The Oval

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 1 The Oval Shape 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 registered in March 2022 and provides accommodation for up to five families at any one time. The centre provides accommodation for families, usually at the direction of the family court, for the purposes of assessing parenting capacity to inform long-term plans for children’s care. At the time of the inspection, the centre was at full capacity, with five families residing there.

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Information about this residential family centre

There is no registered manager in post. The manager has applied to the regulator for registration and is awaiting an interview.

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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

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre provides families with a calm and relaxed environment in which to have their parenting skills assessed. The centre is equipped, decorated and maintained to a good standard. Parents spoken to during the inspection said that they felt relaxed and were made to feel welcome from the moment they arrived.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The assessment process is clear. Parents understand the process and feel informed about their progress. Staff carry out parenting work which runs alongside the assessment sessions. These sessions support parents to develop and improve their parenting skills. Parents said that the parenting sessions are informative, relevant and helpful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Feedback from parents is extremely positive. This was true of those currently residing in the centre and those who have completed their assessments previously. There has been one complaint made that was not investigated in line with regulations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents value the relationships they have with staff. They say that they feel supported to improve and do not feel like they are judged for any shortfalls.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Inspectors observed staff engaging in positive ways with parents and children. Staff were seen to lead nursery rhyme time, which parents and children happily participated in. This models good parenting and helps parents to learn positive parenting skills.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Children are safe at the centre because staff practice is underpinned by good safeguarding processes. Staff have access to sufficient training to enable them to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have only been a small number of safeguarding incidents. These have been dealt with effectively. The manager has good systems in place to identify and address shortfalls in staff practice in relation to safeguarding. There is a strong focus on reflection following any incident. This enables staff to learn and improve practice. Where concerns warrant this, staff disciplinary procedures are followed.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risks for families are clearly identified. Staff spoken to during the inspection spoke with confidence about risk management strategies. Risk assessments and admission impact risk assessments could be improved by adding further detail. This is specifically in relation to identified strategies for staff to follow to reduce risks effectively. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 3 There are appropriate rules, boundaries and routines in place for parents and children. This ensures that parents are aware of expectations and of how to behave in the centre. This contributes to the calm, relaxed atmosphere where there is minimal discord between residents or with staff.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Incidents of bullying between residents are rare. When they do occur, they are dealt with swiftly. Managers help parents to restore relationships when incidents of perceived bullying have occurred.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers follow safer recruitment processes when they recruit new staff. When any potential safeguarding concerns arise at the recruitment stage, managers ensure that these are investigated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management arrangements at the centre have changed since it registered. The new manager is not yet registered, but she is having a positive impact on the centre. Staff and residents alike speak highly of her. Appropriate action has been taken in relation to shortfalls identified in the previous registered manager’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager implements systems to ensure that a high-quality service is delivered. This ensures that parents are helped to learn good parenting skills, children’s safety is prioritised and staff are supported to perform their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the centre. She understands the progress that parents are making. She wants to ensure that they have the best possible chance to succeed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager offers staff opportunities and support to fulfil their potential. She encourages reflective practice and uses this to support professional development. This is in addition to regular supervision and access to a wide variety of training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are in place and are working effectively. Reports under regulation 25 have not routinely been sent to Ofsted, which has hindered the regulator’s ability to monitor the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is no admissions and discharges register kept by managers at the centre. Regulations require such a register. Therefore, a requirement has been raised to reflect this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes partnership working with other agencies. She also challenges other agencies appropriately. Managers are involved in a newly established residential family centre network forum which promotes cross-sector development and the opportunity to share good practice. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 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 also maintain the records specified in Schedule 4 in respect of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must maintain a record in the form of a register showing—

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Requirement Due date

the name, address, date of birth and marital status of each member of each family;

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Requirement Due date

the date on which he took up residence at the residential family centre;

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Requirement Due date

the date on which, and the reason why, he ceased to be accommodated there;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person or organisation responsible for arranging the family’s stay in the residential family centre;

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Requirement Due date

the name and address of the social worker if any, of each member of the family;

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Requirement Due date

[(ea) The name of the general medical practitioner with whom any member of the family is registered and the address of the premises at which the primary medical services are usually provided;]

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a child, any court order to which he is subject;

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a child who is subject to a care order, the name, address and telephone number of—

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Requirement Due date

the local authority which is the designated local authority in respect of the care order for the purposes of section 31(1) of the Children Act 1989; and

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Requirement Due date

the officer of the authority responsible for the child’s case. 6 April 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 5 (Regulation 19 (3) (Schedule 4))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish a procedure (“the complaints procedure”) for considering complaints made to the registered person by a resident or a person acting on behalf of a resident.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that any complaint made under the complaints procedure is fully investigated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall, within 28 days after the date on which the complaint is made, or such shorter period as may be reasonable in the circumstances, inform the person who made the complaint of the action (if any) that is to be taken.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 20 (1) (2) (5) (6)) 6 April 2023

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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 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.

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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 the [Chief Inspector]. (Regulation 4 (a)(b)(c) (5)(a)) 6 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and take action when needed. In particular, the manager should ensure that impact risk assessments fully consider the risks of the family moving into the centre in relation to risks presented by families already residing at the centre. Additionally, risk assessments should contain clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise identified risks. (‘Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, page 30, paragraph 20.2) Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 6

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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: The Oval 7

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspectors

Charlie Bamber, Social Care Compliance Inspector Ceri Evans, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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