Abbeyfield

Unique reference number SC050043 Visit date 06/10/2014 Inspector Jacqueline Malcolm Monitoring report for a Residential Family Centre Monitoring Report: SC050043, 06/10/2014 2 of 4

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Brief description of the service

This residential family centre is part of an organisation that can accommodate up to 12 families. Parents that are referred to the centre complete up to a 12-week residential assessment process, either directed by the courts, or by a referring authority. The centre has specific facilities to also take families with disabilities.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to the service on 6 August 2014 following concerns raised by an anonymous source. The visit found a number of deficiencies in relation to:

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Staff supervision of families and a missing written risk assessment with respect to one child, Regulation10(1)(b))

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The standard of support and assessments provided to families relating to timely key work sessions, Regulation 13(a)(2)

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Staffing numbers and the supervision of families, Regulation 15 (a)(b)

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Safe recruitment practices, Regulation 16 (1)(a)(3)(a-d)

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Outcome of monitoring visit

Specific training for bank staff, Regulation 17(5)(a)(b)

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Outcome of monitoring visit

We issued six compliance notices related to the identified deficiencies. Ofsted subsequently received an action plan from the provider on 19 September 2014 confirming how the notices had been addressed. We carried out a monitoring visit on 6 October 2014. At this visit, we found the provider had taken sufficient action to meet five of the six compliance notices. The unmet compliance under Regulation 17 related to bank staff not having received training in specific areas such as child attachment and development; domestic abuse; drugs awareness; sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. Ofsted is of the view that this continued breach of the regulation does not ensure that staff are suitably equipped with the skills, knowledge, support and guidance to meet the needs of all families and vulnerable children placed for assessment. Ofsted is currently addressing this matter with the provider.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The service still does not consistently undertake safe recruitment practices (Regulation 16). During the monitoring visit on 6 October 2014 the registered Manager stated that no staff are permitted to progress towards induction or enter the premises until they have full Monitoring Report: SC050043, 06/10/2014 4 of 4

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Outcome of monitoring visit

satisfactory clearance. The inspector found however that new staff had already commenced their induction programme without full and satisfactory information being in place. From viewing a small number of recruitment files the inspector found that one file appertaining to a newly recruited member of staff did not provide the reasons for leaving previous work with children or vulnerable adults for the purpose of verification. The second recruitment file did not include the full name and address of one previous employer and the reason for leaving this post for the purpose of verification was not recorded. This does not promote consistently safe recruitment practice and places children at potential risk. As a result Ofsted issued a further compliance notice to the provider on 17 October 2014 with respect to this breach and will be the subject of a further monitoring visit.

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About this monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and progress made by the Residential Family Centre following an Ofsted inspection.

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