Foundations Wigan

Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 1 Foundations Wigan Progressive Care Limited

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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 can accommodate up to six families at any one time. The centre provides residential assessments that assist local authorities and courts in making decisions that promote the welfare of children.

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Information about this residential family centre

There is currently no registered manager in post.

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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: 13 October 2021

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: Three compliance notices were issued following a full inspection of the centre on 13 October 2021. All notices were deemed to have been met at a subsequent monitoring visit on 30 November 2021. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents feel well supported in this home and say that they have good relationships with staff. Because of this, the centre is a calm and relaxing environment for parents and their babies to undergo the assessment process. Consequently, families are making good progress with their parenting skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre employs two qualified social workers to undertake family assessments. These are in line with court directions and focus on the specific issues to be addressed. The social workers are supervised, and their work is quality assured by a senior social worker. The social work assessments are well balanced and make clear recommendations based on their evidence relating to parental capacity and positive relationships with their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff spoken to at the inspection were very knowledgeable about the families living in the centre and their individual needs. They are experienced practitioners, who are confident in supporting families through the assessment process. They fully understand what is required of them in relation to direct work with families. This ensures that families feel supported during their stay at the centre. High staffing levels ensure that families receive the appropriate support required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre runs education sessions for families, including maths and English lessons provided by qualified teachers. Parents are educated in basic reading and numeracy skills, which supports their inclusion in the assessment process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are given individualised support at the centre. Staff were observed helping families to make the most of the opportunities available to them. For example, they cooked a Sunday lunch for all the families living at the centre. This helps to support them with parenting skills and learning how to meet their children’s care and dietary needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre commissions specialist services to ensure that the individual needs of the families are met. Examples include drug and alcohol outreach services and a health practitioner. Families have access to resources within the community, which extend their network of support. This ensures that support is available to families who return to live in the community with their children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents are supported to safeguard their children, and vulnerable parents are supported to keep themselves safe. Staff are observed to be good role models for parents. They provide clear guidance and boundaries for parents to follow.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Health and safety in the centre is appropriately maintained. Checks are completed regularly, and issues are addressed. Residents say that staff and managers respond Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 3 quickly to resolve any issues raised. As a result, the centre is in a good state of repair and is a safe environment for families to live.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

One admission to the centre was not comprehensively considered or assessed. Shortfalls identified in this assessment show that not all risks were mitigated prior to this parent’s admission. This has not yet had an impact, but has the potential to hinder the safety of those residing in the centre.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been incidents in the centre in which staff have observed or suspected inappropriate handling of children. Staff have responded quickly and effectively to these incidents, and sought medical assessment where required. Staff have been observant and have appropriately monitored children and families to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The interim manager has ensured that staff are helped to reflect on incidents that have occurred in the home. Detailed reflection and analysis of incidents are supporting staff to evaluate their practice and use lessons-learned to improve how they support parents and children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are underway pre-placement. Robust procedures are in place to ensure that staff understand risks for parents and their children prior to admission. Staff supervision is identified to minimise risk. Parents are given a comprehensive induction to the centre, which supports their understanding of the assessment process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers employed at the centre have good opportunities to discuss and review the progress of families living at the centre with senior practitioners. This leads to well-informed, considered and detailed assessments for families. Assessment timescales are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records kept in the home require attention. Some documents include information that has been copied from one family’s documentation to another, including personal data, such as names. Incidents and complaint records do not include clear timelines, dates or signatures. Shortfalls in recording reduce transparency and effective monitoring. Furthermore, this does not maintain privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is sufficient, qualified staff employed in the home to support the current residents. Staff feel well supported and inspired by the interim manager and, as a result, staff morale has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken action to investigate and respond to concerns or complaints raised in relation to the centre. Responses provided demonstrate that complaints are taken seriously and that residents’ views are listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and review systems are in place to ensure effective oversight of the centre by managers and senior leaders within the organisation. As a result, sufficient Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 4 action has been taken to meet the requirements made at the previous inspection. Additionally, processes have been improved to gather the views of staff and residents in respect of the service. This serves to increase senior management oversight and monitoring, and helps to improve the quality of care and support provided to parents and children. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 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, before providing a family with accommodation in the residential family centre, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible thereafter, draw up in consultation with the placing authority a written plan (in these Regulations referred to as "the placement plan") setting out, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

an assessment of the risks, if any, which a resident at the residential family centre may pre-sent to their own health, safety and welfare or that of other residents or staff at the centre. (Regulation 13 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure robust placement planning by assessing all known and potential risks in impact assessments. 5 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall maintain in respect of each family accommodated in the residential family centre a record which—

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Requirement Due date

is kept up to date. (Regulation 19 (1)(b)) 5 June 2022

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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: Foundations Wigan 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Progressive Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 51 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 2AE

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Residential family centre details

Email address: info@progressivecare.co.uk

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Inspectors

Mrs Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Ms Claire Deary, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Wigan 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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