The Orchards

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 1 The Orchards Smith & Massen Limited 6 Hillyard Road, London W7 1BH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three families. Families benefit from having their own rooms within a large residential property. The centre is able to provide residential, day and community-based assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre was registered with Ofsted in March 2015. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted at the same time.

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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: 4 October 2016

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 2

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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

Requirement Due date Review of quality of care

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Statutory requirements

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Statutory requirements

reviewing at appropriate intervals; and improving, the quality of care provided at the residential family centre.

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Statutory requirements

The system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for adequate consideration of matters raised under regulation 18 by persons working at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23) 01/12/2019

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Statutory requirements

Statement of purpose and resident’s guide

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Statutory requirements

The registered person shall produce a written guide to the residential family centre (residents’ guide) which shall include—

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Statutory requirements

the address of Ofsted and the address and telephone number of the Children’s Commissioner. (Regulation (4)(3)(d)) 01/12/2019

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Recommendations

 Ensure there is an effective policy on the safe management of medicines, which includes a written record of all medication given to parents. (NMS 6.6)  Ensure the registered person can demonstrate that they consistently follow good recruitment practice. (NMS 14.2)  Ensure there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring the centre. (NMS 19.1) In particular, Regulation 25 reports should include a comment on the inspection of the premises.  Ensure the registered person has an effective system to notify Ofsted within 24 hours of the occurrence of significant events. (NMS 21.1) Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre succeeds in providing a warm and positive atmosphere where families are able to flourish. An extensive programme enables parents to work on becoming better parents and individuals. There is a strong commitment to defining each parent’s learning styles, which helps parents to maximise their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The structured assessment process is transparent, and parents can provide feedback throughout. Families benefit from engaging in a reflective nurturing parenting programme. Alongside receiving training in child development, parents are also supported to explore their own childhood and background experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Local authorities praised the quality of the assessment reports, especially the early outcome indicator report, which enables them to swiftly and effectively plan for children’s care needs Assessment reports focus on parenting strengths, parents’ capacity to change and areas for further development. They concisely interweave relevant research and theories, and answer the questions set by the court.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents benefit from engaging in a life skills for self-development programme. Parents learn practical skills such as budgeting. They also have the opportunity to improve their literacy skills and receive careers advice. This support helps parents to raise their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents make the most of the local community, which includes attending sessions at the local children’s centre. Leaders and managers recognise the stressful nature of the assessment process and ensure that parents receive appropriate breaks, which can include staff babysitting for them. They also enjoy fun social activities, which during the summer included a barbecue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The organisation offers a free outreach service which provides parents with ongoing support once they leave the centre. A senior local authority manager described this as a ‘valuable’ service. All parents spoken to during the inspection were positive about the quality of the services and care that they and their children had received.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Arrangements for promoting families’ health and well-being are generally good. Families receive support to enable them to lead a healthy lifestyle. On one occasion, staff did not sign the medication administration record. This shortfall did not have a negative impact on the child or the parent.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents are assisted to learn how to keep themselves and their children safe. Staff support parents to develop their understanding of safeguarding, including the different forms of abuse and neglect that children can be vulnerable to. The level of trust parents build with staff enables parents to disclose their own personal Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 4 experiences of childhood abuse.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents benefit from engaging in specialist programmes in relation to domestic violence, anger management and substance misuse. Parents learn the importance of developing healthy personal relationships, managing stress and managing their feelings. They are also are helped to come to terms with the negative aspects of their past.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Health and safety arrangements ensure that families live in a safe environment. Risk assessments influence family placement plans. Regular health and safety checks are undertaken, and issues are promptly actioned.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment lacks robustness. One recruitment file, which related to the employment of a member of staff last year, did not contain evidence that written references had been received before the member of staff was employed. The registered manager stated that verbal references were received, but there was no written record to confirm this.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Current recruitment practices are now more robust. This improvement has been helped by the provider commissioning the services of a specialist human resources company.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been no allegations made against staff or others since the last inspection. Staff benefit from taking a wide range of safeguarding training courses. Staff also know the importance of whistle-blowing.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff appropriately notify local authorities of significant events. There was one occasion, however, when a serious incident involving a parent was not reported to Ofsted.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff use closed-circuit television to observe parents. The surveillance methods are accepted by parents. They do not report any concerns in relation to their privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and children benefit from receiving an effective and personalised service. Parents and professionals spoken with said that they value the warm, yet highly professional leadership and management arrangements. Staff succeed in working positively with parents, which results in the majority of families staying together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have social work qualifications, and have substantial experience in conducting residential parenting assessments. Parents who spoke with the inspector commented that they were treated fairly and with respect.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Placing social workers and managers provided positive feedback regarding the quality of the service. Local authorities also commended the flexibility and supportive nature of the work undertaken with families. Communication was described as ‘excellent and Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 5 consistent’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff advocate for families and strive to meet their needs. Families benefit from receiving additional staff support, which includes being transported to meetings, and are provided with emergency groceries, baby food and nappies. There is also a supply of second-hand clothes donated by other residents should the need arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and their parents receive assistance from a culturally diverse staff team. Staff bring a range of relevant skills to their role, and have experience of working in areas such as social work, teaching and nursery settings. The staff’s skills are enhanced by the provision of a range of training opportunities, which include undertaking the required vocational training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations from the last inspection and the monitoring visit have been addressed. Leaders and managers are aware of the centre’s strengths and areas for development. However, the updated resident’s guide does not include the address of Ofsted, and the address and telephone number of the Children’s Commissioner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager completes a quality of care review, but the most recent report did not include staff feedback or highlight plans for further improvement. Monthly monitoring visits take place, but the subsequent reports do not always include comments regarding the premises. To improve this process, leaders and managers have arranged for future monitoring visits to be undertaken by a highly experienced independent person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents described their accommodation as ‘cosy’ and nice. The property is comfortable and well maintained. Parents have created posters with inspirational messages that are displayed around the centre, which contributes to the positive and homely atmosphere.

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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 Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 6 minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Smith & Massen Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 6 Hillyard Road, W7 1BHH

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Inspector

Sharon Payne: social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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