection

When children move into the home, staff work collaboratively with local authorities to ensure that support and planning are effective in preparing children and their families for the move. Children have settled well together. However, there is no evidence to demonstrate how children already living in the homes have been supported to prepare for others moving in.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health plans include physiotherapy plans that are clear and measurable. Children are provided with suitable daily physiotherapy exercise support from the staff team, in line with their plans. On one occasion, the staff team administered a child’s medication at the incorrect time of day. Staff took guidance from the child’s parent rather than following the prescribed instructions for the medication. Although this has not had an impact on the child’s health, this error had not been identified by professionals working with the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical restraint is used as a last resort and for the shortest possible time. Staff use their knowledge of children to support them, to help them regulate and to settle. Locks on doors that unnecessarily restricted children’s access to parts of their home have now been removed. Leaders and managers ensure that risk assessments are in place for doors that may require locking at times, and the reasons for this. However, consent for the use of a monitoring device linked to a child’s health needs is yet to be sought from the child’s social worker.

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Findings from the inspection

An isolated incident between two children was responded to promptly by staff to minimise harm to children. Leaders and managers ensured that communication with the necessary professionals and family was prompt. Risk assessments have been adapted to review strategies to mitigate risks. Consequently, there have been no further incidents between children. When a parent raised a complaint about the management of the incident, leaders and managers conducted a thorough investigation and provided clear feedback to the parent and safeguarding professionals about their findings and any lessons learned.

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Findings from the inspection

When there have been concerns about the safety of the premises, managers have taken prompt action to explore the concerns and to implement additional daily premises checks and monitoring by the staff team. One child’s bathroom is not fit for purpose and another child’s wardrobe requires fixing to the wall to make it safe. This is included in the manager’s maintenance schedule and should be made a priority. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 3 There has been a significant delay in organising refresher training for staff in relation to safeguarding children with disabilities. This was raised at the last inspection some months ago, however, has only been arranged to take place in the coming weeks. Staff also still require training and guidance on providing intimate care to boys.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers’ oversight of incidents and records is still not effective. This relates specifically to action plans formulated when evaluating significant events not being implemented. This is a missed opportunity to promote learning and to review staff practice in supervisions and team meetings. In addition, when there was an error in the independent visitor report, there is no evidence of leaders and managers having challenged the content of the report, so that the information provided is accurate.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some changes to the management team structure. This has brought positive change, organisation and support for the manager overseeing the homes. Staff say they are supported well by the current leadership team. They are provided with regular support and guidance from a management team who know the children and their needs and behaviours very well.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/03/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/08/2024 Full Inadequate 11/07/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 4

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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, The 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)) 9 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that all staff have the relevant training to meet the children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that monitoring and reviewing systems are in place to support staff learning and practice. 9 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 5 This requirement is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 9 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(b)) 9 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Jennifer Quest, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC035518 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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