Alternative Approach Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 1 Alternative Approach Ltd

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Registered provider: Alternative Approach Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is operated by a private provider in northwest England. The provider can accommodate up to 28 individuals in self-contained units where the accommodation is for the sole use of one person, and up to four individuals in one shared or group- living home that is limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

There have been two registered service managers in post since November 2023. A new service manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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provider

The nominated individual recently informed Ofsted that they have left their post.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this visit in response to concerns about leaders and managers’ oversight, the skills and experience of staff and the support provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector visited premises with seven self-contained units, each for the sole use of one child. There were three children in scope of the regulations living in the premises.

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This monitoring visit

The acting service manager does not follow safeguarding procedures when alerted to allegations made against staff. Leaders and managers do not communicate effectively with safeguarding partners. This delays information being shared with agencies, to keep children safe. Furthermore, some staff do not know what actions to take when children make allegations against staff. This means that leaders do not consistently implement their safeguarding policies to ensure that children stay safe.

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This monitoring visit

Changes in the management team have adversely affected the delivery of the supported accommodation service. There are no clear lines of responsibility in the Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 2 leadership team. This means that some staff are unclear about the responsibilities of their role.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not established a suitable system to monitor the service effectively. As a result, there is reduced oversight by managers to assess the quality of support and whether children’s needs are being met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have effective procedures in place to ensure children are suitable for supported accommodation at the point of referral. Children living at the accommodation are making progress with the independence skills needed for adulthood.

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This monitoring visit

Other requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection were not considered at this visit and are carried forward to the next inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 3

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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, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including 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 supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 26 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

prepare and implement child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

any meeting the accommodating authority may hold about a child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 26 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 4 are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(b)(f)(i)(ii)(iv)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 18 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive an annual performance appraisal.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 26 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); 26 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 5 there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review (“a quality of support review”) at least once every six months, which must take into account—

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Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child’s life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from each child’s accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 26 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of 26 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 6 supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(k))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

before a child arrives or upon a child’s arrival, ensure that the child is given a written guide, in an accessible format, containing information about—

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Requirement Due date

the support and accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking;

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Requirement Due date

what services and facilities are available that take account of children’s needs arising as a result of cultural differences or disability;

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Requirement Due date

and which the registered person must keep under review, seeking children’s comments before revising the written guide. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(j)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 10 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and

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Requirement Due date

notify the CIECSS of any revisions and send the CIECSS a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 9 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 26 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they give full consideration to the impact that a potential new child will have on the existing group of children living in a property, taking into account their previous experiences and trauma, when determining if the placement is appropriate. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 17)  The registered person should ensure that records detailing individual incidents of children missing from the service contain details of the action taken by staff to try to locate the child. Monitoring of such incidents should also be undertaken, to help identify and address such shortfalls. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 55)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Alternative Approach Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Rossmore Business Village, Inward Way, Ellesmere Port CH65 3EY

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Alternative Approach Ltd 9 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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