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

Inspection report children’s home: SC489187 1 SC489187 Registered provider: Approach-Development (NE) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for children and young people who have complex emotional and/or behavioural needs. It is operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness. The management of the home is currently undertaken by the deputy manager. The deputy manager is supported by the registered manager, who is not working in the home at present, and the responsible individual. The recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met or partially met. There have been some events that have impacted on the staff and management team; however, despite this, the progress has been sustained. Recruitment continues, and the core team of staff is increasing. The deputy manager believes that one additional post to the core team of staff will create a large enough staff base to meet the needs of the young people consistently. Currently, one-to-one support for the young people is not possible. This impacts on the young people’s opportunities to

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

engage in individual activities. Inspection report children’s home: SC489187 2 Recruitment guidance is not always adhered to. Without up-to-date and complete information, managers cannot be sure that they are recruiting the right people to care for the young people. Training is improving, with the home’s staff starting to access training provided by the local safeguarding children’s board. Any complaints, concerns and allegations against staff are addressed by the management team. Liaison with the local authority designated officer and, if necessary, the police takes place. Such liaison demonstrates transparency and allows for safer staffing decisions to be made. There have been no new admissions or discharges of young people since the last inspection. The young people have access to their daily records. One young person views his daily record regularly and writes his comments on this log. The young people need to be

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

encouraged and supported to be involved in their care plans and risk assessments and to contribute to these key documents. This will allow the young people to have some ownership and influence over the information recorded and plans that are made about them. Such practice supports young people being central to all care planning. Plans relating to the care of the young people including health plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments are up to date and accurate. Clear direction for staff is detailed within the plans to enable staff to deal with all aspects of behaviour and risk management. This ensures that staff know how they are expected to respond in order to provide consistent care and boundary setting. Ensuring the safety of the young people who may be missing from the home is informed by the individualised plans. These demonstrate that independence is promoted, but protective measures exist if needed. Return home interviews have been discussed by the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager with the local authorities, but are not being provided as a matter of routine. Physical interventions are used as a last resort to protect the young people from harm. The records are clear, and the manager has undertaken the debrief work with staff and young people in an appropriate and timely manner. The deputy manager can recognise when the service is unable to meet the needs of the young people. When the behaviours of one is impacting negatively on the emotional and physical well-being of other young people in the home, and a resolution cannot be reached, then notice on the placement is given. The young people’s commitment to education is variable. Discussion with an on-site tutor and a young person identified that he enjoys and engages with this type of learning, but that he is also eager to start at a local school. A recently completed education, health and care plan is assisting the young person to secure the right learning

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

opportunity and is a strong indication of progress for him. One young person has disengaged from education completely. Staff identify his vulnerability and lack of confidence outside of the home as a factor. His social worker comments that this young person has withdrawn completely from all provisions. The social worker stated that the staff do as much as they can to encourage and support the young person to develop confidence, social skills and motivation to achieve. Inspection report children’s home: SC489187 3 Independent advocacy is not routinely used by all of the young people in the home. Care plans identify that this service has been offered, but declined. For young people with limited family relationships, this independent voice is crucial to ensuring that their views are known and have influence. Discussions with the young people present during the inspection established that they enjoyed living at this home. Relationships can sometimes be difficult between the young

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

people. The deputy manager has taken steps to address this. The young people were observed to relate well to staff.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2017 Full Requires improvement 30/01/2017 Full Inadequate

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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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare . In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)) 01/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that— the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of 28/06/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC489187 4 the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation32(1)(3)(c)(d))

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.9)  All children must have access to appropriate advocacy support, and where possible this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked-after

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Recommendations

children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16).

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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

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 children’s home: SC489187 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Approach-Development (NE) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Fulmerton Crescent, Redcar TS10 4NJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Margaret Mitchell

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Inspector

Angela Norrie, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC489187 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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