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: 18 December 2019

Date of previous inspection: 16 August 2017

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 19 November 2019 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 was poor and that staff did not always have the skills to recognise and act when safeguarding issues arise. Two compliance notices were issued under Regulations 8 and 12 of The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the progress made on the two compliance notices issued. Inspectors found that the provider had taken significant action to improve the quality of care, safeguarding practice and leadership and management at the centre. For example, the provider has reviewed and updated its safeguarding policy, introduced a co-sleeping policy and improved monitoring and review systems.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently no families residing at the centre. One family moved out of the centre as planned after the previous monitoring visit. Another family had their placement ended by the provider due to the parent refusing to adhere to the zero tolerance to co-sleeping at the centre. This demonstrates that the provider took effective action to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been revised and now accurately identify the individual risks Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 2 to children and changes in risk levels. Furthermore, risk assessments provide staff with practical strategies to help them to keep children safe. This approach ensures that risks to children are managed consistently by the registered manager and the staff team and it means that appropriate support is in place to promote the safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

Improved monitoring systems are helping the registered manager to identify and act to address shortfalls. The provider has implemented more robust management monitoring systems that include monitoring daily logs, weekly key-work sessions and risk assessments. The provider has also appointed an independent person to undertake monthly visits under Regulation 25 of the regulations for residential family centres in order to gain independent scrutiny of the standard of care and conduct provided in the residential family centre.

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This monitoring visit

Team meetings and staff supervision have taken place where the registered manager, responsible individual and staff have discussed roles and responsibilities, policies and procedures, reporting and recording, the centre’s ethos and the statement of purpose. They have discussed and reflected on the shortfalls identified at the monitoring visit in November 2019, what went wrong and the new policies and procedures in place to improve the quality of care and safeguarding practice at the centre. Additionally, staff have received clear management direction and support. Consequently, improvement in safeguarding practice and in the quality and consistency of care is evident.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the shortfalls identified at the monitoring visit in November 2019, the provider has made the decision to employ an additional member of waking night staff to work across the company’s three residential family centres. Additionally, as the registered manager also manages another one of the company’s residential family centres a decision has been made to appoint a new manager for this centre. The provider has identified the need to appoint these additional members of staff to ensure that workloads are manageable and that the centre is managed effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The two compliance notices have been met. No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place to review how these improvements are being embedded into the centre’s practice and to ensure that the centre’s ongoing development is sustained. 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; and

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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— (i) the registered person; (ii) a police officer; 18/12/2019 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Amber Family Ltd 4 (iii) an officer of the [Chief Inspector]; (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 (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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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

Mrs 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 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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