Amber Lodge

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 1 Amber Family Ltd 45 Part Street, Southport PR8 1HY Monitoring visit

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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 four families. The centre provides residential assessments that assist local authorities and courts in making decisions which promote the welfare of children.

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Inspection date: 19 November 2019

Date of previous inspection: 16 August 2017

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was undertaken in response to poor safeguarding practice identified following a serious safeguarding incident at the residential family centre. Inspectors found that safeguarding practice at the residential family centre is poor. Staff do not always have the skills to recognise and act when safeguarding issues arise.

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This monitoring visit

A member of staff failed to follow safeguarding procedures prior to and following an incident when a baby was shaken by a parent. Additionally, the provider did not ensure that the baby received medical attention in a timely manner. This placed the baby at further risk of harm. Furthermore, the provider did not inform the placing local authority of other safeguarding concerns, such as domestic incidents, rough handling of the baby and co-sleeping during the 10 days that the family had been residing at the residential family centre. As a result, the placing local authority was not able to ensure that appropriate strategies and monitoring were implemented to ensure that the risks were managed effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Co-sleeping is a regular occurrence for some parents at this residential family centre. The provider has an ‘unwritten policy’ that co-sleeping is not allowed at the residential family centre and that staff must intervene if this happens. However, the intervention is not always effective. For example, on one occasion staff allowed the parents of one child to fall asleep twice with their baby remaining in bed with them. Although the provider addresses co-sleeping with some parents by providing them Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 2 with information on safe sleeping, it did not happen for this family.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not include sufficient up-to-date information relating to serious safeguarding incidents and known vulnerabilities. At the time of referral, risk assessments are completed. However, these risk assessments are not updated once a family moves into the residential family centre. Risks identified during the placement are recorded in daily logs and key-work sessions and this information is not always shared with staff. Additionally, there is no evidence to confirm that staff have read and understood records and no management evaluation and oversight of some records. Deficiencies in risk assessment and records potentially leave children at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Notifications under regulations 26 have not been sent to the regulator as required and the provider’s evaluation of the service does not identify some of the key issues raised at this inspection. This hinders monitoring of the service.

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This monitoring visit

The shortfalls identified at the monitoring visit do not demonstrate that staff are well supported in their roles. The frequency of supervision for support staff and poor performance, such as staff failing to follow safeguarding procedures and only one member of staff being on duty at times, do not help to ensure that staff are able to provide sufficient care, with competence and skill, to meet the needs of parents and their children. This has compromised the experiences and progress of parents and children residing at the residential family centre and has an impact on the ability of parents and children to reach their full potential and be protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Following the monitoring visit, the provider has demonstrated that they are taking effective action to rectify the shortfalls identified.

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This monitoring visit

Two compliance notices, under regulation 8, Registered person – general requirements and regulation 12, arrangements for the protection of children, were issued as a result of this monitoring visit. A further monitoring visit will take place to consider the action taken by the provider to meet the steps in the compliance notice. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 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 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. (Regulation 8(1)) 18/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person shall prepare and implement a written child protection policy which—

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure under paragraph (1)(b) must in particular provide for—

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Requirement Due date

the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the residential family centre is situated, of any allegations of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the residential family centre;

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Requirement Due date

written records to be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

consideration to be given in each case to the measures which may be necessary to protect children in the residential family centre following an allegation of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

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— the registered person; a police officer; an officer of the [Chief Inspector]; 18/12/2019 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 4 an officer of the local authority in whose area the residential family centre is situated; or an officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (Regulation 12(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(d)(e)(f)) 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

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents,

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Requirement Due date

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15(a)(b)) 18/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal (Regulation 17(5)(a)) 18/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

If, in relation to a residential family centre, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (regulation 26(1)) 18/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 5

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: K A Farr & Co Chartered Accountants, 6-8 Botanic Road, Southport, Lancashire PR9 7NG

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Inspectors

Catherine Fargin: social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 6 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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