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

Assurance visit report: SC489187 1 SC489187

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. It can care for up to five children or young people who have social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The qualified manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2017.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 5 November 2019

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

p.1

Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC489187 2

p.1

Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

p.2

The care of children

Young people said that they have good relationships with members of staff and they are happy in the home. Young people trust their carers and talk to them about their hopes and worries. As a result, young people are settled and stay in the home for a long time.

p.2

The care of children

Young people receive specialist help and support from a range of professionals, such as substance misuse workers. This means that some young people have significantly reduced their use of illegal drugs. Young people who move into the home see that this expert support is well established. As a result, young people quickly access the support that they need.

p.2

The care of children

Young people become more independent because of the advice and support of members of staff . In addition, some young people have their own kitchen facilities that enable them to practise their cooking skills. This means that young people are learning the skills they will need when they move on from the home.

p.2

The care of children

Members of staff advise young people about training and employment opportunities. Young people develop aspirations for their futures because of the knowledge and enthusiasm of their carers. Young people said that they greatly value this support.

p.2

The care of children

Young people and members of staff work together to arrange interesting activities during the COVID-19 restrictions. Young people enjoy these activities, and these prevent them from becoming bored. In addition, young people are building positive memories of their time in the home.

p.2

The safety of children

Some young people go missing from the home, but staff respond quickly and effectively. They search local areas and liaise with other professionals. Young people know their carers worry about them and act to keep them safe.

p.2

The safety of children

Young people’s risk assessments are individualised and regularly reviewed by staff. Members of staff talk to young people about risks including substance misuse, exploitation and self-harm. Young people are more aware of the risks to their safety because of these discussions, and they begin to learn to keep themselves safe.

p.2

The safety of children

The staff team does not fully understand the impact that young people’s previous experiences may have on their behaviours. This means that when the young people are upset, anxious or frustrated, staff do not always manage these situations well. Assurance visit report: SC489187 3 Members of staff do not receive adequate training or have the necessary skills to help them to manage young people’s behaviour. As a result, there are occasions when some members of staff have inappropriately called the police to manage young people’s behaviours, because they are unable to. This criminalises young people.

p.2

Leaders and managers

The registered manager has developed good relationships with partnership agencies. This means that specialists, including substance misuse workers and mental health practitioners, respond quickly to the needs of young people. This response includes visiting young people in the home. As a result, young people receive the bespoke support they require, at the time it is needed.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have successfully recruited new members of staff. This has resulted in a larger staff team that includes a broader range of skills and experiences. As a result, young people are cared for by a consistent team of carers, and agency staff are no longer required.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The registered manager monitors the home. However, this oversight lacks an evaluation of the care provided to young people. This means that some areas of poor practice, such as the inappropriate use of the police to manage young people’s behaviours, have continued.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not do enough to challenge poor practice by the local authority. For example, the registered manager does not ensure that initial attempts by members of staff to contact social workers, are followed up. This meant that plans for one young person to move on from the home were not developed in good time. This caused the young person anxiety.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.3

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each 30/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC489187 4 child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix)(xi)) 30/10/2020

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 30/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC489187 5 In particular, the provider must arrange training for members of staff so that they understand the impact of trauma on the young people they look after.

p.4

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(f)(h)) 30/10/2020

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should agree with their local police force, procedures and guidance on police involvement with the home to reduce unnecessary police involvement in managing behaviour and criminalisation of behaviours. Children should not be charged with offences resulting from behaviour within a children’s home that would not similarly lead to police involvement if it occurred in a family home. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40) Assurance visit report: SC489187 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Approach-Development (NE) Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Margaret Mitchell

p.6

Inspector

Jane Titley, social care inspector Assurance visit report: SC489187 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: the www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7