LD - Opportunity for a provider to work with Durham for a bespoke residential children's home.

Durham County Council require a bespoke childrens residential home for 14 year old male it is clear that L would benefit from a robust specialist placement upon discharge in order to allow for a period of social, emotional and psychological stability and growth. The provider should be a long-standing service, which has experience working with people who demonstrate risks toward themselves and others. The provider should also have experience of Autism and associated co-morbid diagnosis. The placement needs to have Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration.

In essence, L requires the following from a provider 1. A provider who can either offer established accommodation with an area of retreat from staff or work with Social Care to develop a bespoke, purpose-built CQC registered dwelling. 2. Solo placement - L could not currently reside with other young people. 3. Long-standing, robust provider with evidence of successful community packages with children with Autism needing restrictions. 4. Staff working with L to be appropriately trained in Autism Spectrum Disorder and associated rigidity of thought. 5. A boundaried and consistent staff team, who understand his antecedents/warning signs and can follow his management plans. This staff team need to actively monitor L's presentation and know when they should retreat from his area of living, document this and continually review its usage. 6. A safe and supportive environment that provides for his physical and developmental needs; it needs to be nurturing and one that can meet L's needs for stability, routine and consistency in approach and support techniques. 7. Support and encouragement to access appropriate education and meaningful age-appropriate activities, which he can enjoy and achieve at his pace. Education will initially be needed in house. 8. The placement needs to be robust enough to cope with L's fluctuating psychological and associated emotional presentations and be able to respond in a way that is not risk adverse, but also ensures his welfare. 9. The placement will need to store and administer routine medication at specified times. Staff who can also gently support, listen and explain when L has views on increasing/stopping medication. There is a subjectively marked difference when he is not on prescribed medication, but objectively he reports a different opinion. 10. The placement needs to be able to ensure that L has regular contact with the local Community Mental Health Services to optimise his continued recovery and wellbeing. He will also require a community psychiatrist to regularly review his prescribed medication. Accommodation and Environmental Factors • A rural location. • High walls rather than fences, consideration about gates/areas that could be used to climb. Anti-climb and boxed in guttering. • Consideration of single story property. • Ability to have an area to which staff can retreat. L does not like physical intervention.