Azalea House

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Azalea House 1 Azalea House 71 Spring Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8LT 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 owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation and residential parenting assessments for up to four families.

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Information about this residential family centre

The registered manager has been in post since January 2020.

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Information about this residential family centre

Date of previous inspection: Not previously inspected

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This monitoring visit

The centre registered in January 2020. It provides parenting assessments and evidence-based court reports for families over a 12-week period. Since registration, 11 families have been assessed. At the time of the visit, there were three families at the centre.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted this visit as the centre has not been inspected since registration due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The visit was conducted using a blended approach with reduced time at the centre and off-site work. The on-site visit included a discussion with the responsible individual and a tour of the accommodation and garden. Two families provided feedback during the visit. One case file was sampled, and the supervision and recruitment records were checked. Remote activities included a discussion with the registered manager and further scrutiny of records to follow up lines of enquiry.

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This monitoring visit

Families benefit from the well-appointed house that provides ample space for communal living and offers good-sized family rooms. However, the garden is not adequately maintained. There is an area with weeds and brambles where a broken sandpit has been left in the undergrowth, and there is a damaged garden ornament lying on the path. This lack of upkeep fails to provide a good, safe outdoor play space for young children. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Azalea House 2 Families spoken with recognise that the intense observation that they undergo places pressure on building relationships with the staff. When assessments sometimes end prematurely, this can affect families, who build a rapport with one another during the assessment period. Despite this, families said that the staff are helpful and supportive in the main.

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This monitoring visit

The COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have placed added pressure on the families and staff. Weekly shopping slots have been allocated to reduce the risks of cross- infection and to encourage families to improve their organisation and time- management skills. This compensates for the limited community activities available.

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This monitoring visit

During the periods of lockdown restrictions, the staff have provided flexible arrangements to help parents to see other immediate family members in the garden. The staff have supported families in understanding the current government guidelines and restrictions. This helps families to adhere to the rules and reduces the risk of an infection outbreak.

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This monitoring visit

The feedback from two social workers is very positive and highlights the professional approach and high standard of the end-of-placement assessments.

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This monitoring visit

The manager provides effective leadership and support to the staff. Supervision addresses practice issues and is reflective and focused on the families. This helps the staff to learn from their mistakes and improve their observation and support skills.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual provides monthly visits to check records and help the centre develop and improve. These visits generate actions that are reviewed each month. The manager has reported on the quality of care and used a variety of feedback to compile her reports. However, she has not sent these reports to Ofsted as required, which reduces the extra safeguard intended. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Azalea House 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 person shall ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

external grounds which are suitable for, and safe for use by, residents are provided and appropriately maintained. (Regulation 21 (2)(j)) 19 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the Commission a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purpose of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available to residents. (Regulation 23 (2)) 19 March 2021

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made by the residential family centre since its Ofsted registration.

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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: Athena Family Services Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 71 Spring Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK42 8LT

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Azalea House 4 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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