‘Other Arrangements and Suitable Accommodation’ – Placements for Children Looked After Aged 16 & 17 - (Outside the Care Standards Act 2000) Developing a Regional Template and Framework Helle Penson, Hayley Mahon and John Short 2 nd July 2013

My Background 25 Years Working in Social Care and Housing Department for Education – 2010 Regulations and Guidance, Training Materials and “Staying Put” Guidance Leaving Care, Children Looked After, Fostering, UASC, Disabilities, SEND and Transitions – Policy and Service Development and Training Supported Accommodation, Supported Lodgings, Housing and Vulnerable/Homeless Young People Preparation for Independence Materials Fostering Policies – Finance – Tax and Benefits

Agenda Children’s Cross Regional Arrangements Group – (CCRAG) Semi-independent Placement Issues 16 & 17 year Olds – Background ‘Other Arrangements and Suitable Accommodation’ Placement Requirements From April 2010 Development and Commissioning Issues Regional and National Approaches ‘Staying Put’

CCRAG Independent Non-Maintained Special Schools and Children’s Residential Care Homes 35 member local authorities across the East, South East and South West regions. Provides tools and a joined up consistent processes to efficiently; –Monitor contractual compliance (Form B) –Monitor the services provided – (Form C) Gather and share information on fee uplift requests (exceptional fees procedures). Sharing concerns (information sharing protocol) Source placements and share monitoring information (database) –Other Arrangements and Suitable Accommodation –Staying Put

Background Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 Major increase in the use of, and spend on private accommodation and support providers since 2001 Variability - quality and cost Outcomes, standards, integration with care planning, limited expectation of providers Broad range of provision - shared accommodation, flats, floating support Vulnerability, risk, levels of need and monitoring

Context 1.Children and Young Persons Act Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations and Guidance 2010 – Volume 2 ‘Other Arrangements’ 3.Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers Regulations and Guidance 2010 – Volume 3 ‘Suitable Accommodation’ Separation of ceasing to be looked after from a placement in semi-independent accommodation Most young people should remain looked after until their 18 th birthday

Department for Education – Frameworks - 1 From April 2011 each local authority is required to have an – ‘Other Arrangements and Suitable Accommodation’ framework Placements outside the Care Standards Act 2000 and therefore not inspected by Ofsted 1.Decision making regarding who is placed in ‘Other Arrangements’ – levels of need and vulnerability 2.Needs of the young person – (including suitability of location) 3.Suitability of the landlord/provider 4.Health and safety of the property 5.Statutory review and endorsement of the Independent Reviewing Officer prior to a move

Other Arrangements and Suitable Accommodation Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations and Guidance 2010 – Volume 2 –Chapter 3 - Page 60 to 66 - Section to – Regulation 27 and Schedule 6 Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers Regulations and Guidance 2010 – Volume 3 –Chapter 7 – Page 49 to 51 – Section – 7.12 to 7.18 – Regulation 9 and Schedule 2

Accommodation Pathways 1.Decision to place in ‘Other Arrangements’ – social worker and independent reviewing officer 2.Requirements of the provider – standards, policies, practise, monitoring and review – placements team and commissioning? 3.Meeting the needs of young people – expectations of providers in relation to individual young people – inspection and audit – social workers –placements team and commissioning? 4. Property standards  Tasks, processes, milestones, review and reporting

Issues - 1 Often a last resort rather than stepping stone to independence Full assessments - matching young people’s needs to provider skills and to other young people – (‘out of area’ young people) Shared responsibility – Pathway Plans, Placement Plans, Health Plans, Personal Education Plans Rigorous staff recruitment, supervision, staff development and training Chronologies – life story work/transitions to adulthood, patterns of behaviour and group behaviour – matching and risk

Issues - 2 Fit for purpose policies and guidance – provider and local authority Preparation for independence work - targets and objectives - outcomes Multi-agency/partnership working, roles and responsibilities, reviews - communications, accountability – case ownership Sharing intelligence, evaluating and re- assessing risk – reviews of providers Sexual exploitation and ‘missing’ children

Accommodation and Support Providers  Private Providers  Asylum Accommodation Providers  Registered Providers (Registered Social Landlords) 1.Accommodation only (independent and shared) 2.Shared supported accommodation (visiting support to 24 hour on-site support) 3.Support only Emergency access supported accommodation

Decision Making – Young People Process for assessing suitability of an ‘Other Arrangements’ placement Roles and responsibilities –Social Worker/Leaving Care Personal Adviser –Independent Reviewing Officer –Placement Team –Commissioning Person/Team Resource approval (panel process, manager) Suitability of the overall arrangement Referral and matching of young person

Health and Safety - Property Environment Health Service/Private Sector Housing Service - requirements Standard landlord and tenancy requirements Houses in Multiple Occupation requirements – licensed and un-licensed Fire and rescue service inspections Gas and Electric Certificates Insurance – buildings - landlord Portable Appliance Testing Fire alarms, heat, smoke, carbon monoxide detectors

Suitability of the Landlord or Provider Organisation DBS checks (Directors, staff etc) Recruitment procedures and verified references Financial viability Insurance levels –Employers liability –Public liability –Professional indemnity People with access to the property

Provider Policy Framework - 1 Confidentiality, information and data Safer caring and boundaries Missing policies and check-in procedures Case files, case recording and reports Preparation for independence and promoting good outcomes Partnerships - roles and responsibilities Managing risk and behaviour – identification of risks and planning

Provider Policy Framework - 2 Visitor policy – peers, guests and family Other authority young people – consistent definition of level of need Registered social landlords –Young people aged 16 to 24 (children and adults) Concerns and complaints – inspecting providers –Two tier councils/local district council –Area authority where placed –Police, health – key partners

Existing Commissioning Arrangements Pan London North West Framework CCRAG - Form A, B, C Individual Local Authority Contracts and Service Specifications – Enfield, Essex, Hertfordshire Supporting People – Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) Department for Education issues – Children’s Home or Supported Accommodation (Annex B)

Outcome To produce a comprehensive template - service specification and inspection framework Available to all CCRAG members (other local authorities) Can be localised to fit different local authority priorities - sections can be amended, added or deleted Consistency Wherever possible - avoid each authority undertaking the same checks

Questions Discussion Workshop

1.What are the tensions and challenges in your local authority regarding the use of semi-independent accommodation providers? 2.What framework do you have or use in your local authority to oversee ‘Other Arrangements’?