St Michael's Fellowship

St Michael's Fellowship Inspection report for residential family centre

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SC047199 Unique reference number 15 January 2008 Inspection date Diane Thackrah Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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84 Herne Hill Road Address LONDON SE24 0AN 020 7733 8153 Telephone number eighty.four@zetnet.co.uk Email St Michaels Fellowship Registered person

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Registered manager

Susan Patricia Pettigrew Responsible individual 29 August 2006 Date of last inspection .

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Registered manager

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Registered manager

You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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Brief description of the service

'84', is a residential family centre run by St Michael's Fellowship. The centre provides accommodation, assessment and support for children and their parents. Emphasis is placed on offering a service to families where the parent has a mental ill health problem. The centre also seeks to make external counselling available for some of the parents. The stated aims include informing the professional network around a family of the needs of the children; assessing the capacities of the family to meet those needs; and identify factors, which either promote or isolate children from experiences, which will give them the opportunity to grow and develop as any other healthy child. A variety of models for 'interventions with families' are used in the centre.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection. All key Standards were assessed during the inspection and therefore judgements have been made in relation to the outcomes 'Being Healthy', 'Making a Positive Contribution' 'Achieving Economic Wellbeing' and 'Organisation' Judgements have also been made in relation to the outcomes 'Staying Safe' and 'Making a Positive Contribution' as the inspection also focused on progress made by the centre in addressing the requirements and recommendations that were set at the last inspection. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Positive action has been taken to address the majority of requirements and recommendations that were set at the last inspection. Improvements have been made in relation to the complaints procedure and to record keeping. There have been continued efforts to ensure that there is a permanent, competent staff team and staff training has been ongoing. Thermostatic controls have been fitted to the hot water supply in bathrooms to prevent the risk of scolding. The manager demonstrates a commitment to improving and developing the service.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Families have access to a range of health, education, employment and leisure activities and the staff are proactive in ensuring that these services are accessible. All families are registered with a local general practitioner and the centre maintains a good relationship with the local health visitor. The health needs of families are clearly recorded which ensures that the staff have the information they need to be able to promote good health and well being. Written permission has been sought from parents should a staff member need to administer first aid and non prescribed medication to a child, however, these tasks are normally the responsibility of the parent. Staff members have received training in first aid. Staff do not administer medication, again, this is seen as the parents responsibility. Suitable storage facilities for medication are provided in bedrooms and staff provide guidance and support in this area. Placement plans

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Helping children to be healthy

clearly detail the arrangements for each family members' leisure interests. Parents are given practical advise and support about engaging in leisure activities. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are generally good arrangements in place which allow families to make a complaint. Clear information is provided to families about how to make a complaint and how this will be dealt with. Staff take complaints seriously and receive training about how to handle complaints. There are no restrictions about the type of complaint that can be made. Most, but not all complaints are recorded fully, it is therefore unclear if all complaints have been investigated fully. There are good child protection policies and procedures in place. All staff members receive thorough child protection training as part of their induction. The manager has stated her intention to ensure that all staff members receive training in breakaway techniques and de-escalation skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. A written placement plan is held in centre for each of the families. Placement plans provide detailed information about how assessments will be undertaken and clearly set out the objectives of the placement. Staff members are skilled and work professionally in a manor that is consistent with the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Families are kept informed about their placement plans and are given opportunities to sign these and provide feedback on an ongoing basis about their experiences in the centre. There are now clear arrangements in place regarding the responsibility for the moving of the possessions of families whose placement ends abruptly. Each family has a nominated key worker who monitors the placement plan and provides them with support, guidance and advice. Key workers ensure that family members and other staff members are kept informed about any changes to the placement

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Helping children make a positive contribution

plan and there are formal systems in place for the reviewing of plans. Parents have good opportunities for making their views known about key decisions that effect their lives. This is done through daily key worker meetings and reviews. Daily house meetings are also held in order to promote good relations between the families using the centre. Suitable records are maintained of all reviews, meetings and key working sessions. Staff members are clear about the specific needs of individuals and seek advice about how these needs can be well met.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Families are provided with private space that has sufficient fittings and furnishings to meet individual needs. Bathrooms and toilets are dated, but provide adequate amounts of space and privacy. The manager states that these bathrooms will be modernised this year. The safety arrangements in bathrooms have been improved as all hot water outlets are now fitted with a thermostatic control that should prevent the hot water from becoming too hot. Families think that the water in the bathrooms is 'just right'. The water from the hot water taps in the kitchen is very hot and has potential to cause scalding. These taps have mixer valves. There is no risk assessment in place regarding the action taken by the centre to reduce risks of scalding to very young children. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The centre has a written Statement of Purpose which accurately describes the centre's work. This document is kept under review. The centre is very well managed and staffed by a team who are competent, professional and experienced in their work. Staff receive excellent support and guidance from the manager both informally and in regular formal supervision. The manager of the service has made an application to become registered with Ofsted. There are clear arrangements for staff to deputise in the absence of a manager. All staff members have been through a comprehensive induction and probation period and are clear about their roles. There is a very good training programme. A comprehensive skills audit has been carried out for the service and this highlights that the staff have received training that is at least equivalent to the requirements of National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Children and Young people.

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Organisation

In addition to this the majority of the staff team are trained to degree level, or hold a social work qualification. There is a thorough staff vetting programme that protects the safety and well being of those using the service. Staffing levels are sufficient to meet the aims and objectives of the service. There has been some use of agency and bank staff, however, the organisation is clear about the need for a consistent staff team and has made good efforts to secure this. There are good arrangements for monitoring the quality of the service and families are consulted with regarding their experiences.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

16 February 2008 ensure that there is a clear record of all complaints made. (Regulation 20 (6)) 1 March 2008 ensure that a risk assessment is carried out, and kept under review, and there is documentation to this effect that is held in the centre, regarding the hot water that is accessible from the kitchen taps. (Regulation 11 (4) (a))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that records are maintained of the manager's record audit/building checks. (NMS 24) 6 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• families have access to health care, education, employment and leisure activities which promote their good health and well being, including their mental health, in a safe environment (NMS 4) Ofsted considers 4 the key standard to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• parents and children enjoy a level of comfort and security within the centre based on mutual respect and an understanding of what may have an adverse effect on other residents (NMS 8) • the privacy of parents and children is respected and information about them is handled with appropriate confidentiality (NMS 9) • parents and children are able to complain if they are unhappy with any aspect of the centre; they are confident that any complaint will be taken seriously, investigated and addressed without delay and they will be kept informed of the progress (NMS 10) • the welfare of children is promoted, children are protected from abuse, and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse (NMS 11) • families are protected from abuse, neglect and self-harm (NMS 12) • all significant events relating to the protection of children or vulnerable adults within the centre are notified by the registered person to the appropriate authorities (NMS 13)

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• there is careful selection and vetting of all staff and anyone else resident on the premises (NMS 15) • parents and children stay in accommodation that provides physical safety and security (NMS 22) Ofsted considers 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 22 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• parents and children are admitted to and leave the centre in a planned and sensitive manner (NMS 2) • children and their parents have their needs assessed and written plans outline how the assessment will be undertaken (NMS 3) • parents and children using the centre feel well-informed and party to decisions made (NMS 6) • parents and children enjoy sound relationships with staff based on honesty and mutual respect (NMS 7) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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Annex A

Ofsted considers 3 and 6 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• parents and children live in pleasant, well designed and maintained surroundings providing sufficient space and adequate facilities to meet their needs (NMS 19) • parents and children enjoy homely accommodation, which is decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard, and provides adequate facilities for their use (NMS 20) • shared spaces complement and supplement residents’ private rooms (NMS 21) Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• parents and children who use the centre know what they can expect, how they will be treated, how the centre operates, and have received this information in written form prior to admission (NMS 1) • parents’ progress is recorded to reflect their ability to care for the children in a safe manner, and promote their welfare (NMS 5) • parents and children receive the care and services they need from competent staff (NMS 14) • staff are: sufficient in number and experience; qualified to understand the needs of parents and children; able to respond appropriately when required (NMS 16) • parents and children receive a service from staff who are themselves supported and guided in safeguarding and promoting the children’s welfare (NMS 17) • staff are trained and enabled to carry out the role to which they are appointed (NMS 18) • parents and children enjoy the stability of an efficiently run service and purchasers have

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

confidence that they are getting value for money (NMS 23) • the service’s work with parents and children is continually adapted in the light of information about how it is operating (NMS 24) • there are adequate records of the staff and families using the service (NMS 25) Ofsted considers 1, 14 and 24 the key standards to be inspected. 8 of 8 Inspection Report: St Michael's Fellowship, 15 January 2008

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