First Steps North West

Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 1 First Steps North West First Steps North West Limited 15 Queens Road, Accrington BB5 6AR Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately owned and run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities, courts, parents and children by providing fair and evidence-based parenting assessments. The centre is registered to accommodate up to five families. At the time of the inspection, there were three families in residence.

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Information about this residential family centre

The families have their own bedrooms and share the communal rooms. The communal space includes two kitchens, a dining room, play/sensory room, a spacious lounge and three bathrooms with bath and shower. There is a medium- sized garden that circles the property, with external access.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre was registered on 27 May 2022. The registered manager has recently resigned. However, a new manager has been appointed and is progressing her application to register.

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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 good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The home is well equipped and tastefully furnished. Bedrooms are spacious and decorated to a high standard. Parents and their children receive a warm welcome when they arrive at the centre. They are given a welcome pack with essential items to help them settle quickly in their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Thorough and good-quality assessments are completed prior to admission. Any compatibility issues that could potentially arise with families already in residence are well considered. Any shortfalls and/or lack of information in the referral documentation are followed up on, so that informed decisions can be made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are provided with all the information they need soon after their arrival. Agreements and expectations around their behaviour are fully explained. Equally, parents are informed of the support and help they will receive from staff during their stay. Many parents have visited the centre before they moved in, giving them a sense of familiarity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents and their children are able to form trusted and open relationships with staff at all levels, including their key worker, the assessing social worker and family practitioners. Parents are kept well informed and participate at every stage of their assessment. They receive regular feedback on their progress. Any difficult discussions are managed sensitively to help parents make the necessary changes to enable them to safely look after their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents participate in activities that help their children to develop, learn and have positive experiences. These include sensory play, baby massage and sing and rhyme. In addition, parents can come together and enjoy themed events, such as Halloween, craft sessions, cooking meals and baking. This helps parents to feel less socially isolated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are offered a nurturing programme of interventions. Key working, parenting assessments and observations are very well organised and undertaken by a well- qualified and skilled workforce. The assessment reports are of a high standard and are evaluative and evidence-based. They inform next steps and make recommendations in the best interests of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

When parents and their children leave the centre, families are given considerable support to help them maintain the assessed progress they have made. This has seen the manager working with other agencies to offer outreach and advocacy for families to address issues such as housing. This has helped to relieve many anxieties that parents would ordinarily be experiencing. Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 3

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The protection of children is embedded in the ethos of the centre and is at the forefront of all assessment processes. Safeguarding practices are implemented to keep children safe. Risk assessments are completed, and frequent and close monitoring of children and parents takes place from the outset.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

When risks change or reduce, risk assessments are not routinely updated to reflect this. This means that, for some families, levels of supervision moving forward can be disproportionate and risk averse. It does not always give the right message to parents as their assessment progresses if CCTV continues to be monitored around the clock.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

In addition, the procedures for intermittent CCTV monitoring do not limit the recording of families. Although parents give consent for assessment purposes, the agreement does not specify the extent of the CCTV coverage. This impacts on parents’ rights for privacy and is more intrusive than necessary. Managers have noted this and are reviewing CCTV use.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers and staff have a good understanding of each family’s individual risk factors and support needs. Their knowledge and understanding feeds into placement planning and assessment and is regularly reviewed and discussed in supervision, daily handovers and team meetings. This ensures that parents are involved and supported well to understand and minimise the risk to their children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre employs staff who offer parents therapeutic and counselling support and guidance. They also consider other factors that impact on parenting abilities, such as mental health, alcohol and drug dependency and childhood trauma. This assists in providing a well-rounded holistic assessment.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents, staff and professionals confirm that there are good levels of consultation throughout their assessment. One parent said, ‘I really appreciate being given a chance to prove myself. I get so much support and guidance.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been no significant or serious incidents since the centre was first registered. Staff are fully aware of their responsibilities in reporting child protection concerns and following safeguarding procedures. Body maps are consistently completed and children are well protected.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Safe recruitment practices meet regulatory requirements to ensure that individuals employed are suitable and safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre is managed well. The management team provides visible and confident leadership and is continuing to develop the service following registration. The registered manager has recently resigned. However, a new manager has been appointed and is due to start in the near future. This means that continuity of Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 4 service delivery is being maintained and effective cover arrangements are in place for this interim period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Families benefit considerably from living in a well-run centre. Families spoken to and written feedback from past residents have been consistently positive about the support they get from the staff and the managers. Comments include:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘I think the placement was really good. All the staff were lovely and helpful, providing advice and support.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘We get valuable support and guidance from the staff. It has made a real difference to how I approach parenthood.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

These comments demonstrate that parents have the security to address their concerns. Managers and staff have been effective in empowering parents and promoting an open culture where everyone feels respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is cohesive, supportive and brings a variety of skills and knowledge to the centre. Staff spoken with during the inspection said that they enjoy their work and are proud of what they do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers are working towards a more consistent approach in following the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines around basic care. Managers welcome all suggestions from staff around improving recording activity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular good-quality training that keeps them well informed. Staff receive regular supervision, which enables them to reflect on their practice and recognise their strengths and areas for development. Staff are well supported and this enables them to operate as a well-functioning team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff make good use of a range of teaching methods, including experiential learning, interactive video, key-work sessions and observations. The focus is on helping parents improve their parenting skills. Parents are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and learn how to support and safeguard, nurture and maintain their child’s welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are routine external reviews of the centre which provide families with the opportunity to speak to an independent person to express their views. Internal monitoring and reporting on the quality of care provided by the centre is reviewed by the manager at appropriate intervals. Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 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

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. (Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002, 21A (1)(a)(b) (3)(b)) 17 March 2023

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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: First Steps North West 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: First Steps North West Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 15 Queens Road, Accrington BB5 6AR

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Residential family centre details

Email address: firststepsnwltd@gmail.com

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: First Steps North West 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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