Jamma Umoja

Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 1 Jamma Umoja 94 Plaistow Lane, Bromley, Kent BR1 3JE 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 a family resource service offering assessment and treatment services. A group of directors owns the company and another residential family centre. Both centres are based in the south London area.

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Information about this residential family centre

This centre provides both residential and community-based assessments of parenting. The centre generally completes residential assessments within a 12-week time frame, amending this, if necessary, in order to meet the individual needs of families. The centre accommodates up to nine families and is staffed on a 24-hour basis.

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Inspection date: 5 May 2021

Date of previous inspection: 21 November 2017

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was triggered by a significant number of complaints received by Ofsted expressing the following concerns about the centre:

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This monitoring visit

 One family’s bedroom was ill-equipped, and was not a safe environment for children.  Safety repairs take a long time before they are completed.  Staff falsely accused one parent of causing harm to their child.  Staff are on their phones and not paying attention to the needs of families.  Staff do not adhere to COVID -19 (coronavirus) government guidelines.  The staff’s completion of final assessments is not comprehensive and lacks detail.  The provider employs inexperienced staff.  There is little staff cohesiveness and this has a negative impact on the quality of care that families receive.  The provider continues to employ relatives of managers. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 2  There is a high turnover of staff, with 10 members of staff having left the centre since January 2021.  Managers do not recruit staff in line with safe recruitment guidelines.

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This monitoring visit

The main outcomes of the visit are as follows:

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This monitoring visit

 Families are generally satisfied with the decor and equipment in their bedrooms.  Families accept that during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reasonable to expect that repairs will take longer than is the norm.  Managers’ investigations into injuries suffered by children are thorough and fair. However, not all significant safeguarding issues are reported to the designated officer or Ofsted as required.  Staff do not use their personal phones when working with families.  Staff adhere to government COVID-19 guidelines and related COVID-19 centre policies and procedures.  The staff’s written final assessment reports are comprehensive and analytical.  Staff are appropriately qualified or are working towards achieving relevant qualifications.  The staff work well together and are supportive of each other. However, gaps are noted in the frequency and quality of some staff’s supervision and appraisals.  Relatives of senior managers are employed at the home.

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This monitoring visit

 There is a low turnover of staff.  Gaps are noted in some staff’s recruitment vetting information.

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This monitoring visit

The centre’s manager, staff members and some resident parents were interviewed during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

One parent had complained that the furnishings, and the way in which furniture was situated in the family’s bedroom, were hazardous to their child. Other family members did not share this view and commented that staff have since ensured that necessary repairs have been completed to their satisfaction. Parents said they understand and accept that repairs have taken longer to be resolved recently due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

The managers’ investigation into a recent injury sustained by a child is comprehensive and detailed about the event and the comments and observations made by the parent and staff. Professionals working with the family said they were kept well informed about developments. The conclusions and recommendations in the investigation outcome are appropriate. However, at the time, managers failed to contact the designated officer and failed to notify Ofsted as required. This is not in accordance with safeguarding protocols. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 3 One parent complained that staff were using their personal mobile phones while working directly with their family. Managers believe the parent to be mistaken, and highlighted that staff now use handheld devices for them to record observations contemporaneously. The information is logged directly on the centre’s main electronic

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This monitoring visit

The complainant stated that staff do not always follow government and NHS guidelines in managing and preventing COVID-19 infection. Parents and staff are candid about the challenges posed by the imposed restrictions. They described the staff’s creative use of remote technology to conduct their work; frequent COVID-19 discussions with parents; additional staff duties; and the provider, early in the pandemic, meeting the cost of COVID-19 testing of all staff and families. These illustrate the degree to which staff effectively sought to keep families, themselves, and others safe.

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This monitoring visit

An anonymous complainant stated that the staff are inexperienced and do not work well together. The complainant suggested that, as a result, families do not receive good- quality care and support. The complainant also stated that managers do not recruit staff in accordance with safe recruitment procedures, and that the relatives of senior managers continue to be employed at the centre.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment records highlight that staff are generally well qualified and experienced in working with vulnerable families undergoing parental assessments. The provider ensures that staff who do not hold formal qualifications are enrolled on relevant courses. The core staff team has worked at the centre for some time; there have been few staff changes since the beginning of 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Parents and staff commented that the staff work very well together. Staff stated that, if anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that they have had to work in greater partnership. This is said to have given rise to close relationships and friendships. One member of staff said, ‘You’re comfortable within yourself. As colleagues we all get on, staff are caring and interested in each other. We have shared experiences during this pandemic.’

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This monitoring visit

The provider employs some staff who are related to senior managers. The recruitment of all staff is generally robust, although it is unclear whether all written references have been verified. Managers consistently conduct Disclosure and Barring Service checks as a feature of staff vetting procedures.

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This monitoring visit

Gaps are noted in the frequency and quality of some staff’s supervision and appraisals. This does not support the staff’s personal and professional development.

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This monitoring visit

External professionals are positive about the quality of service that staff provide. One social worker said, ‘I am comforted by the work being done by the staff team, with my family there are many concerns. The staff team are professional and in relation to safeguarding, they are excellent.’

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This monitoring visit

The centre’s manager has yet to apply to Ofsted to be registered as manager. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 4 Some requirements raised at the last inspection were not reviewed during the visit and so are repeated here. These relate to the review of the quality of care and the fitness of the premises. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 5

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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

A person shall not manage a residential family centre unless he is fit to do so.

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Requirement Due date

A person is not fit to manage a residential family centre unless—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents—

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Requirement Due date

he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary to manage the centre; and

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Requirement Due date

he is physically and mentally fit to do so;

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Requirement Due date

he provides in relation to himself full and satisfactory information in respect of each of the matters listed in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The residential family centre has not had a registered manager in place for several months. It is essential that the current manager successfully completes the application process to register with Ofsted as manager of the home. This will demonstrate her fitness and suitability for the role. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 15 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

For the purpose of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work in a residential family centre unless— 15 July 2021 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 6 full and satisfactory information is available for each person employed in respect of all matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 16 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all written references are verified.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 20 (6)) 15 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must supply to Ofsted a report in respect of any review conducted by him under regulation 23 and make a copy of the report available to residents. (Regulation 23 (2)) 15 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

Arrangements for the protection of children

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

liaison and cooperation with any local authority which is making child protection enquiries in relation to any child accommodated in the residential family centre;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)) 15 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that— 15 July 2021 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 7 the physical design and layout of the premises to be used as the residential family centre meet the needs of families;

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Requirement Due date

the premises to be used as the residential family centre are of sound construction and kept in a good state of repair externally and internally;

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Requirement Due date

all parts of the residential family centre are kept clean and reasonably decorated;

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Requirement Due date

adequate private and communal accommodation is provided for families;

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Requirement Due date

the size and layout of rooms occupied or used by families are suitable for their needs, and each family is provided with at least one room for its exclusive use;

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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 12 (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(j))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that bedrooms are appropriately equipped and prepared for families to occupy, and bedrooms include necessary child safety devices.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall without delay notify the parent accommodated in the residential family centre with a child of any significant incident affecting the child’s welfare unless to do so is not reasonably practicable or would place the child’s welfare at risk.

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Requirement Due date

Any notification made in accordance with this regulation which is given orally shall be confirmed in writing. (Regulation 26 (1) (2) (3)) 15 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

(5) The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him— 15 July 2021 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 8 receive appropriate training, supervision, and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a))

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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: Jamma Umoja (Residential Services) Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Mazars Llp, Apex 2, 97 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Jamma Umoja 9 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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