Fletcher House

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 1

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Safehands Liverpool Ltd

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 accommodate up to three families at any one time. The residential family centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the family court and/or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre was registered with Ofsted in October 2019. The registered manager left the company in March 2020. An interim manager has been appointed and has not yet submitted her application to be registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This residential family centre was newly registered in October 2019. A monitoring inspection was undertaken on 9 March 2020 following concerns raised to Ofsted about the staffing levels and safeguarding practice at the centre. At the monitoring inspection, the inspector identified significant concerns in relation to safeguarding practice, leadership and management and the quality of care and support provided to families. Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted issued an emergency suspension notice. There have been no families living at the centre since the emergency suspension notice was issued.

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This monitoring visit

During the period of suspension, two further off-site monitoring inspections due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions have taken place. The purpose of the monitoring inspections was to monitor the actions taken by the provider in response to the emergency suspension and the shortfalls identified. The inspector found that the Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 2 provider has failed to take sufficient action to demonstrate that children and parents living at the centre will be appropriately safeguarded if the centre is to reopen.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has started to recruit staff to work at the centre. However, the intended staffing ratios are still not sufficient to ensure that children are safely cared for. The provider reported that they plan to have a qualified senior staff member on each shift. However, these have not yet been recruited. The provider indicated that they would change the title of the staff already recruited so that they could lead the shift. However, these staff do not have the skills and experience to work in a family centre or provide the leadership necessary.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has recruited a new manager to run the centre. However, this person has no previous experience of working in or managing a residential family centre. The provider did not demonstrate what steps had been taken to ensure that the manager has the relevant knowledge and skills to undertake this role. The manager has not yet submitted her application to be registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

New staff, including the newly appointed manager, have not undertaken the mandatory training required to work at the centre. This includes training in safeguarding and the administration of medication. This does not enable the staff to have the knowledge and skills to ensure that children are cared for safely.

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This monitoring visit

Safer recruitment processes have not been followed. The provider has failed to demonstrate that they only employ staff at the home who are suitably qualified and checked. For example, references are not consistently verified for some staff, and despite a number of references highlighting suitability concerns these had not been explored rigorously. In addition, references have been requested after the person has started working in the centre. This does not demonstrate that action is being taken to ensure that only suitable people are working with children.

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This monitoring visit

The provider stated that they require an in-house social worker to complete all required assessments. However, this post has not been recruited to, and they do not have any other qualified social workers to undertake this task. This was discussed with the provider who reported that they are considering using a consultancy company. However, the provider has not completed relevant checks to ensure that this is a reputable company with suitably experienced and qualified workers to undertake assessments.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has been unable to demonstrate that families living in the centre will be assessed and supported to meet their children’s needs safely. Staff have not been recruited using safer recruitment processes, and there are not sufficient staff working at the centre who have the relevant experience, knowledge and skills required. Ofsted has reasonable belief that children and families may be at risk of harm if the setting is not suspended. Consequently, a further suspension notice was Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 3 issued. Ofsted will monitor compliance with the notice and review the suspension regularly. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 4

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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 compile in relation to the residential family centre a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as ‘the statement of purpose’) which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person shall provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the [Chief Inspector]. (‘The residential family centres regulations 2002’, regulation 4 (1)(2)) 26/06/2020

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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 residential family centres regulations 2002’, regulation 8 (1)) 26/06/2020

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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— 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; written records to be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response; 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; a requirement for persons working at the residential family centre to report any concerns about the welfare or safety of

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Requirement Due date

any child accommodated in the residential family centre to one of the following— (i) the registered person; 26/06/2020 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 5 (ii) a police officer; (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. (‘The residential family centres regulations 2002’, 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 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. (‘The residential family centres regulations 2002’,

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall not— employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or 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— he is of integrity and good character; he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform; he is physically and mentally fit for the work he is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (‘The residential family centre regulations 2002’, regulation 16 (1)(3)) 26/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him— receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (‘The residential family centres regulations 2002’, regulation 16 (5)(a)) 26/06/2020 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 6

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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: Safehands Liverpool Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 1 Rose Lane, Liverpool L18 8ES

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Antonia Kinsella

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Inspector

Lisa Mulcahy: social care inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Fletcher House 7 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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