Hazeldene

Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 1 Hazeldene Break 20 Corton Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 4PL Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

Hazeldene is part of Break, a children’s charitable organisation. This residential family centre is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four families. The setting is able to provide both residential and community-based parenting assessments.

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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: 31 July 2013

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 2

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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 receive extensive support to develop their parenting and life skills. Staff identify each parent’s learning style. This enables parents to benefit from individualised support.  Final reports are unique, child focused and personally addressed to the parent. The clear, empathetic language makes reports both accessible and meaningful to parents.  There is a good understanding of equality and diversity. Staff promote the religious and cultural needs of families effectively.  There is recognition of the importance of life-story work. Parents create baby books which contribute to children developing a positive sense of identity and an understanding of their history.  The introduction of play sessions for parents enables them to reconnect with their inner child. This enables them to play in a meaningful manner with their children.  Children and their parents benefit from specialist support. The parent–infant

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Key findings from this inspection

mental health attachment team is a valuable resource. They provide parent–infant psychotherapy and related services for families.  On admission, families benefit from gift packs from a national supermarket and baby equipment from a local group. On discharge, staff can also assist with sourcing furniture from the organisation’s charity shops.  Staff provide high-quality childcare, positively caring for children and offering them educational stimulation. Children and parents benefit from fun activities.  An innovative strengths-based, safety-organised approach to child protection runs through all aspects of the centre’s practice.  The centre has designated domestic violence champions. Parents are able to participate in a domestic violence programme. They learn to make sense of their past and make positive changes for the future.  Children and parents benefit from a service which is continually evolving to meet

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Key findings from this inspection

their needs. The centre receives excellent feedback from social workers, solicitors and judiciary and other professionals.  Children and their parents live in a pleasant, homely, large detached property. The house is well equipped and affords ample space for each family to live communally and have their own privacy.

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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

 Minor shortfalls do not impact on the high-quality care. These relate to procedures, risk assessments and staff training.  The disciplinary procedure does not clearly state that the failure to report an Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 3 incident of abuse or suspected abuse of a child accommodated in the centre is a disciplinary offence.  The child protection procedure does not include all the other personnel to whom staff can report concerns. Examples are Ofsted, a police office or an officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.  There is no stairgate separating the first and second floor stairs. There is a wish to promote a homely, non-institutional atmosphere. A risk assessment, however, is not available to support this decision.  Feedback from staff training is variable. As the centre is part of a wider organisation, the training offered is not always relevant to the role of staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular— (b) provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse or suspected abuse of a child accommodated in the residential family centre to an appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation (17)(2)(b)) 01/10/2017

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Statutory requirements

The child protection procedure must in particular provide for (f) a requirement for persons working at the residential family centre to report any concerns about the welfare or safety of any child accommodated in the residential family centre to one of the following— (i) the registered person; (ii) a police officer; (ii) Ofsted; (iv) an officer of the local authority in whose area the residential family centre is situated; or (v) an officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (Regulation 12(2)(f)) 01/10/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure avoidable hazards are removed. The environmental risk assessment should include why a stair gate is not used on the first floor to second floor stairs. (NMS 11.2 )  Provide good-quality training opportunities to enhance individual skills and to keep staff up to date with professional and legal developments. (NMS 16.2) Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and their parents benefit from a personalised, effective assessment process. Staff use a range of methodical multidimensional evidence-based assessment tools, to minimise subjectivity. Reports skilfully include the requirements from the letter of instruction and parents’ comments. Professionals describe assessments as ‘very thorough’, ‘extensive’ and ‘valuable’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Final reports are unique, child focused and personally addressed to the parent. The clear, empathetic language makes reports both accessible and meaningful to parents. Reports highlight their strengths and sensitively detail the shortfalls. A professional confirmed that the court report was ‘detailed, comprehensive and one of the best I have read’. An independent reviewing officer explained reports had ‘helped us a lot on so many occasions’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents engage in the assessment process and receive daily feedback. Staff work in an honest and transparent manner. There are good levels of communication and parents have a strong sense of what is going well, what staff are worried about and what needs to happen next. This ensures there are no surprises. Each family has an individualised placement plan which clearly outlines expectations and the work they will be undertaking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents and children develop positive relationships with staff. A health professional commented on the ‘excellent progress’ a parent was making, stating ‘she has flourished’. Staff consistently encourage parents. They take pride in giving parents a ‘major voice’. A parent stated: ‘They kind of believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.’ Another parent expressed the view that they ‘saved me and my baby. I wish I could stay.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are able to voice their concerns and influence decision-making. Parents know how to complain and are treated with dignity and respect. Parents actively voice their opinions during family forums. Their feedback has resulted in changes in staff practice. Staff effectively work with parents who have varying needs. This includes learning disabilities, young parents, those who have mental health needs and those who have a history of substance misuse. Staff identify each parent’s learning style. This enables parents to benefit from individualised support. Examples are pictorial family placement plans and routine sheets. Report styles are adapted to the parent’s level of comprehension.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

There is a good understanding of equality and diversity. Staff use interpreters where needed and translate documents. Staff promote the religious and cultural needs of families effectively. Examples are ensuring that routines take account of prayer times Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 6 and helping where there are conflicts between their faith and expected gender roles. There is recognition of the importance of life-story work. Parents create baby books which contribute to children developing a positive sense of identity and an understanding of their history.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents have the opportunity to learn, both formally and informally. Examples of the latter are through coffee mornings and accessing information from a computer tablet. Parents praised the session on brain development, which helped them understand the importance of laying strong foundations for their child’s lifelong mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents receive extensive support to develop their parenting and life skills. Staff assist parents with applying for benefits, budgeting, cooking and housing advice. Staff take pride in the fact they ‘go the extra mile’ for parents, alongside acknowledging ‘their feelings and fears’. A staff member stated that they ‘love helping parents to positively parent’. A professional confirmed that ‘staff always work in a non-judgmental way’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff provide an evidence-based, theoretical parenting programme which aims to increase emotional health and well-being. The programme is designed to help parents develop a way of relating to their child that promotes child development and effective behaviour management.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents can attend a range of community-based activities at children’s centres. The innovative introduction of play sessions for parents enables them to reconnect with their inner child. This enables them to play in a meaningful manner with their own children. A parent confirms, ‘I can see how much it has helped me and the children. They are so much better and happier.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

There is good consideration of health needs. Parents receive encouragement to access community health services and specialist groups. They attend health appointments and support groups, such as weaning groups and breast-feeding clinics. Parents learn the importance of good food hygiene, nutrition and kitchen safety. This results in changes in behaviour. Examples are making meals from scratch and no longer giving their children unhealthy snacks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Links with community teams enable families to receive specialist support. Health visitors share vital information and monitor children’s development. The parent– infant mental health attachment team is also a valuable resource. This team provides parent–infant psychotherapy and related services for families where a baby is at risk of being removed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and their parents receive a warm welcome on admission. They benefit from gift packs from a national supermarket and baby equipment from a local group. Staff sensitively manage discharges, helping with practicalities such as packing and booking taxis. They can also assist with sourcing furniture from the organisation’s Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 7 charity shops. Staff have also be known kindly to donate household items. A judge commended staff for their support in allowing a parent ‘to leave Hazeldene in a dignified way’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff provide high-quality child care, positively engaging in the care of children and offering them educational stimulation. Children and parents benefit from socialising together. Examples are going on trips to the beach, park and Norwich. Within the centre, they enjoy fun activities, examples being doing arts and crafts, using the bubble machine, reading, singing and playing together, in addition to cooking together and sharing a communal meal. 

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The safeguarding arrangements within the centre are effective. An innovative strengths-based, safety-organised approach to child protection runs through all aspects of the centre’s practice. This helps to safeguard children and parents from potential harm. The registered manager has been able to share this research-based model of working with other teams within the wider organisation. A children’s guardian stated they are ‘always confident that the children at Hazeldene are safeguarded’.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre has a wide range of policies and procedures which focus on safeguarding children. However, the disciplinary and child protection procedures do not fully follow the detail of the regulations. This would strengthen the policies, although there has been no cause for concern in these areas. The disciplinary procedure does not clearly state that failure to report an incident of abuse or suspected abuse of a child accommodated in the centre is a disciplinary offence. The child protection procedure does not include all the other personnel that staff can report concerns to. Examples are Ofsted, a police office or an officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

A broad range of risk assessments focuses on issues related to each family and environmental issues. A potential hazard was identified in there not being a stairgate separating the first and second floor stairs. The registered manager explained that they wish to promote a homely non-institutional atmosphere. A risk assessment which details this decision is not available. Stairgates are in place on the lower floors. There is an acknowledgement that a risk assessment would strengthen this decision and further demonstrate that the centre provides a safe environment for children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers appropriately notify all parties of significant events relating to the protection of children and parents. There are no current issues with parents going missing, being exploited, self-harming, bullying or being at risk of radicalisation. Discriminatory attitudes and views are challenged and sensitively managed. Staff manage challenging behaviour and resolve conflicts effectively. This protects families and contributes to a feeling of well-being and security. Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 8 The strong links with the local authority safeguarding board ensure that staff benefit from regular training. Training covers the wider aspects of safeguarding, which include learning about honour-based violence and female genital mutilation.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre has designated domestic violence champions who work in partnership with relevant professionals as part of the local multi-agency network. These champions keep updated on developments, through attending conferences. They have also been instrumental in helping to implement the domestic violence policy throughout the organisation. Staff manage incidents of domestic violence within the centre effectively and terminate placements, when necessary.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents are able to participate in a domestic violence programme. This helps them reflect and develop insight into their abusive relationships. They learn how children are affected by being exposed to this kind of abuse and very importantly how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed. Parents benefit from creating their own safety plans. These detail how they will keep their child safe while living in the community. A parent stated: ‘I like the feeling of responsibility and laying the foundation to create a good life for my daughter and me.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents also learn to make sense of their past and make positive changes for the future regarding parenting and developing healthy relationships. A parent describes a session with staff as being ‘very cathartic’, stating it ‘felt good to sit with my emotions’. This parent was able to recognise the shift in their personal awareness, highlighting that they realised it was ‘not my fault’. This contributed to their renewed confidence and increased self-esteem.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The environment is well maintained, physically safe and has appropriate security. Engineers regularly check the fire safety, gas, electrical supplies and portable appliances to ensure that they meet health and safety requirements. The employment of a cleaner ensures that the cleanliness of the centre is of a high standard. Families receive protection from the good recruitment system, which ensures that they receive assistance from suitable members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and parents benefit from a service which is continually evolving to meet their needs. Leaders and managers have a purposeful development plan and they are aspirational for the future. As the centre is part of a wider organisation, there is recognition that the training offered is not always relevant to the staff’s role. Leaders and managers are aware of this minor shortfall, which does not impact on the high- quality care. A parent stated that the centre is ‘the most loving, encouraging place from the atmosphere to every single staff member’. Another parent highlighted that, without the centre, ‘people like us can never have a chance to shine again and go home with their babies’. Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 9 Leaders, managers and staff work exceptionally well with external agencies. A social worker describes communication as ‘excellent’. A children’s guardian confirmed: ‘it is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

always a pleasure to work with staff’. The centre goes above their service level agreement to meet the needs of families, escorting them to appointments, facilitating contact, and providing practical support. The centre receives excellent feedback. A judge described the centre as ‘a well-run and organised establishment.’ A professional stated that staff are ‘brilliant, professional and compassionate throughout’. A children’s guardian confirmed their ‘professional confidence’ in the resource. There are strong management arrangements. The suitably experienced registered manager has been in post since 2012. This individual is a qualified social worker and has worked within the organisation for approximately 22 years. They have substantial experience within nursery nursing, residential and children and families social care. A professional describes the registered manager as ‘flexible, forward thinking and upfront’. The leadership and management structure is strengthened by

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

a deputy manager and senior staff. This ensures that there is clear direction and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued, and the registered manager expresses pride in the staff team. The team is widely experienced. They include individuals qualified in social work, midwifery, youth work, nursery nursing and child-minding. Managers and staff receive regular reflective supervision. This enables them to evaluate their interventions with families and address their own personal development. Team meetings provide a collective opportunity for staff to further reflect, analyse and learn together. The emotional impact of the work on staff is recognised and managed well. An example of this is having mental health first aiders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A professional describes staff as ‘vigilant and lovely’. A parent stated ‘I would recommend anyone who needs the help and support to work with Hazeldene and all of their lovely staff.’ Staff are proud of the work undertaken with families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback regarding training opportunities is variable. While some staff describe training as ‘excellent’, others express frustration at the lack of training specific to their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a good quality assurance system which meets regulatory requirements effectively. The registered manager contributes to the social care sector, through their role as professional educator on the assessed supported year in employment programme for newly qualified social workers. They also share their expertise with other managers and teams within the organisation. An example is using the signs of safety model as a transferable tool in other settings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirement and recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed effectively. Leaders and managers meticulously follow a cross-border protocol which ensures the prompt referral to the host authority of any allegations of Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 1 abuse or neglect. There is an effective notification system which ensures that the appropriate authorities are swiftly informed of significant events. Parents benefit from prompt feedback following them raising any concerns or complaints.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and their parents live in a pleasant, homely, large detached property in a residential area of the town. Children and their parents can relax in the spacious lounge, which has a wide range of toys and equipment to stimulate children. The interior of the house is well equipped and affords ample space for each family to live communally and have their own privacy. Each family has their own room, with en suite facilities, and their own kitchen. Amenities are easily accessible and a large garden to the rear of the property provides a spacious outdoor play area for children. There is a smoking shelter for staff and parents, and debris is contained well. Gardens are highly maintained, providing a tranquil and orderly space.

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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 and parents and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Whenever 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 whom 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 and 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 : Hazeldene 1

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Break, Spar Road, Norwich NR6 6BX

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Residential family centre details

Email address: daniel.f-p@break-charity.org

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Inspectors

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Deirdra Keating, social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre : Hazeldene 1 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

T: 0300 123 4234 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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