Author: Alison French

We are pleased to announce that following a first ever routine inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the Seashell Trust Health Service has been awarded an overall Outstanding rating – the highest possible rating.

Seashell’s Health Service aims to provide high quality, multi-disciplinary health care across services delivered by Seashell Trust. 

The healthcare team at Seashell includes nurses and Allied Health Professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Audiologists. The nursing service employs three qualified nurses based across the educational provisions on the site. A mental health nurse is also employed to work closely with the Positive Behaviour Support Team.

“I am delighted with the outcome of our first inspection.  It reflects the dedication and commitment of the whole team at Seashell who are extremely proud of the work they do to support the children and young people in our care.  It is wonderful to have our exceptional level of service recognised in this way.”

Tamsin Rowbotham, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Seashell and Registered Manager for Seashell’s Health Service

The service is well established at Seashell and in 2021 was registered with the CQC, the independent regulator of health and social care in England.  It is the CQC’s job to register, inspect and monitor the quality of the service.  The inspection included observing therapy sessions and the administering of medicines, reviewing policies, procedures and documentation as well as speaking with staff, children and young adults who use the service and their parents and carers.

Excerpts from the Inspection Report

Patient Outcomes

Staff monitored the effectiveness of care and treatment. They used the findings to make improvements and achieved good outcomes for children and young people.

Evidence-based Care and Treatment

The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance and due to their expertise were commissioned by NHS England to produce some of the national guidance around hearing checks for special residential schools. They always used evidenced-based practice.

Compassionate Care

Staff treated children, young people and their families with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs. Staff were discreet and responsive when caring for children, young people, and their families. Staff took time to interact with children, young people, and their families in a respectful and considerate way.

Staff

Staff were experienced, qualified, and had the right skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children, young people, and their families.

Feedback from Parents and Carers

“Children, young people, and their families said staff treated them well and with kindness. Every person we spoke to told us that the service treated their loved one as an individual. They told us that staff were sensitive to the privacy and dignity of the children and young people, whilst trying to maintain a level of normality in everyday routines.”

“I honestly can’t think of anything (they could do better). They really treat him as if he can do anything and it makes him think he can do anything. They’d support him through it if he couldn’t. “

The CQC inspect a service based on 5 enquiry lines: safe; effective; caring; responsible and well led.  The Seashell Trust service was rated Outstanding in all areas.

You can find a full breakdown of the report and more information on CQC inspection on the Care Quality Commission Website

Further information on our health service can be found at Therapy and nursing.

Find out more about working at Seashell at Work with Us.

 

 

On the sad occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral, Monday 19^th September 2022 has been confirmed as a National Bank Holiday.  This means that Royal School Manchester and Royal College Manchester will be closed to students. This date will be observed as any other bank holiday in the calendar.

All sessions and hirers of Seashell facilities have also been cancelled.

The residential houses will remain unchanged and will support the children and young adults on 52 week placements and 38 week placements.

The deepest condolences of everyone at Seashell Trust go out to the Royal Family following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

We join all others in expressing our thanks for The Queen’s extraordinary services to the nation.

 

 

It was 6 am start on quite a warm and dry Friday morning in May. Nearly 90 Seashell supporters gathered at Chapel-le-Dale to receive their safety briefing ready for the day ahead.

By 6.45 am all teams had set off to climb the 723m to reach the first summit of Ingleborough.

Walkers were greeted by the Seashell fundraising team at the first refreshment stop in Horton-in-Ribblesdale to refuel (and pop to the loo!) Lots of smiling faces passed on by, encouraged by their mountain leader to keep moving.

#TeamSeashell set off in good spirits to conquer the 445m climb up the next mountain Pen-y-Ghent. As many reached the summit or were on their descent the weather took a turn for the worst. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up and the rain began to fall.

The next refreshment stop saw everyone reaching into their backpacks to drag out the waterproofs. Plasters were being applied to blisters and a smiley face was replaced with more of a grimace, but still determined. Hopefully the warm cups of tea and coffee being served helped a little?

Only 7 miles to go the now wet and tired but driven group walked over the Ribblehead Viaduct. Up an ascent of 694m and over the third peak Whernside, before completing the long awaited final ‘run in’. We did see some end with a sprint finish.

The smiling faces returned, overjoyed that they had finished their journey covering 25 miles (approximately 65,000 steps) and all under 11 ½ hours!

Job done!

Steve from Three Peaks Challenges commended the whole team for showing great strength of character to complete the walk in tricky conditions and rapid time. He also commented that in all his 19 years he has never had such a large group of supporters taking on this challenge all from one charity. This success is all down to our supporters!

Mark Ascroft, Director of Finance & Strategy and fellow participant – “Thank you to the individuals and companies who supported this event so fully, the fundraising team at the Trust who organised it so well, and all the guides who kept us all safe and motivated on the mountains (its official they’re not hills!) but most of all, to all of you for your

The challenge in total raised….

£37,500!!!!!

Click here to a video of highlights from the day.

Funds raised will help us to provide essential equipment and experiences to the children and young people who we educate and care for at Seashell. We strive to help them learn how to become more independent and live safe, creative and fulfilling lives.