Children's home run by Approach-Development (NE) Ltd in Redcar and Cleveland

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . The manager and deputy manager have left the home within the last month. A new interim manager started in post on the day of this inspection. Although he has a wealth of relevant experience, he is not able to be on-site every day and does not hold suitable qualifications. The owner of the company is in the process of advertising for a permanent, full-time replacement. However, this home has now been without a registered manager for more than 26 weeks. This is a breach of regulation and does not provide young people, or staff, with security or consistency. Four requirements and two recommendations were raised at the last inspection. Of these, two requirements and one recommendation have been fully met. This

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

demonstrates that the home has the capacity to improve. However, not all actions fully comply with legislation, leading to the further imposition of requirements to protect young people and promote their well-being. The external visitor’s improved monitoring reports are detailed and provide a picture of day-to-day care. However, there is no evaluation as to the impact of any of the interventions in the home. Nor is the visitor’s opinion explicitly clear about whether young people are being safeguarded and their well-being promoted. This requirement is therefore repeated. The home was subject to a burglary in the summer. The locality assessment was said to have been updated to meet a previous recommendation and reflect this event. However, this document could not be found. The recommendation made at the last inspection, that the locality assessment identify risks posed to young people in the community, therefore becomes a requirement.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The recommendation that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional was met. Arrangements were made for the manager to receive supervision from an external professional. However, the inspector was unable to ascertain whether this arrangement met the manager’s needs as she has now left the home. Young people’s individual placement plans are much improved. They include young people’s expressed wishes and how the home, together with partner agencies, is to meet them. However, young people have not been given the opportunity to see and comment upon these plans. Therefore, it is not clear if they are happy with the outcomes. Improved internal monitoring systems now inform the manager’s report under Regulation 45. This includes detailing how the views of young people and other interested parties are to be captured. Young people are now safeguarded by the implementation of regular fire drills.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This ensures that all staff and young people know what to do in the case of an emergency. There have been three new admissions to the home since the last inspection. One of these young people only stayed briefly before returning to a placement in his home locality. The remaining two young people have settled well and are starting to engage with the home and care provided. A social worker said of one young person, ‘She’s made significant progress in a short period of time.’ There have been a number of staff changes since the last inspection. Nine members of bank staff have ceased employment. Young people state that they ‘don’t mind as we are used to changes’. However, this level of change could have an impact on their ability to bond, as well as on their sense of security. A core staff team has continued to provide young people with continuity and consistency. New and enthusiastic workers, who have the necessary skills and expertise to meet

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

young people’s needs, are supporting them. All three young people currently resident speak positively about the home and the opportunities for them there. They can each identify a staff member who they have a particular bond with and trust. As a result, they are growing in self-esteem and confidence, and are empowered to engage in fulfilling pursuits that meet their needs. A social worker said, ‘She is making progress in her therapy and education. She is doing voluntary work with the horses, which is brilliant. She is really enjoying that.’ The core staff team is committed to ensuring that young people are safe and given the opportunity to develop. Individual behaviour management plans identify young people’s unique and diverse needs. Proactive collaboration with partner agencies works towards meeting these needs and promotes young people’s well-being. A social worker said, ‘In the time he has been there, it is fair to say he has been

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

afforded a better degree of stability than in the previous placement. The staff’s approach is to try and care for him rather than control him and that is working.’ There have been a number of aggressive incidents between young people as they settle in to living together. The management and staff, in consultation with social workers and the local police, have swiftly managed these. On occasion, they have done this by moving a young person to alternative accommodation overnight, thereby safeguarding all of the young people. However, Ofsted has not been informed of these incidents. This does not allow the regulator to have an appropriate overview of the care and protection. Consistent boundaries and the positive relationships that young people are building with staff mean that the need for physical intervention has been limited. There has only been one restraint since the last inspection. An appropriate debrief session for

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

young people and staff following the incident allowed all concerned to learn from the experience. Good individual risk assessments identify whether young people may go missing from the home and if they are at risk of child sexual exploitation. As young people’s circumstances change, these are regularly reviewed. For example, receiving permission to stay at a friend’s house overnight. This good practice has led to a marked reduction in episodes of going missing for some young people. However, records are not completed together with them on their return. As a result, opportunities for young people to reflect further on why adults may be concerned are not being taken. Nevertheless, a social worker said, ‘In her previous home she was going missing on a regular basis. She’s not doing any of that now.’ The addition of electronic monitoring systems within the home provides further safeguards for young people. These ‘buzzers on doors’ alert staff to whether young

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

people are exiting the building. In addition, there are closed-circuit television cameras on the outside of the building. However, at present, the home does not have an appropriate policy explaining why such resources are necessary.

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Information about this children's home

A private company owns and manages this children’s home. It may accommodate up to five children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/12/2015 Full Requires improvement

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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 independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person's report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation (44) (4)(a)(b)) Specifically, this report needs to be evaluative rather than describing the service. 09/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(e)) 07/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded and that a suitable locality assessment details how this is to be achieved. (Regulation 12 (2)(c)) 07/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— (a) there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 09/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is 07/11/2016 reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31 (1))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)  Any home using CCTV or other monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with Regulation 24. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. The use of CCTV is regulated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Surveillance Camera Code of Conduct (Home Office 2013). (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, 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 who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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