Abbeyfield

Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 1 Abbeyfield Progressive Care Limited 38 Christchurch Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 9HN Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre is owned by a private organisation and can accommodate up to 12 families. Parents that are referred to the centre complete a 12-week residential process either directed by the courts or by the local authority. The centre has specific facilities to accommodate families with disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account Good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected Good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 23 June 2015

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Key findings from this inspection

This residential family centre is good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Parents and children are treated with respect and dignity throughout their assessment.  Parents are clear about the purpose and expectations of the assessment period Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 2 that is delivered within a fair and supportive ethos and approach.  Parents and children respond positively to the relationships built between themselves and staff.  Parents and children benefit from the development of the additional day-time activities that include playgroups, nursery, and the library bus and education opportunities.  Staff understand their roles. They are proactive and implement the identified safeguards to minimise or eliminate risks to keep children safe from harm.  New and stronger partnership working with other agencies better supports parents and children.  Thorough monitoring of the assessment process helps to ensure that good standards of assessment and support are maintained.

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Key findings from this inspection

The residential family centre’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager’s monitoring reports should be sent to Ofsted at regular intervals in accordance with the regulations.  Ensure that the strategies used to reduce and minimise risks are clearly set out in all risk assessments.  Ensure that improvement is made to the quality of all key-work sessions. These should clearly detail the event, outcomes and evaluation.  The standard of formal supervision and appraisal records should be of a consistently good quality to reflect and evaluate staff practice and development. Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Statutory requirements

Requirement Due date The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for reviewing at appropriate intervals; and Improving the quality of care provided at the residential centre. The registered person shall supply to Ofsted a report of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1) and make a copy of the report available to residents. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b)(2)) 28/07/2017

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Recommendations

 Prior to a placement, a risk assessment is carried out to ensure that the centre is well placed to meet the family’s needs and that the family is able to fit in with the centre’s other residents. It informs the level of supervision necessary for the parents and is kept under review throughout the placement. (NMS 9.1) In particular, that in all cases clear strategies, guidance and steps are set out to mitigate, reduce or prevent the risk.  The centre implements an effective policy that clarifies the purpose, format and content of information to be kept on the registered person’s files and information to be kept on the parents’ and children’s files. Records may be kept in electronic form, provided the information is capable of being reproduced in a legible form. (NMS 20.1) In particular, in all cases, key-work sessions should detail in full the session undertaken and give an evaluation. Staff supervision and appraisal records

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Recommendations

should also detail, in full, the reflection of practice, goals and the areas for development. Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents said that they are made welcome on arrival. One parent said: ‘I received a parents’ welcome pack and staff went through this with me. It explained about my assessment and the rules and monitoring that would take place. It was hard at first, but I knew then what to expect.’ Parents and children benefit greatly from the strong and positive relationships that staff build with them, treating them with respect and dignity. The compelling emphasis on the safety and well-being of children makes the assessment process a nurturing experience. The promotion of good parenting and the learning of essential parenting skills helps the parents to make the necessary changes, and brings understanding and acceptance of the process in which they undertake. The quality of assessments and reports are of a consistently good standard. A social worker said: ‘The parenting assessment of my family is individual and meets their

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

specific needs. Communication with staff is very good. I’m kept well informed of how the assessment is going.’ Another commented: ‘I’m happy with the quality of the final assessment report; it addresses all the areas requested and is backed up with supporting evidence.’ The manager and social work assessor ensure that there is consistent oversight of the tailor-made assessments that captures the needs and abilities of parents and children. This is supported with evidence that demonstrates the parent’s skills to care for their children safely, and where further support is needed or shortfalls remain. However, in some instances, some key-work sessions do not record an evaluation to demonstrate clearly the parents’ understanding of the work carried out. Parents are consulted frequently and give feedback about their assessment. This includes reading their daily logs and reports before they are shared with the placing

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

social workers. Parents’ comments on their assessments are recorded. This gives parents a voice, with their views and opinions being valued and given importance, to form an essential part of the fair and transparent assessment process. Parents and children benefit from the access to health, child development, social and educational resources accessed in the community or provided by the service. A parent said: ‘It’s making so much difference, my son being able to go to a nursery. He loves it.’ Parents receive support to work on a wide range of parenting areas. These include the importance of child attachment and development and budgeting. Having a playgroup on site and attending other community provisions provides parents with invaluable social and community links that will support family life, as well as their children’s positive daily life experiences. Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 5

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The provision of a safe environment for children and parent protects them from harm. There is a high focus on the assessment of risks, with frequent monitoring including observational sessions, hourly checks and 24-hour or intermittent surveillance. These measures are supported further by health and safety measures and strong implementation of child protection arrangements. In addition, well-trained staff incorporate safe childcare and parenting practices, along with safely recruited staff. This ensures the effective protection of children. Parents learn the impact of risks posed to their children. This includes domestic violence, the taking of illegal substances and internet safety, along with safety in the home and the community. This supports parents to understand that their child’s well- being and safety is crucial and of high importance. Although staff are clear of the safety measures to take, not all risk assessments set out clearly the strategies to be

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

taken to reduce or eliminate risks. Parents gain positive skills from the direction and supporting work that staff undertake with them to expand their awareness, or to deal with arguments and tensions with other adults or parents living at the centre. This enables parents to take responsibility for their own actions, manage their feelings and find ways to resolve differences. For example, they can attend residents’ meetings to address concerns through positive discussion and debate to resolve problems and differences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is currently registering with Ofsted. She has a wealth of experience and holds the relevant qualifications to work with parents and children. The manager ensures that the centre works within its statement of purpose and is familiar with the legislation relating to residential family centres. Parents and children benefit from strong leadership and management from the newly established senior team. The manager has been quick to start a number of developments to improve further the service provided to families. Parents and staff said: ‘The manager is very helpful’ and ‘The manager has introduced the Incredible Years programme.’ This programme enhances parents’ knowledge on how to care and play with their children and improves their daily life experience. The staff team receives good support, through regular supervision, team meetings and daily handovers. This aids consistent and safe work practices and provides good

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

support systems to staff. A staff member said: ‘We receive good support, the manager is approachable.’ However, the quality of supervision records is mixed, and not all include clear detail on practice-related topics or development goals. The majority of the staff team hold the diploma level 3 in caring for children and young people. This is a noted area of improvement. In addition, staff undertake Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 6 mandatory training, which includes behaviour management, first aid, child and adult protection along with other essential training, including domestic abuse and drugs awareness. There is excellent partnership working with professionals. All report that the staff communicate with them very well, informing them of the progress of the parents’ assessments, including any serious concerns. The manager is proactive in working with other professionals including placing social workers, health visitors and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

midwives. For example, she has made stronger links with the local doctors, mental health services, and drug and alcohol agencies. This collaborative working ensures that parents and children receive the best support and care. There is thorough evaluation of the provision through the regulation 25 monthly monitoring of the service. This monitoring identifies deficits and makes recommendations to ensure that improvements to the care, support and service occur. A number of other auditing processes and checks take place, which include health and safety areas, case files and the progress of parenting assessments. This ensures that the service quickly identifies shortfalls and omissions and rectifies them without delay. However, the manager’s monitoring reports have not been sent to Ofsted at regular intervals in compliance with the regulations. Action has been taken to implement the one requirement and one recommendation

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

made at the last inspection. Robust consultation takes place with parents throughout their assessment, with daily discussions, feedback after direct work sessions and by questionnaire. This information is used in the manager’s monitoring systems to make improvements to the service provided.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and parents. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and parents. They watched how professional staff work with children, parents, and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and parents. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the residential family centre knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and parents who it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Progressive Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Progressive Care Ltd, 51 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 2AE

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Inspectors

Mrs Debbie Foster, social care inspector Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre : Abbeyfield 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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