Oak House New Spring Residential Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 1 Oak House New Spring Residential Centre New Spring Family Care (Preston) Limited 316 Blackpool Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 3AE 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 five families at any one time. The residential family centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the family court or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre became operational in April 2020.

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Information about this residential family centre

There is currently no registered manager. The previous registered manager left their position in November 2020. The acting manager is in the process of applying to Ofsted for registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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good

How well children and parents are helped and protected

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

Date of previous inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents build trusting relationships with staff. Parents expressed that they value the positive relationships they share with staff. One parent said, ‘I would give this place ten stars. We will take away things we have learned in the parenting group for life. The staff have helped build our confidence and reduce our anxieties.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The staff team actively promotes parents’ personal well-being by helping with the children when needed, including through crèche support. This is done in a way that does not undermine parents and enables families to care more effectively for their children. Consequently, families are making good progress and are developing their parenting skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Professionals reported that there are effective lines of communication, and staff are proactive regarding any safeguarding matters. Social workers described the staff team as ‘amazing’ and said that they couldn’t ask for better support for the parents. The inspectors observed a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The staff are nurturing with families, and parents are responsive to the staff’s guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff spoken to are knowledgeable about the families residing in the centre. They are confident about performing their roles. They understand what is expected of them in relation to direct work and observations as part of the parenting assessment. Parents are provided with keyworkers who undertake direct work, which provides the opportunity for honest conversations about parents’ progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre provides numerous sessions and workshops, which supports parents with their development to create a positive environment for their children. Parents are educated about basic parenting skills and child development. Their capability is clearly assessed and recorded throughout the duration of their placement. Baby clubs, and mind, body and future sessions form part of parents’ weekly routines and opportunities to engage in relaxing activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

A qualified social worker undertakes the family assessments. The assessments are of good quality, they are balanced, and make clear recommendations based on the evidence relating to parenting capacity and progress made. Parents are involved in their assessments throughout their placement and their views are always considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The staff team prioritises children’s and parents’ health. Parents are supported to ensure that their children attend all routine and specialist appointments. They are trained to identify child illnesses and use basic first aid as part of their parenting. Equally, the staff team closely monitors parents’ emotional well-being, compliance with medication and their general physical health to ensure that they can safely care for their child. Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 3

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff are good role models, and they support parents to safeguard their children. Parents make safer choices because of the clear guidance and boundaries provided by the staff team. Parents also spoke highly of the freedom programme, which they said has educated them about reducing risk-taking behaviour and vulnerability.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Matching risk assessments carefully consider the impact of families living together. Control measures and agreed levels of staff supervision are identified to minimise risks. Parents are provided with a detailed induction to the centre, which includes clear expectations relating to acceptable behaviour.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Incident records and risk chronologies contain evidence that staff act promptly to safeguard children and support parents. Staff are vigilant and monitor surveillance systems regularly. Focused discussions with parents are undertaken following any incidents. Risk assessments give staff clear guidance about immediate action that they should take to safeguard parents and their children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Serious concerns are appropriately investigated by senior managers. This has included managers taking immediate action to address any shortfalls in staff’s safeguarding practice. The members of the staff team understand the role of the designated officer, the importance of reporting concerns to the relevant person without delay and their responsibility in relation to the whistleblowing policy.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been no complaints made by parents, which demonstrates that parents feel listened to and respected. Parents’ views are explored regularly in residents’ meetings, which cover topics relevant to shared living, addressing any potential conflicts and promoting a settled home.

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good

The manager acts to address medication errors associated with poor staff recording. However, the manager has not taken sufficient action to improve staff’s understanding of medication records, as there continues to be further medication errors. That said, there has not yet been an impact on parents’ or their child’s safety because of this shortfall.

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good

Safer recruitment has not been adhered to. Managers have failed to ensure that all written references were suitably obtained and verified prior to some staff’s employment commencing. In addition, disclosure and barring online update checks were printed out on the day of the inspection and there is no evidence on file that they had been checked previously.

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good

There have been several changes to the senior management team, and the registered manager’s position has been vacant for a lengthy period. However, the acting manager has submitted her application to Ofsted and is waiting to be Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 4 interviewed. She is supported by a newly appointed care manager, who deputises in her absence.

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good

The manager knows the parents and their children very well. She is a positive role model and has realistic expectations of what parents can achieve during their time at the centre. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of the service and considers ways that it can develop and improve. However, since the centre opened, she has failed to send a reviewed statement of purpose that includes an update on staff experience and qualifications.

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good

Staff said that they feel supported by the senior team and are provided with lots of opportunities for training and development. For example, some staff are trained to deliver specific courses to parents as part of their parenting assessment. These courses include ‘five to thrive’ and baby massage. That said, team meetings do not take place regularly. Additionally, staff are not provided with regular practice-related supervisions in line with the company’s own policy. This is a missed opportunity to communicate changes, and to review and develop staff practice.

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good

The quality of the independent person reports has improved, with regular feedback from parents and professionals obtained. Additionally, the recent appointment of a person for completing the reports means that there is now impartial and independent scrutiny of the service provided. The manager completes her own monitoring report, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of care and a clear action plan for the coming months. Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 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 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.

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Requirement Due date

keep under review and where appropriate revise the statement of purpose and resident’s guide; and

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Requirement Due date

notify the [Chief Inspector] within 28 days of any such revision.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 4 (1) (4)(a)(b)) 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements for the recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed by a person other than the registered per-son in a position in which he may in the course of his duties have regular contact with residents. 31 March 2022 Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 6 For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre un-less—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to support and advice to provide a comprehensive service for parents and their children and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (‘Residential Family Centres: National Minimum Standards’, 17.4, page 26) This specifically relates to staff being provided with regular practice-related supervisions and regular staff team meetings.

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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: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: New Spring Family Care (Preston) Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 316 Blackpool Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 3AE

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Residential family centre details

Email address: manager@newspringpreston.co.uk

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Inspector

Mrs Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Oak House New Spring Residential Centre 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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