New Spring Family Care Limited

Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 1 New Spring Family Care Limited New Spring Family Care Limited 1 Lostock Gardens, Blackpool FY4 3PP Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is registered to provide care and accommodation for five families. The setting provides residential-based parenting assessments. This residential family centre was registered by Ofsted in September 2017. This is its first inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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good

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of previous inspection: not applicable

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 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

 Families receive their parenting assessments in a comfortable and well-maintained centre.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Highly experienced and skilled staff make families feel extremely welcome when they arrive and provide them with effective support throughout their assessments.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff demonstrate great dedication in their work with families. They are committed to helping parents make meaningful progress and overcome barriers that impact on their ability to care, bond and keep their children safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and their families benefit greatly from the positive links made within the local community. These resources include play groups, health centres and access to specialist services.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff help parents to explore their past issues. This helps to strengthen their emotional resilience and ability to parent their children.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children experience positive outcomes while living at the centre. They are meeting their developmental milestones and benefit immensely from good routines, warmth and affection.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Final assessment reports are clear and well written. This means that courts are well informed about the parent’s strengths, areas for development, their capacity to change and their ability to keep their child safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Feedback from a wide range of professionals is extremely positive and partnership working is a key strength.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The protection and safety of children and their parents is regularly discussed in supervision, handovers and meetings. As a result, staff are confident, skilful and demonstrate sound knowledge of safeguarding practices.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The centre is well managed. Staff talk positively about working at the centre and feel well supported in their roles.

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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 understands the strengths and weaknesses of the centre and is keen to drive forward improvements. However, there are some shortfalls that require attention. These relate to the quality of risk assessments, the storage and recording of medication and internal quality assurance systems. Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 3

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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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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements for the recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the residential family centre. (Regulation 11 (2)) 28/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall, before providing a family with accommodation in the residential family centre, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible thereafter, draw up in consultation with the placing authority a written plan setting out an assessment of risk, which a resident may present to their own health, safety and welfare or that of other residents at the centre. (Regulation 13 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

With reference to improving the quality of risk assessments. 28/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced. The person carrying out the visit shall interview, with their consent and in private, such of the residents and persons working at the residential family centre as appears necessary to form an opinion of the standard of care, inspect the premises of the residential family centre, its daily log of events and record of any complaints and prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre. (Regulation 25 (3)(4)(a)(b)(c)) 28/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to the Commission, the registered manager and each of the directors or persons responsible for the management of the organisation. (Regulation 25 (5)(a)(b)(c)(i)) 28/09/2018 Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

A key strength at this centre are the strong, mutually respectful relationships that families have with staff. Staff are extremely experienced, enthusiastic and committed to their roles. They work in a non-oppressive way and this helps parents to make meaningful contributions to their assessments. One parent said, ‘Staff offer great support. They made me feel valued and wanted. They pushed me in the right direction and gave me lots of advice. Because of this, I have learned how to be a better mum to my child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Upon their arrival, families receive a warm, sensitive welcome from staff. The staff team skilfully engages parents quickly and successfully. Parents receive relevant information to assist them to understand the reasons for their assessment. This enables them to make decisions to adjust their lives and to make the necessary changes to safeguard and nurture their children appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Daily routines at the centre include child-focused activities, assessment sessions and recreational activities within the centre and in the local community. Staff provide families with lots of support and guidance throughout their assessment. This includes sessions on the importance of routine, nutrition, emotional warmth, play, stimulation and basic childcare and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Partnership working with professionals is good. All report that the staff communicate with them very well, informing them of the progress of the parents’ assessments, including any serious concerns. The centre has made strong links with mental health services and drug and alcohol agencies. This effective collaboration ensures that parents and children receive the best support and care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff spoken with during the inspection demonstrated a good understanding of the assessment process and the individual elements explored with each family. The team offers a range of sessions to help parents to learn, develop and overcome barriers. There is a strong emphasis on helping parents to reflect and change their behaviour. In doing so, parents are more able to maintain their child’s welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

A qualified and experienced worker leads the assessment process. The final report is clear and concise and includes good evidence while telling a story of the child’s journey. Parents know the content of their assessment report and understand how recommendations have been reached by the assessor. The language used in the report is jargon-free, evaluative and empathetic. This makes the report accessible and meaningful to parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents give their consent to surveillance, which consists of closed-circuit television. Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 5 These are located at the front and rear entrances. An additional camera is located over each baby’s cot. However, when surveillance systems are not used for the purposes of the assessment, bedroom cameras are switched off in order to respect the privacy of parents.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre has good safeguarding arrangements and staff have an insightful understanding of the impact of domestic abuse, mental health and other health and safety issues. Everyone involved in supporting families plays a role in ensuring that children are protected from harm. Staff are confident in all areas of child protection and have the necessary knowledge and skills to keep children safe.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of the risks to individual children. They are vigilant in their supervision and observation, which significantly reduces known risks and potential hazards. However, there are shortfalls. Risk assessments are not routinely updated and do not contain clear strategies on how to manage risky behaviour. This has the potential to impact on the safety and welfare of children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Child protection concerns are addressed effectively. Staff have a clear understanding of child and adult protection and know what action to take in the event of allegations, suspicion of abuse or unsafe practice. Various professionals confirm that the organisation works in a transparent way and that concerns are reported appropriately.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

When children and parents have not returned to the centre at agreed times, the registered manager and staff team respond quickly to ensure their safe return. Good inter-agency work between the home, safeguarding professionals and the police continues to minimise risk-taking behaviour and provides optimum protection to children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The arrangements for the storage, administration and recording of medication are not sufficiently robust. For example, medication is poorly labelled, health records do not include pertinent information and details of how medication is administered are confusing. This has the potential to negatively impact the health and well-being of children and their parents.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The environment is suitably maintained, physically safe and has appropriate security. Regular health and safety and fire safety checks protect children, parents, staff and visitors. Close monitoring, maintenance and servicing of equipment also make the centre a safe place. Visitors are vetted and checked, and recruitment processes are thorough. This ensures that as much as possible is done to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2017. She has extensive Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 6 experience in social care and has the necessary qualifications for the role. In addition, the centre benefits from the support and expertise of an experienced care manager who efficiently and effectively deputises in the manager’s absence. Their combined experience underpins the centre’s philosophy, principles and working practices. Both lead by example and have high aspirations for the service and the families that they support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is cohesive and supportive, and all members have a variety of skills which are valued and acknowledged by their manager. The staff work very closely together and share positive and supportive relationships with each other. Staff spoken with during the inspection demonstrated an excellent understanding of each family and were clearly passionate about their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff take charge of their own professional development. They actively seek out their learning opportunities alongside internal core training. The leadership team values the individual strengths and skills brought by each team member and offers a supportive environment in which practice can develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and purposeful. Staff confirm that they feel very well supported in their roles. They are helped and encouraged to expand their competence and confidence in all areas of work. Consequently, staff morale is high and the staff team remains motivated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not yet established effective monitoring and reporting systems. Visits are not carried out by the registered person or an independent person. Subsequently, reports of the findings have not been shared with Ofsted as required.

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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 differences 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. 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 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, 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: New Spring Family Care Limited 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: New Spring Family Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 24 Padway, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9EL

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Residential family centre details

Email address: newspringfamily@outlook.com

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Inspector

Miss Ceri Evans: social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: New Spring Family Care Limited 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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