Ty Connections III - Friern Barnet Road

Unique reference number SC439783 Inspection date 18/11/2015 Inspector Sharon Payne Type of inspection Full

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Setting address 5a The Broadway, Frien Barnet Road, LONDON, N11 3DT

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Telephone number 020 8361 8192 Email tcadmin@sky.com Registered person Ty connections Limited Registered manager Faith Munroe Responsible individual Alfred Munroe Date of last inspection 30/07/2012 Ty Connections III Inspection report for residential family centre Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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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Brief description of the service

Ty Connections III is a private family run business. It offers support for up to three families in individual self-contained studio apartments. The services offers a broad range of support including on-site counselling. They are also able to assist with community based assessments.

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The overall experiences of children and parents

The overall experiences of children and parents are Good.

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The overall experiences of children and parents

Families benefit from a highly personalised structured assessment process. Staff use a broad range of teaching methods and styles which they adapt to each parents learning style. Parents learn to establish routines, improve their caring, play and stimulation skills and emotional responsiveness. Parents benefit from positive, respectful relationships with staff. They are able to voice their concerns and complaints are appropriately managed. Staff form a ‘team around a family’ which ensures consistency. Final reports are comprehensive, highly insightful and give clear direction.

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The overall experiences of children and parents

Parents learn to understand their own capacity to change and the subsequent impact on their children. They influence care planning and staff promptly respond to changing circumstances. Care planning effectively addresses each family’s culture, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, marital status and linguistic needs. The funding of interpreters also assists parents who have English as an additional language

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The overall experiences of children and parents

Excellent partnership working enables families to receive an extensive level of support, which meets their holistic needs. This includes building resilience, cooking, budgeting, employment and training. An exemplary area of practice is the funding of specific items to meet presenting needs. Examples being nursery fees, taxi fares and children’s clothing. The centre works exceptionally well with other professionals and this multi-disciplinary approach focuses on the best interests of children.

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The overall experiences of children and parents

Families receive protection from the strong safeguarding arrangements with the police and local authority safeguarding personnel. Staff and parents receive a broad range of training. Parents benefit from specialist programmes, which help to build up their resilience, address domestic violence issues and trauma. The setting effectively responds to child and adult protection concerns. The home provides a safe and secure environment and there are stair gates throughout. There is appropriate surveillance through direct observation, close circuit television and audio monitors. Families reside in their own self-contained studio accommodation, which they are able to personalise. Communal space includes a lounge with an assortment of toys and books to stimulate children. The sound admission and discharge arrangements ensures they have a planned transition. A structured induction familiarises them with the local area and the wide range of resources.

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The overall experiences of children and parents

The centre offers a consistently good quality service for parents. Shortfalls are minor and relate to improving the quality assurance system. Recommendations to further strengthen practice relate to the statement of purpose, evaluating staff training and the complaints procedures.

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Statutory Requirements

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

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2) Where the registered person is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by – (a) the responsible individual (b) another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or (c) an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre. 01/02/2016

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(1A) Ensure quality of care reviews provide for adequate consideration for matters raised under regulation 18 by persons working at the residential family centre. 01/02/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

the registered person should seek feedback following a placement from professionals as part of their quality assurance process (NMS 1.15)

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Recommendations

ensure the statement of purpose includes a summary of how to contact the Children’s Commissioner (NMS 8.4) ensure the learning and development programme is evaluated for effectiveness at regular intervals (NMS 16.4)

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Recommendations

ensure there is an effective procedure for considering complaints. (NMS 19.8)

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Quality of assessment

Families benefit from a highly personalised structured assessment process. The centre interweaves governmental guidance and a recognised assessment model to produce an analytical, constructive report which strongly promotes the best interests of children. A professional highlights that the final report was ‘very good’, had ‘clear recommendations’ and ‘gave direction’. Another describes the report as ‘thorough’, and ‘accurate’. A local authority describes the evidence as ‘excellent’. Assessments focus on the needs of children, providing a rational understanding of the historical background, risk and parental capacity to change, protect and promote their children’s welfare.

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Quality of assessment

Assessment practice effectively addresses the needs of vulnerable parents who present with a learning disability and those who have basic life skills. Family placement plans effectively detail the separate schedules and interventions for each parent. The centre uses a phased approach to assessment which clearly outlines their way of working. This provides a distinct indicator to parents and placing authorities of expected progress. Parents benefit from targeted teaching and extensive learning opportunities to improve their caring capacity. Simple terminology, small bite sized sessions and repetition, helps them to learn at their intellectual level.

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Quality of assessment

The effective strength based and solution focused approach, praises parents for what they are doing well. Constructive feedback focuses on highlighting areas for further improvement. Staff reinforce their expectations thorough key working and teaching sessions. Parents also benefit from weekly written feedback. An appreciative parent is thankful for the ‘support, guidance and help over the course of the assessment’. They describe themselves as becoming ‘a better parent’.

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Quality of assessment

Performance based learning creatively uses a mixture of verbal and non-verbal teaching methods such as pictures, modelling and demonstration to support any verbal instruction, monitoring which are the most effective. Practical sessions take into account the fact that some people learn experientially rather than through merely listening and concentration skills. Staff competently gather their evidence through direct and in-direct observation, targeted guidance and monitoring of interaction between the children and parent’s. Surveillance methods are detailed in the care plan and understood by parents. These include close circuit television and audio monitors.

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Quality of assessment

Staff work in a transparent manner with parents and integrate the extended family where necessary. Parents challenge elements of the assessment process. An example of this is a family asking to see their three month observation records whilst in court. Staff were able to efficiently provide this information due to their electronic system. Assessments are well organised, precisely following the letter of instruction and not leaving any gaps. A professional highlights it covers areas they ‘may have missed and concludes with ‘good recommendations’. A professional confirms evidence is ‘always child centred’. Staff fully inform parents of the result of their assessment prior to outcome meetings.

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Quality of assessment

Involved professionals highlight they are ‘very impressed’ with the way in which staff keep them updated on the progress of placements. An example of good practice is the comprehensive record keeping. All professionals working with the family also positively contribute to the process. Due to the planned nature of placements, staff participate in case presentations prior to an admission. This enables them to carefully consider the needs of each family and plan accordingly. There are clear boundaries and clarity of their respective roles.

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Quality of assessment

The setting has a highly experienced, systemic approach trained main assessor. Final reports demonstrate a strong level of insight, which successfully links the past to present and predicts behaviour. Staff practice follows an effective theoretical model and their training strengthens their knowledge regarding attachment and assessment. Working patterns enables them to continually reflect on their practice and flexibly adapt it to improve outcomes for families. A professional confirms that the setting is ‘adaptable and quick to respond to changing circumstances’.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

The service is good at how well children and parents are protected and helped.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Families benefit from personalised support and protection, which extensively addresses their diverse needs. A parent describes the service as being ‘good’. They appreciate the ‘advice and help’ and find staff ‘really helpful’. An extended family member echoes this stating ‘the advice and care was second to none’. A professional affirms this ‘is a very good residential family centre’. Another professional asserts the ‘safety of the child is paramount; they keep the child in mind’. A parent highlights that they are ‘treated with respect’. Another parent was thankful for staff members ‘ ‘kindness’ expressing that they ‘will always cherish it in my heart’.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Care planning effectively addresses each family’s: culture, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, marital status and linguistic needs. The residential family centre deploys staff to provide a team surrounding each family. The personalised programme of work focuses on differences in culture, learning styles, pace and delivery in order to enhance success. Placement planning provides clear expectations for parents. Teaching programmes aim to increase parenting knowledge, enabling them to demonstrate consistent learning and boost their confidence. Parents receive practical assistance and direct support with childcare tasks. Staff provide advice, support and information around basic parenting skills, tasks, routines, nutrition and hygiene.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Parents welcome assistance to identify and negotiate community resources and welfare benefits. Ongoing daily support and intervention empowers them. Parents highlight their pride in relation to their enhanced cooking skills. They learn the importance of physical and emotional health, safe sleeping, child development and their responsiveness. Care planning also focuses on each parent’s personal development, which includes assistance with writing their curriculum vitae and job hunting. Staff also e ncourage parents to be proactive and pursue additional interests such as swimming. Parents successfully introduce routines to their children. Their children are calmer, more stimulated and make progress with reaching their expected developmental milestones. Staff feel that families are able to make a ‘big improvement’. In-house activities include reading with their children, puppet play, singing sessions and cake making.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

On admission to the setting, families have a comprehensive structured induction. This includes health and safety, a tour of the premises and familiarisation with the local community. Families benefit from an informative resident’s guide and a map of the area and bus routes. Parents and staff work in partnership to produce a daily plan, which incorporates all their appointments, sessions, employment and other scheduled events. Parents appropriately raise concerns, which are resolved effectively, such as holding a three way meeting to transparently air issues.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Children’s welfare is paramount. Working practices, parental intervention and staff training ensures this. There is a strong awareness of safeguarding issues and the setting has good links with local safeguarding personnel. Parents receive extensive information, advice and support in relation to safeguarding and identifying risk. This includes internal environmental safety and keeping safe out in the community. Parents learn about the various types of abuse and there is a specialist parent protect programme and an online domestic abuse awareness course.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Staff also benefit from a wide range of safeguarding training. Staff effectively respond to child protection concerns. A placing authority states ‘they promptly report all safeguarding issues’ and ‘take action to address any concerns themselves’. The local authority views this as being proactive as the setting does not rely on them to resolve concerns. Staff use their initiative and update their knowledge by reading recommendations from serious case reviews. The setting also learns from safeguarding concerns, using them as an impetus for further training. Examples of these are further training on the subtleties of abuse, bruising and non-accidental injuries.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

The home provides a safe and secure environment and there are stair gates throughout. Fire safety is an important aspect of each family’s induction. Certificates verify the safety of the gas and electrical supplies. Several staff are first aid trained and medication administration and storage is sound. There are clear procedures and protocols with the local police and local authority to manage child and adult protection concerns. Staff effectively manage challenging behaviour and a professional confirms they are ‘kept informed of incidents and copied into emails’.

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How well children and parents are protected and helped

Families benefit from their own self-contained studio apartment. This contains an ensuite shower, toilet, cooker, fridge, washing machine, sleeping and a dining area. They are able to personalise their rooms with family photos and children’s artwork. Families share the communal lounge, where they can relax and watch television, listen to music and watch DVD’s. Children can also play with the broad range of toys and games. Parents can choose from a small library of books to read to their children or for their own enjoyment. Children receive stimulation from the vibrant murals on the walls. Parents receive inspiration from the motivational pictures on display in the hallway. There is also an extensive range of information on the lounge wall.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

The service is Outstanding at working with partners to improve outcomes.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

The residential family centre excels in their partnership working, which enables them to proactively enhance children’s and their parents’ lives. This results in high quality support, assessment, care and protection. Collaborative relationships are highly effective and firmly embedded. Professionals describe the setting as being ‘proactive’. The Registered Manager demonstrates dynamic leadership, which focuses on innovative solutions to each family’s presenting needs. They go above and beyond to address issues, regardless of the financial costs. This is exceptional practice as the setting purposefully addresses the shortfalls in placing authority funding.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

There are excellent health arrangements for families. The setting has two attached health visitors who are alerted to new families prior to admission. This enables them to undertake forward planning and promptly visit to ensure health needs are efficiently responded to. Health visitors appreciate the health promotion work staff undertake, an example being nutritional cooking on a budget. They describe this as being ‘a great help to us’. They also add that it is ‘very positive to have the centre in our area’. The Registered Manager describes the relationship with the local doctor’s surgery as ‘brilliant’, enabling families to easily register and access additional services they may need. The setting is also instrumental in organising treatment for substance misuse. They facilitate speech and language and play therapy for children.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

There is an inspiring approach to promoting parent’s emotional wellbeing and personal development. The provision of an independent in-house counselling service enables them to confidentially express their innermost concerns. The setting also puts parents in touch with advocacy services, which helps with the promotion of their rights. They are able to access specialist programmes from a range of agencies, which helps to build up their resilience, address domestic violence issues and trauma. Families benefit from attending a widely recognised parenting programme, ‘Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities’. This contributes to their increase in confidence.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

Families benefit from effective partnerships which, promote their holistic needs. The setting has an arrangement with an interpreting service, which enables parents who have English as an additional language to have comprehensive support throughout the assessment process. This is commendable as it includes key work and teaching sessions and an interpreter working alongside a staff member. This ensures parents have the maximum opportunity to learn. Staff also consider parent spiritual needs and successfully find places of worship, which address these needs. Parents also receive assistance to enrol in an English as a second language course.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

Families benefit from links with a range of agencies, which enable them to access extensive classes. These have immense relevance tackling issues, which directly relate to their concerns. Parents learn how to manage fighting and aggression, dealing with disobedience and how to raise resilient children. These classes go beyond play and stimulation and purposefully tackle psychological problems. Families also enjoy engaging in fun activities in local children’s centres, playgroups and churches. These include toddlers and adult exercise, rhyme time, sensory and general play. The setting is also able to commission the delivery of in-house sessions by the local children’s centre.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

The residential family centre focuses on presenting needs and provides practical assistance to meet these needs. Examples are nursery fees, taxis, baby clothes and money for grocery shopping. As the premise is accessed by a flight of stairs, families can borrow a lightweight pram. Car seats are also available to help with travelling. A professional also highlights the setting’s arrangements for contact as making their job ‘easier’. Contact is available in a local church and staff monitor the arrangements, which means an external contact supervisor is not needed. The setting were also able to enrol a child early into a local school, enabling their educational needs to be successfully met.

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Working with partners to improve outcomes

Placing authorities and professionals comment on the exceptionally strong links with the centre. This ensures excellent communication, continuity of care and interagency working. They describe this as being ‘very impressive’ and they ‘would recommend’ the agency to colleagues. The setting also has an effective link with the police, in the event of an emergency. This helps to support and protect children, parents and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Requires Improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There are elements within leadership and management, which require further attention. The main issue relates to quality assurance and monitoring which is a legal requirement. Recommendations also relate to improving the statement of purpose, the complaints procedure and training arrangements. These shortfalls do not detract from the fact that this is a well-run residential family centre. A placing authority confirms that the ‘unit is very client focussed’. They would also describe the service as ‘very good’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The Registered Manager is also the joint owner of the company, with her husband. This individual is highly experienced in the residential family centre field and they demonstrate an enthusiastic passion for their work. She has an appropriate qualification and there is a desire to work in a therapeutic way. A professional describes the Registered Manager as being ‘absolutely brilliant’ and ‘very accommodating’. A staff member highlights that the manager is ‘constructive’, ‘very intuitive’ and ‘uses her initiative a lot’. Staff appreciate that the manager ‘works alongside us’ and ‘is like a mum to the families’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Quality assurance systems are inconsistent. Monthly regulatory monitoring visits have not been undertaken for a period of time. The Registered Manager is aware of this and hopes to organise a reciprocal arrangement with another residential family centre. They benefit from being part of network of good residential family centres within the London area. The Registered Manager undertakes a quality of care review, which enables them to evaluate the service. This assists with the continuous cycle of improvement. These reviews do not include staff views, as required by the amended regulations. In addition following a placement there is no feedback collated from professionals as part of the quality assurance process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The organisation has a satisfactory website, which parents, professionals and other interested parties can access. The statement of purpose complements the information on the website. This document clearly outlines the setting’s aims, objectives and ways of working. It would beneficial to also include the contact details for the Children’s Commissioner, to further assist families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The setting has an adequate complaints system. They receive more compliments than complaints. Some complaints about the Registered Manager have been investigated by the Responsible Individual who is the husband of the manager. This is a potential conflict of interest. To promote greater transparency there should be a level of independence when investigating complaints against leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The centre has a good history of compliance with regulations and working positively with Ofsted. This includes contributing to the consultation process and inspector training. Leaders and managers promptly refer significant events to Ofsted and relevant authorities. Decisive action following such events helps to appropriately safeguard families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All previous recommendations from the last inspection have been efficiently addressed. These relate to updating the restraint policy, maintenance, decoration and furnishings. Families benefit from a service, which earnestly endeavours to meet their diverse needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The centre is adequately staffed by a combination of permanent, freelance and long- term agency staff. A recruitment drive is currently in progress to provide a stable staff team. Recruitment procedures are sound, which helps prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable families. The staff team comprises of family assessment workers, a senior, lead assessing social workers, a supervising social worker a development and training consultant and a psychotherapist. A parent highlights that staff ‘give good advice’. A placing social worker also describes staff as being ‘very approachable’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff benefit from ongoing training, team meetings, regular reflective supervision and performance appraisals. The service development plan details the organisation’s continued commitment to staff training. There is a democratic approach to service development and staff contribute to the vision for the service. Staff training focuses on equipping staff for their role, improving the assessment process and other working practices. Staff keep up-to-date on theoretical frameworks and areas of thought, for example mindfulness, this focusses about being in the present moment. The training and development plan is currently not evaluated for effectiveness. This would help to ensure training enhances staff skills and gives them the necessary confidence and competence to undertake their work with families.

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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the inspection framework and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of residential family centres.

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