Ambient House Limited

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 1 Ambient House Limited 17 Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, Sussex PO21 2QB Monitoring visit

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is privately owned. It is currently registered to provide assessments of parenting on a residential basis and can accommodate up to four families. The building is staffed 24 hours a day. The centre is available for families from across the UK. The centre has been without a registered manager since April 2018.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2019

Date of previous inspection: 17 September 2018

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out over two days by two inspectors. At the previous monitoring visit, on 5 and 6 December 2018, four out of five compliance notices were not met. The requirements issued from the previous full inspection were not assessed on that occasion. A restriction of accommodation notice was reissued.

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This monitoring visit

On 23 January 2019, the restriction of accommodation notice was lifted and a condition was imposed that the service must inform Ofsted of its intention to admit families at least two weeks before a family is admitted.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress made by the provider in response to the ongoing concerns raised from the previous monitoring visit. Senior leaders were also given the opportunity to demonstrate progress in meeting the requirements issued from the last full inspection and to show evidence of the ongoing improvement work that they have described.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, it was established that no new admissions have been made. The provider has complied with the condition.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors met with the responsible individual, the company secretary and the Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 2 newly appointed manager. The inspectors examined relevant policies, procedures and records relating to the previous concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual was in the process of appointing a new staff team and had followed up on a gap identified for one member of staff at the last visit, to complete this person’s recruitment process. The responsible individual stated that she had considered the inspectors’ concerns about the qualifications and experience of the previously appointed manager. Consequently, this person has been offered, and accepted, a deputy manager position with a specific role to be responsible for the assessment process and court reports. The responsible individual stated that arrangements are being finalised for the professional supervision of this qualified social worker and it is also planned that she will be supported to study for a management qualification.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been appointed. This appointment has taken place despite the assessment of the applicant’s suitability not being completed satisfactorily. Additionally, while the appointee has experience of being the registered manager of a children’s home and has a management qualification, he has no meaningful experience in, or in-depth knowledge of, working in a residential family centre. Further concerns include the lack of planning to support him to successfully address the significant gaps in his skills, knowledge and experience of residential family centres.

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This monitoring visit

It was of serious concern that neither the responsible individual nor the manager demonstrated that they have a clear understanding about how to respond to safeguarding concerns. The risks to families because of this ambiguity are further compounded by other factors. These include:  A safeguarding policy and associated procedures that lack clarity about reporting processes.  A failure to have developed meaningful working relationships with safeguarding professionals in the local authority. Although some amendments have been made to job descriptions, shortfalls remain. For new staff, the job descriptions do not provide clarity about who will undertake the role of key worker. The manager’s job description has significant omissions such as no description of his responsibilities in respect of being registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems remain underdeveloped. There are no written procedures about the arrangements for monitoring despite this already having been highlighted by Ofsted and the centre’s independent visitor. Important aspects of the work carried out in a residential family centre are not included in the matters identified for monitoring. The manager and responsible individual were unable to clearly describe how they intend to monitor the work of the centre, the expectations of the monitoring or how they will use learning to develop practice. The inspectors’ concerns about the monitoring arrangements were heightened because the manager was unable to demonstrate key knowledge related to the daily operation of a Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 3 residential family centre. It is of serious concern that the manager does not have a basic understanding about the purpose of the work that he has been employed to

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This monitoring visit

The provider has met some of the requirements and recommendations made from the previous full inspection. Other requirements and recommendations have not been met as the centre has not been operational. Issues that have been successfully addressed include the arrangements for storing cleaning products, the management of infection control, the development of an assessment about the location of the centre and the revision of the statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

A sample of policies were viewed in addition to the safeguarding policy. The CCTV and surveillance methods policies remain confused. The surveillance methods policy describes staff being trained on the use of surveillance methods for undertaking parenting assessments, while the CCTV policy identifies the use of CCTV to be for ‘the prevention, reduction, detection and investigation of crime and other incidents’. The CCTV policy does not provide detail about the positioning of cameras apart from the cameras in the bedrooms. The use and purpose of the CCTV equipment has been raised as problematic since the full inspection. It is of concern that the policies and procedures on its use are still not clear.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has made amendments to the staff induction and initial training programme. She said that several new staff members have been recruited and are awaiting an official start date. Since their appointment, such staff have completed a range of online training and external training. In addition, new staff have been provided with some internal training, run by the responsible individual and deputy manager. The core subjects include a range of topics relevant to the role of a support worker in a residential family centre.

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This monitoring visit

Through sampling, it was identified that some of these staff members have completed a high number of online training modules and internal training on the same day. One example included the completion of six online courses in one day. Another example included a six-hour internal safeguarding session, a one-hour session on CAF assessment and sessions on completing safeguarding and incident forms and understanding supervision, all in one day.

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This monitoring visit

The manager was appointed on 4 February 2019. His induction checklist indicates that all the required areas are completed, although this document is not dated. This document confirms that there are no outstanding issues from the recruitment process. This is not accurate. In contrast to the probationary guidance, only one record of supervision was produced. This record identifies the manager’s training needs as requiring safeguarding training commensurate with the role of designated person, as well as supervisor training.

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This monitoring visit

Initially, the changes made to the induction and supervision procedures appear positive. On closer scrutiny, significant omissions and gaps were found through the implementation of these processes. The induction and probationary period for the Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 4 manager has so far failed to formally acknowledge the significant gaps in his understanding of the workings of a residential family centre, yet the induction period is signed off as successfully completed. The responsible individual proposes to address the manager’s lack of safeguarding training by accessing local authority training. While this is helpful, there are no other methods described to support his developing understanding and the plan remains for him to be the centre’s designated safeguarding lead. This is a risky strategy for vulnerable families and a new staff team.

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This monitoring visit

In summary, the provider has failed to successfully address the serious concerns that remained from the previous monitoring visit. The most serious omissions, resulting in compliance notices in relation to the management of the centre, safeguarding arrangements and the recruitment and employment of staff, remain. Ofsted will consider its next steps in response to these continued serious failings. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 5

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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 provider and the registered manager shall, having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents, carry on or manage the centre (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. The registered manager shall undertake from time to time such training as is appropriate to ensure that he has the skills necessary for managing the residential family centre. (Regulation 8 (1)(3) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013) 08/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall prepare and implement a written child protection policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the residential family centre from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect. The procedure under paragraph (1) (b) must in particular provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which is making child protection enquiries in relation to any child accommodated in the residential family centre; the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the residential family centre is situated; and any allegations of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the residential family centre. Written records should be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response. Consideration should be given in each case to the measures which may be necessary to protect children in the

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Requirement Due date

residential family centre following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(d)(e) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013) 08/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all permanent appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and the registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him receive appropriate 08/04/2019 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 6 training, supervision and appraisal; and are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 17 (1)(a)(5)(a)(b) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013)

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall not allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre. For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 16 (1)(b)(3)(d) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013) 08/04/2019

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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) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the medication policy is implemented in practice. 08/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the residential family centre is conducted in a manner which respects the privacy and dignity of residents. (Regulation 10 (3)(a) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) or other surveillance methods is assessed and show that it is necessary for safeguarding the welfare of the residents or others or that it is assessed as being needed to support the assessment process to inform decision-making. 08/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents and the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b) The Residential Family Centres (Amendment) Regulations 2013) 08/04/2019 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House Limited 7

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Recommendations

 The assessment and final report should be linked clearly to the court instruction and/or local authority requirements and should be delivered within the timescales specified. (‘Residential family centres national minimum standards 2002’, 1.4) In particular, provide effective challenge to local authorities that do not provide letters of instruction and other court documents in a timely way.  Where parents are being supported to develop parenting skills, they are enabled to build and sustain constructive relationships with staff so that, where possible, they are able to resolve conflicts themselves in a positive manner. (‘Residential family centres national minimum standards 2002’, 4.3) Ensure that all staff have the skills required to build relationships that residents can benefit from.  Ensure the centre has arrangements with specialist services such as mental and sexual health services, so that parents and their children have the

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Recommendations

services they need. (‘Residential family centres national minimum standards 2002’, 6.3) In particular, when appropriate, help parents to attend appointments with services offering help in relation to matters that have caused them distress.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the residential family centre since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Ambient House Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Moore Stephens LLP, City Gates 2–4, Southgate, Chichester, Sussex PO19 8DJ

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Georgina Puttock

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Inspectors:

Rosie Dancer: regulatory social care inspector Sophie Wood: regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Ambient House 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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Inspectors:

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Inspectors:

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Inspectors:

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