Children's home run by Seashell Trust

Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 1 Registered provider: Seashell Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a charity and provides short breaks for up to 4 children who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children's home

The home is located on a large multi-use site, which includes a special school, specialist college and accommodation for children and young people. The inspectors only inspected the care provision on this site.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2022.

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Information about this children's home

Ten children are currently accessing the short-break provision.

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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 outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Outstanding 05/09/2023 Full Good 16/01/2023 Full Outstanding 29/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's introductions to the home are sensitively planned and at a pace that suits children and their families. Staff spend time getting to know the children through visits to the home before their first overnight stay. Children's personalities, behaviours, and needs are carefully considered by the manager when visits are planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive well-planned and individualised care during their stays. This ensures that children have enjoyable experiences. This significantly improves outcomes for them. Children are supported to flourish and know that staff care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have good relationships with the staff team, which knows them exceptionally well. Children are encouraged to develop their skills and enhance their independence. Staff support one child with specialist hair products. This supports the child's identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in communicating with the children and have an excellent understanding of the children's communication methods. Staff help children to develop their communication skills to support them to share their wishes and feelings and make choices. One family member said, '[Name of child]'s communication is coming on leaps and bounds since being there.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to make choices about their meals and the activities that they engage in. Children have opportunities to enjoy their individual interests, such as playing in the garden, going on walks, arts, and crafts, listening to music, and visiting local parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's achievements are celebrated by staff and families. Families are extremely complimentary about the high levels of care their children receive and the support provided to them by staff. One family member said, 'The staff go above and beyond.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is well maintained, welcoming and includes specialist equipment to meet the individual needs of the children. Photos of the children are displayed throughout the home, giving the children a sense of belonging. However, the home is often referred to in documentation and conversations as a number. This detracts from the homely environment.

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

Children who stay at the home have various health needs. These are understood and managed well by staff. All children have comprehensive risk management plans that clearly identify known risks and vulnerabilities. These plans give clear instructions to staff about how risks to children should be safely managed. This helps to ensure that staff respond consistently, and risks are reduced. Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 4 Medication is stored securely in the home. The administration of medication is reviewed by the registered manager to ensure safe practice. Children's complex health needs are well understood and safely managed by staff. The registered manager ensures that staff receive specialist training in relation to children's individual health needs.

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

Children benefit from a consistent staff team that provides them with high levels of supervision and support. Supervision levels are based on children's individual needs. This ensures that children are safe and protected from harm. One family member said, 'When I pick [name of child] up I know they have been kept safe.'

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

Children benefit from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively promoted. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. There have been no negative consequences recorded since the last inspection. Staff celebrate positive achievements with the children. Children's achievement books are proudly displayed in the home.

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

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff maintain excellent levels of communication with other professionals. One social worker said, 'We work really well together; they come to us if they are not sure of anything. If they have concerns, they will ask us.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a dedicated, ambitious, and caring manager who advocates very well for the children. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. The manager speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive excellent care, support, and guidance from a highly committed, competent, nurturing, and reflective staff team. The stable and settled staff team promotes consistency and strong attachments for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff work hard to build trusting relationships with parents, so they feel confident leaving their children for their stay. Managers include parents in the care planning and service delivery for their children. One family member said, 'I like that they tell me all of [name of child]'s day, including the not so good. They are open and honest about behaviours.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff complete a range of training that focuses on meeting the children's individual needs. Staff apply their training effectively when supporting the children. Training includes administration of medication, oxygen and suction, communication skills, autism, and oral health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff team meetings are held regularly. Team meetings are effective. Staff talk about how research informs their practice. Meetings include training elements to improve staff practice. Staff supervision records demonstrate that staff focus on children's wellbeing Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 5 and progress. Staff are provided with opportunities to discuss and reflect on their caring and safeguarding practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive ongoing support, supervision and constant guidance from leaders and managers. One staff member said, 'We are all one team and even as managers they have stepped in to support at times with the children, they are approachable and present.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the operation of the home. The manager has close oversight of children's progress and any changes needed. Internal and external monitoring of the home is effective. However, the appropriateness and suitability of the review of premises assessment does not include consultation from relevant people. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to fully evaluate the suitability of the location. Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home. When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and consider the views of, each relevant person. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that the terminology staff use is caring and compassionate. An evaluation of 'language that cares' should be considered. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 21, paragraph 4.3)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children's home: 2590128 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Stanley Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 6RQ

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Inspectors

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Debbie Dawson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2590128 8 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, 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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