Jennens House

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 1 Jennens House J.A.C.S Specialist Limited

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is privately owned and run. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities, courts, parents and children in the provision of fair and evidence-based parenting assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is registered to accommodate up to seven families. Families usually stay at the centre for 12 weeks for their assessment. A range of assessment methods are used.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre registered on 6 October 2021. The post for a registered manager is vacant.

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This monitoring visit

This residential family centre was judged inadequate at the full inspection that took place on 16 and 17 August 2022. Due to concerns identified during the full inspection, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice, which means that no new families could move in. Ofsted also issued three compliance notices under regulations 13 (amendment), 15 and 22 of the Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the restriction of accommodation notice and the progress made against the three compliance notices raised at the full inspection. The restriction of accommodation notice has been adhered to and no new families have moved into the centre. The provider has not taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices raised under regulations 13 (amendment) and 15. The compliance notice raised under regulation 22 is deemed to be met. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 2 Following this visit, the provider notified Ofsted of its intention to voluntarily cancel its registration. This means that the centre will cease to operate when the remaining three families move out.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some significant changes to the management structure of the centre. The interim manager has left her role and the operations director for the service and the quality assurance manager have taken over as interim managers. At the time of the visit, it was intended that the quality assurance manager would be submitting her application to register with Ofsted. As the provider has decided to voluntarily cancel its registration, the quality assurance manager will not be applying to be the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

There have been occasions when the centre has not had sufficient staffing levels and agency staff have been used. Managers are unable to evidence that recruitment checks for the agency staff have been carried out or that inductions have taken place.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are not fully aware of how to deal with risky and difficult situations. They do not fully understand their safeguarding roles or responsibilities. On one occasion, a parent left their baby unsupervised while the baby was feeding. This was not challenged by staff at the time and no follow-up work with the parent was undertaken. Managers were not aware of the incident.

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This monitoring visit

The centre has continued to use closed-circuit television cameras to monitor families. However, the inspector noted that the cameras are not monitored in line with the centre’s own procedures. Cameras are not watched when staff are on the way to visit the families in their rooms. This provides a window of opportunity for an incident to occur without staff’s knowledge. Portable devices have been purchased to address this issue; however, these were not in use during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed and updated families’ placement plan documents. However, these documents are not effective and still do not contain up-to-date information. One plan has not been updated to reflect a significant change in a parent’s assessment. In addition, plans do not include new information and advice from health professionals. This lack of detail does not ensure that children’s and parents’ health needs are met.

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This monitoring visit

Management monitoring systems are not effective. The manager informed the inspector that the deadline for two of the families’ assessments had been extended. The delay in the assessment being concluded was due to poor communication between managers and the assessing social worker. This means that some children and their parents must stay in the centre for longer than necessary due to the inadequate management in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A new independent person has been appointed to carry out visits. However, during this visit, the manager informed the inspector that the independent person would Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 3 also be quality assuring assessments. This arrangement is a conflict and does not ensure that there is independent oversight of the service.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, a door wedge was being used to hold open a fire door. The managers took immediate action to address this.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements raised at the last inspection were not reviewed and have been restated. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 4

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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

Subject to paragraph (6) the registered person shall ensure that the residential family centre is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 4 (1) (5)) 31 October 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. (Regulation 11 (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the staff following the medication policy. 31 October 2022

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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

the facilities and services to be provided during the course of the placement;

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Requirement Due date

the objectives and intended outcome of the placement.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary.

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Requirement Due date

In preparing or reviewing the placement plan the registered person shall, so far as practicable— 31 October 2022 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 5 seek and take account of the views of the members of the family;

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Requirement Due date

take account of any relevant assessment or other report relating to any member of the family which may be provided by the placing authority. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s and parents’ placement plans are reflective of their needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the parents’ capacity to respond to the children’s needs and to safeguard their welfare is monitored or assessed by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the requirements of this regulation.

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Requirement Due date

All assessment or monitoring of parents’ capacity to respond to the children’s needs and to safeguard their welfare must be carried out in accordance with appropriate and generally recognised methods for such assessment and, in particular, having due regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State relating to the assessment of children in need (7) and their parents under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970(8).

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Requirement Due date

The methods of assessment or monitoring must be capable of evaluating the parents’ capacity to change.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that conclusions or recommendations are made as a result of the assessment or monitoring and that—

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Requirement Due date

such conclusions or recommendations are objective and based on verifiable evidence; and

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Requirement Due date

the evidence on which they are based is capable of being presented in a manner that is clear, accessible and appropriate to the persons who will need to consider them. (Regulation 13A (1) (2) (3) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to parents receiving evidence-based assessments. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to— 31 October 2022 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 6 the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents; and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents,

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Requirement Due date

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the residential family centre has a sufficient staff team to meet the needs of the families.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless—

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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. (Regulation 16 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff are safely recruited. 31 October 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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to parents’ and children’s records being clear and up to date. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 21 (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the physical environment is safe for families. 31 October 2022 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 7 The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager has an effective monitoring system in place. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an individual but is not in day-to-day charge of the residential family centre, he shall visit the residential family centre in accordance with this regulation.

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

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Requirement Due date

an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

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Requirement Due date

interview, with their consent and in private, such of the residents and persons working at the residential family centre as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the residential family centre. (Regulation 25 (1) (2)(c) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to improving the quality of visits by the registered provider, including the written report. 31 October 2022

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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. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: J.A.C.S Specialist Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 66 to 68 Wednesbury Road, Walsall WS1 3RR

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Inspector

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Jennens House 9 Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector

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Inspector

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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 6188524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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