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

Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded

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The children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 The two compliance notices issued on 13 December 2016 have not been met and there continue to be serious shortfalls in practice.  Evaluation of information provided during the recruitment process continues to be a weakness of the home, with inadequate checks carried out on some staff.  There is no management stability. The home is without a manager, and the three previous managers have not stayed long enough to be registered.  Not all serious incidents are shared with the regulator.  Several staff members have left the home since the last inspection.  Staff files do not demonstrate that staff receive a robust induction and probationary period, and there is no evaluation of staff competence.  Not all staff have completed the necessary in-depth training courses in relation to the safeguarding and protection of children and young people.  Risk assessments do not contain effective strategies to inform practice and

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The children’s home provision is inadequate because:

to enable staff to mitigate risk. When strategies are detailed, these are not followed by staff.  The statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the services provided.

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The children's home strengths

 The large home is comfortable and well decorated.  The behaviour-management plans developed by the previous acting manager are comprehensive and detail strategies for staff to manage behaviours.  Staff promote family contact, helping young people to maintain their identities and links to their culture and heritage.

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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

9. In order to meet the enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (i) develop the child's interests and hobbies; (ii) participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child's interests and preferences; and (iii) make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and (b) that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child's interests and hobbies. 24/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

11. In order to meet the positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and 24/03/2017 understanding; (vi) help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; (vii) help each child to develop the understanding and skills to

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Requirement Due date

recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; (viii) strive to gain each child's respect and trust; (ix) understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

*12: In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person ensures that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern 24/03/2017 about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; (b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively

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Requirement Due date

from harm; (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; (e) that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. 13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. 24/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

14: In order to meet the care planning standard the registered individual ensures that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

(e) that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if— (i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs; 24/03/2017 (ii) the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request to— (a) a person who works at the home; (b) a child, or a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered; (c) a parent of a child, or a parent of a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered; (d) a child's placing authority; and (e) in the case of a qualifying school, the Secretary of State.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, when appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)) 24/03/2017

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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; and (b) the registered provider— (i) is an organisation or a partnership; (ii) does not satisfy regulation 28; or (iii) is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— (a) the name of the person so appointed; and 24/03/2017 (b) the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(2)) *The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children's home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(d)) 24/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)) 24/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of— 24/03/2017 the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(5)) 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.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)(5)) 24/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this children's home

A private company owns and manages this children’s home. It can accommodate up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/11/2016 Full Inadequate 10/10/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Inadequate

Failures in the oversight of the running of the home continue to lead to significant shortfalls relating to the protection of young people and the promotion of their welfare. The provider has not fully met the two compliance notices issued at the last inspection, and substantial progress has not been made. Care planning and safeguarding practice continue to be weak and have a negative impact on young people’s experiences. This has led to the inadequate judgement. Currently, there are two young people resident in the home. There have been no new admissions since the last inspection, which has provided young people with some stability. However, there is a high turnover of staff working in the home – a pattern that has continued over an extended period – and four members of staff left in the weeks prior to this inspection. This creates uncertainty for the young people living in the home, and impacts on their emotional well-being and their

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Inadequate

ability to build positive, long-term relationships with adults in the home. Both young people spoken to on the day of the inspection stated it was ‘OK’ living at the home. They both commented on the constant changes to staff within the home and the impact this has on them. One young person said, ‘I don’t know what is going on here; people just come and go all of the time.’ Educational outcomes for the young people are not good. Although one young person has increased attendance from their starting point, their school has raised concerns about timekeeping. A recent serious incident involving the school has led to a fixed-term suspension. This will have a negative effect on the young person’s educational outcomes. The other young person is not engaged in any education or employment for a considerable period. Staff continue to struggle to develop good daily routines and structures with the young person, who spends most of the day in

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Inadequate

their bedroom. Apart from eating, sleeping and spending time alone in their bedroom, the young person spends most of their time away from the home with friends who may or may not be suitable. The young person is not engaged with the home or the staff, and shows no signs of developing any positive relationships with them. This limits the staff team’s ability to help the young person to improve their outcomes and future outlook. The weekly plans for both young people show very little opportunity for staff to engage young people positively and provide them with enjoyable activities. A social work team manager said, ‘We are concerned for [name of young person]’s well-being.’ Young people maintain friendships with peers in their local communities. However, one young person struggles to maintain the boundaries around returning to the home, and either returns home late or stays away overnight. Staff are often

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Inadequate

unclear of the young person’s whereabouts, and make little attempt to locate them. This leaves young people vulnerable to harm and child sexual exploitation. Health outcomes for young people are mixed. While both young people enjoy general good health, there are services available that could enhance their overall experiences and well-being. Both young people engage in substance misuse to varying degrees. Although staff do refer them to specialist services for support, they struggle to ensure young people engage. This can lead to negative outcomes in all aspects of young people’s health and well-being.

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Inadequate

The spacious home environment shows signs of damage in various rooms. One of the showers is out of use, and the interior door and windows to the downstairs office are broken. This does not provide young people with the message that they are valued.

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Inadequate

Lack of safe and robust staff recruitment continues to be a major shortfall at the home. Although recruitment practice has improved, there are still gaps in the provider’s understanding of what constitutes safe vetting of applicants. For example, some staff have unsupervised access to young people prior to completion of their checks. In some instances, information identified in the application form or from referees is not thoroughly evaluated. This makes it difficult to assess a candidate’s ability to care safely for young people. This practice, which has been identified in previous inspections, continues to expose young people to potential risk. Safeguarding concerns are not always shared with Ofsted. This evidences a continued lack of understanding of the regulation, and leaves Ofsted without oversight of the safeguards and actions adopted by the provider. It also means the regulator is unable to monitor any progress.

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Inadequate

One young person has made progress in relation to their missing episodes. However, late returns, unauthorised absences and instances of being missing still occur for another young person. Staff often leave this young person to make their own way home, despite knowing their whereabouts. The records demonstrate that even when there are significant indicators of risk from a range of issues, the staff do not go out to find the young person or support their safe return home. There are no records of independent interviews when young people return from missing. This lack of action leaves young people at increased risk of harm. Risk assessments are not comprehensive. They identify potential risks to the young people, but do not outline strategies to help mitigate these. Daily records demonstrate that staff are aware of the young people’s complex situations, but they do not detail any actions to safeguard them. A daily record suggests staff

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Inadequate

overheard a young person making arrangements for the delivery of illegal substances, but staff took no action. This leaves young people vulnerable and unprotected. The provider has not ensured staff are adequately knowledgeable about safeguarding practice. There is a lack of in-depth training in this area. Although the provider had arranged a training course for staff in the near future, at the time of this inspection there had been no basic training, discussions or presentations to help staff to understand the complexities involved in keeping young people safe. This means some staff working at the home have very little knowledge about their safeguarding duties and responsibilities. This leaves young people open to risky situations and feeling unsafe. The provider has made some progress and has developed impact risk assessments. These are completed retrospectively for the young people in placement. This

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Inadequate

practice, if embedded, will enable better matching for future admissions but is yet to be evaluated.

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Inadequate

The leadership and management of this home are ineffective. There has been no registered manager since October 2015. The previous two managers left without notice and prior to registration. The most recent acting manager came into post in November 2016 and left the role before this inspection. The responsible individual is attempting to maintain the running of the home in the absence of a manager. This has again led to some confusion in roles and responsibilities in the home for staff, young people and stakeholders. The responsible individual’s background is not related to residential care and she is not sufficiently experienced or knowledgeable about the role. Not having a manager in post has a detrimental effect on the staff and young people in the home. In addition, newly recruited staff often have no relevant background in working in residential care. They therefore require a significant amount of training, alongside

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Inadequate

an in-depth induction, to bring them up to an adequate standard to care for young people who have complex needs and behaviours. The current induction process involves a tick-box list, and does not include evidence of staff competence. This, combined with inadequate evaluation of new staff’s professional experience, leaves staff and young people vulnerable. Supervision within the home is haphazard, particularly for bank staff. Some staff do not receive supervision for substantial periods. Records demonstrate only one team meeting has taken place since the last inspection, despite the high turnover of staff. Staff do not have opportunities to reflect on their practice. This results in a staff team that is not child-focused, and means staff lack insight into their actions and the care they deliver. The independent visitor undertakes regular monitoring of the home. However, their evaluation is based on explanations given by the staff and the manager rather than

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Inadequate

files and records, which demonstrate a different picture. The independent visitor’s report lacks a clear statement or opinion about whether the home is adequately safeguarding the well-being of young people. The scrutiny from this critical friend should be such that it helps the management to recognise their shortfalls, leading to them taking appropriate and effective action in response. The manager’s own monitoring is not recorded and is therefore difficult to evaluate. Care planning incorporates most aspects of the young people’s individual needs. Records demonstrate the ‘story’ of the young people’s time at the home but include limited information detailing how the practice of staff should impact the outcomes to be achieved. This limits the ability of staff to address the needs of young people. Shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home are widespread. The responsible individual has failed to ensure that the home operates in a manner,

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Inadequate

which protects and promotes young people’s safety and welfare. There have been repeated requirements – in particular, regulation 40, which is linked to notifications to the regulator – and two repeated compliance notices in relation to regulation 32 (recruitment) and regulation 12 (protection of children) that have not been met at successive inspections. The management oversight and practice relating to key areas, including recruitment, supervision of staff, risk management strategies, serious incidents and care planning, is inadequate. These deficiencies have a negative impact on the safety and well-being of young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 that 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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, work based 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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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