Victoria Villa

Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 1 Victoria Villa Keys Family Assessment Centre Limited 4 Lion Hill, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire DY13 9HD Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

A large national private company operates this residential family centre. It is registered to provide a service for six families.

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Information about this residential family centre

An experienced and qualified registered manager is in post.

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Information about this residential family centre

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff have excellent relationships with families. The registered manager has ensured that the support which staff provide for families is well balanced against the need for assessment. As a result, parents feel listened to, respected and valued during the assessment process. Parenting assessments are carried out in consultation with parents from the moment they arrive at the centre until they leave.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Case managers meet with parents weekly. They discuss how the assessment is progressing. Parents are provided with a weekly report that captures these discussions. Parents are actively encouraged to share and document their views during the weekly meetings. Parents informed inspectors that concerns were shared with them in a non-judgemental way, at the time they arose and during the weekly meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

There is a continuous dialogue between case managers, staff and parents to monitor and review the assessment process. As a result, parents understand why they are being assessed and how the assessment is progressing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Family placement plans are agreed at the start of each assessment. The plans contain the local authority’s instruction for the assessment and how this will be achieved. Assessments and the direct work completed with families are individualised and reflect the family’s placement plan. Staff take account of parents’ learning needs and adapt their approach to ensure that parents can fully understand the process. For example, reports are adapted to an easy-read format when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Midpoint and final assessment reports are balanced and clearly communicate parenting strengths and concerns. Reports are child focused and detail the child’s experiences during the assessment. Reports contain any concerns that are untested, and detail any ongoing support that families may require in the community. Final assessment reports give clear recommendations to inform decision-making about children’s futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Assessment time frames are adhered to and assessments are concluded early when it has been assessed to be in the child’s best interests. This helps to prevent drift and delay for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff complete life-story books for children. The child’s life from birth and their early childhood memories with their family are captured in these documents. Parents take these home with them and they are also provided with an electronic copy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre does need some redecoration, due to general wear and tear around the building. Despite this, the centre does have a homely feel that allows families to relax during their stays. Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 3

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been very few safeguarding incidents at the centre at the centre because staff keep child protection practices central to the assessment process. Staff are highly skilled in keeping children and parents safe. Prompt action is taken in order to complete the assessment quickly if this is in the child’s best interests and if it ensures that children are not exposed to harm.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Prior to families moving into the centre, all known risks are considered. These are discussed openly with the parents when they arrive. Assessments are focused on assessing risk and working with parents to reduce risk when possible. Parents fully understand the risks and concerns professionals have, because these are shared in an open and transparent way.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The direct work that staff complete with parents is reflective of the assessment concerns and risks. Staff cover a range of topics, including domestic violence, family relationships, mental health, and basic care skills. This work supports the assessment in identifying the parent’s capacity to change, keep the child safe and meet the child’s needs now and in the future.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the families they work with. Staff follow the framework for assessment. The assessment addresses all areas of risk, including the child’s developmental needs, parenting capacity, and family and environmental factors. Staff can confidently talk about safeguarding concerns and how they keep children safe during the assessment. Managers and staff promptly address any concerns directly with parents, and keep professionals informed.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The registered manager’s safer recruitment practices are good. She ensures that the adults who are employed to work in the centre have had full and detailed recruitment checks.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are reviewed and updated weekly. However, risk assessments do not contain information as to why supervision levels are increased or decreased, and why some surveillance measures are in place. Some levels of monitoring are not proportionate to the current risks and needs of families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and qualified registered manager is in post who is empathetic towards parents while keeping children central to the assessment process. She has disseminated this ethos and approach throughout the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the centre’s strengths and areas for development. She has high expectations for the service and has a development plan in place to make continued improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the service and the assessments provided. Communication has been described as excellent by all professionals. They recognise Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 4 the staff’s commitment and dedication to their role, and value the detail of the reports produced by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and review systems are in place. Senior management meetings take place regularly to review the progress of assessments, share information and reflect on practice. This provides an opportunity for practice to be challenged and for ideas to be shared.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A strength of the centre is that staff continually gather feedback from families and use this to inform and improve the assessments. Staff also gather feedback from professionals, and this is overwhelmingly positive. However, this is not done consistently, and such feedback has not been included in the quality of care review. This is an area that could be developed further. This has been identified by the registered manager and it is included in her development plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are given training in a range of areas to help them carry out their role. Staff are passionate about the assessments they provide and are skilled in working with families. The staff are well supported to develop and progress in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular supervision takes place with staff. Staff are supported by the registered manager, who is available to them to discuss concerns and ideas. Social workers at the centre have supervision, but this is not from someone who is competent in the techniques of social work. This has not had an impact on the staff’s sense of being supported, or their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, complaints are responded to efficiently and are documented. They are investigated and parents are satisfied with outcomes. Parents know how to complain, and told inspectors they would feel confident about making a complaint if they needed to. Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 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

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him—

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, social workers should receive supervision from those who are competent in the techniques of social work. 25 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6) and any requirements for electronic monitoring imposed by a court under any enactment, the registered person must ensure that electronic or mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of residents are not used in a residential family centre, except for the purpose of—

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Requirement Due date

safeguarding their welfare, or that of other residents accommodated in the centre; or

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Requirement Due date

assessment or monitoring carried out under regulation 13A.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any use of such devices is subject to the following conditions:

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Requirement Due date

the residents are informed in advance of the intention to use the device; and

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Requirement Due date

its use is no more intrusive than necessary.

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Requirement Due date

Where the use of such devices is used for the purpose at paragraph (1)(b), the registered person must also ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

the resident being assessed or monitored consents to the use of the device in question; and 25 June 2021 Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 6 its use is provided for in the placement plan. (Regulation 21A (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the monitoring of residents, using monitoring devices and/or checks carried out, should be proportionate to the level of risk identified and detailed in the families’ risk assessments and or placement plans.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should, following a placement, seek feedback from the professionals who were involved. This should be done as part of the registered person’s quality assurance process. (‘Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards’, page 7, paragraph 1.15)  The registered person should ensure that the centre is well maintained and decorated. (‘Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards’, page 19, paragraph 11.2)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and parents using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Keys Family Assessment Centre Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Keys Care Ltd, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Residential family centre details

Email address: manager.victoriavillas@keyschildcare.co.uk

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Victoria Villa 8 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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