Family Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 1 Family Assessment Centre Kaleidoscope Assessment Services Limited Finsley House, Finsley Street, Briercliffe, Lancashire BB10 2HN 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 provide care for up to three families at any one time.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the court and/or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre registered with Ofsted in July 2014.

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Information about this residential family centre

There was no registered manager in place at the time of the inspection. An application to register with Ofsted has been received from the manager.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were three families living in the centre at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

There are widespread failures that mean children and parents welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and experiences of children and parents are poor.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Three families have moved into the centre recently. Inspectors received both positive and negative feedback from the residents. Residents have complained that their ability to go out in the community has been negatively impacted due to insufficient staff. One resident told inspectors that this has impacted on their mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Inspectors had significant concerns about the standard of the accommodation. A radiator in the kitchen of one flat did not work. There was also a leak in the bedroom and kitchen area. Due to the leak in the flat, the residents of this flat were sleeping on the sofa. This was not identified by staff or the manager. At the previous inspection, it had been identified that windows in other residents’ flat required attention. This had not been rectified. The centre does not provide a comfortable and homely environment for parents and their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Local authority information relating to children is not available in the centre. There are also no care plans for children. The information held for children in placement plans is minimal and they vary in quality. An updated placement plan identified the need for a mental health safety plan for one resident, but this was not on file. This does not promote and support parents’ mental health, which in turn can impact on their parenting capacity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Inspectors are of the view that existing systems for monitoring and reviewing the centre to inform improvement lack rigour. Due to this, the manager is not able to evidence the quality of care provided to families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Residents said that ‘some staff are better than others.’ All residents said they have built a positive relationship with the centre’s social worker. Social work assessments are clear and concise, with clear recommendations to the court. The assessments are evidence based and are completed within the assessment framework requested by the local authority.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Significant shortfalls were identified regarding the help and protection of children. Court directed orders indicate that families need continuous monitoring through CCTV. The policy of the centre is that there are always two staff on duty. However, inspectors found that staff had been lone working. This compromises children’s safety and welfare, as staff are then unable to monitor the CCTV systems in place.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Court directed orders indicated that one resident required direct work around their mental health and self-injurious behaviours. This had not taken place. Inspectors observed further shortfalls in direct-work sessions around subjects that the staff had not had training in. For example, one direct-work session suggests that families Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 3 should start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, although they have not been assessed as safe to do so. This can have a harmful effect on children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Fire risk assessments are now being completed by an external company. However, the fire risk assessment states that staff will have a fire evacuation within 24 hours. Inspectors could not see that these had been completed for new staff members. This impacts on staff being able to safely evacuate parents and children in the event of a fire.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Parents are supported to ask for health advice for their children. One resident said that the health visitor has referred her to a mental health service to support her emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspectors found significant shortfalls in the current monitoring and review systems. These shortfalls had not been identified by managers, senior leaders or the independent person before this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Insufficient staffing has compromised children’s safety. The manager could not demonstrate that they have sufficient staff working at the centre in the absence of any staff logbook. The staff rota did not provide any clarity about which staff have been on shift and when. Residents also confirmed that there had been insufficient staff to support them in line with their court directed orders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meeting minutes are of very poor quality, and the information recorded in the residents’ meetings is limited. The independent social worker’s supervision of the manager was detailed and showed effective challenge. However, the statement of purpose states that the manager is supervised by the responsible individual. The home’s practice is not consistent with information in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not all received relevant training to support them in the work they complete with residents. This included first aid, substance misuse, child development and an insight into safer sleeping. The training matrix lacked clarity and was confusing. This hinders the manager’s ability to have sufficient oversight and understanding of what training the staff have completed and when.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monthly reports produced under regulation 25 are inconsistent in terms of quality. They do not identify shortfalls or provide any actions. This hinders the manager’s ability to monitor and make improvements to the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Requirements and recommendations were not met from the last inspection and are restated. Five compliance notices were served under regulations 8 (registered person—general requirements), regulation 15 (staffing of residential family centre), regulation 17 (employment of staff), regulation 21 (fitness of premises) and regulation 23 (review of quality of care). Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 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 provider and the registered manager shall, having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents, carry on or manage the centre with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, monitoring arrangements for the centre shall meet requirements and clearly identify shortfalls. 23 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that the residential family centre is conducted so as to—

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Requirement Due date

promote and make proper provision for the health and welfare of residents; and

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Requirement Due date

make such provision for the care, treatment, education and supervision of residents as is appropriate to their age and needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)) 23 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

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)) 23 January 2023

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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. 23 January 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 5 In particular, ensure that all staff are equipped with the skills and experience required to meet the needs of the parents and children. (Regulation 17 (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person shall ensure that—

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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; and

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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 21 (b)(c)(j)) 23 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall after consultation with the fire authority—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the residential family centre and, so far as practicable, residents, are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire, including the procedure for saving life. (Regulation 22 (1)(b)(e)) 23 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

*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

In particular, ensure that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and reviewing the family centre. 23 January 2023

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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

the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be; 23 January 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment Centre 6 another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or

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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 registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

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Requirement Due date

Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

inspect the premises of the residential family centre, its daily log of events and records of any complaints; and

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Requirement Due date

prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (5)(a) (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Family Assessment Centre 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Kaleidoscope Assessment Services Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Finsley House, Finsley Street, Briercliffe, Lancashire BB10 2HN

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Inspectors

Mrs Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Family Assessment 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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