Chance Residential and Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 1 Chance Residential and Assessment Centre Chance Further Support CIC 45 Marischal Road, London SE13 5LE Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre provides parental assessments for up to four families at any one time and is staffed on a 24-hour basis.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre and the manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022. The registered manager is not suitably qualified and does not have the required level 5 qualification, or a recognised social work qualification.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, there were two families living in the centre. Both had finished their assessment and were waiting to move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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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

The centre is not yet delivering good assessments of parenting capacity and is not delivering good care and help. The weaknesses identified need to be addressed to fully support children’s and parents’ progress through the assessment process and to mitigate risk in the medium and long term. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that mean children’s welfare is not safeguarded and promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: not previously inspected

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 2

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improvement to be good

The overall experience of children and parents is negatively affected by poor leadership and management.

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improvement to be good

The centre is not delivering a service in line with its statement of purpose. The centre has accepted referrals outside of its own admission criteria. Additionally, the statement of purpose refers to an assessment model that is different to the one being used and lacks information about the use and purpose of closed-circuit television (CCTV). These discrepancies make it unclear what service the centre is providing to children and families.

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improvement to be good

The quality of assessments requires improvement. Final assessments lack analysis and clear recommendations that link to the evidence in the assessment report. The assessments do not clearly evidence that they meet the letter of instruction. Additionally, in one report, information regarding toxicology results was incorrect.

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improvement to be good

The centre does not ensure that each family has its own placement plan. Without this, there is no clear plan outlining the parents’ identified needs and the support that will be given to help them to develop their skills. The quality of key-work sessions is limited because they do not address and support the family’s identified needs.

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improvement to be good

Despite this, the centre does offer a general package of support to parents. This includes coffee mornings, baby massage, rhyme time, a recognised domestic abuse group and a parenting course. Some of the groups are delivered in the centre and others are in the local community.

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improvement to be good

Parents’ complaints are not recorded or managed appropriately. If parents make a verbal complaint and do not put their complaint in writing, managers deal with it verbally and do not record the complaint or how it was managed. Additionally, managers do not formally inform parents of the outcome of their complaints or ensure that they are clear about the action taken in response.

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improvement to be good

There is a lack of feedback from parents and professionals about their experience of the centre. The lack of ongoing management oversight and review makes it difficult to determine how successful placements in this centre are. However, the feedback from parents and placing social workers during this inspection was positive.

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improvement to be good

Pre-admission risk assessments are completed prior to families moving into the centre. However, leaders and managers do not ensure that there is an ongoing Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 3 review of each family’s risk assessment. This makes it difficult to determine if the family’s risks have changed or what action staff may need to take if there is an incident or emergency.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment records were unavailable during this inspection. Therefore, we are unable to assess whether staff have been safely recruited. Recruitment records for staff employed by the organisation prior to the centre opening do not meet the requirements of regulation. Additionally, leaders and managers have not assessed the staff’s suitability in order to ensure that the staff who transferred from the previous service have the knowledge, skills, or qualifications to work in a residential family centre.

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improvement to be good

Staff are not familiar with the whistle-blowing policy or procedure. Additionally, staff have not completed mandatory safeguarding training. This limits staff’s ability to recognise signs of abuse or understand how to respond.

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improvement to be good

The CCTV policy is not sufficient. It does not describe how CCTV is used to inform assessments. Additionally, the policy incorrectly states that the cameras are only facing children’s cots. Instead, the CCTV cameras cover the whole bedroom.

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improvement to be good

Significant incidents have been managed appropriately. In these situations, the centre has worked closely with the relevant agencies and placing authorities. On one occasion, Ofsted was not informed of a serious incident as required. This limits the external scrutiny of the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not know the strengths and weaknesses of the centre. They lack understanding of what is required under the regulations and national minimum standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have poor monitoring and review systems. They are not regularly monitoring the quality of assessment, care and help provided. There is no evidence that they use learning from practice and feedback to improve assessments and the experiences and support for children and parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of the regulation 25 reports is poor. The reports do not give a true reflection of the practice and conduct of the centre. They lack important information about significant events and the support offered to families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision records for staff and managers were not available during this inspection. Therefore, we are unable to determine the quality and effectiveness of supervision. Currently, the social workers who complete assessments are not supervised by appropriately qualified or experienced staff. It is likely that this is a contributing factor to the poor quality of the assessments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff induction into the centre is very poor. The current induction plan does not relate to the conduct and practice of a residential family centre. This is particularly Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 4 concerning, as some staff’s suitability to work in the centre has not been fully assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training and development opportunities are very poor. Staff are only offered four mandatory online training courses that are not specific to residential family centres. Records show that most staff have not completed these courses or updated them since the centre opened. The training on offer does not support staff to undertake their jobs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The centre’s policies and procedures need to be improved. The CCTV, whistle- blowing, safeguarding and bullying policies all need to be reviewed and updated. At present, they do not make it clear what action is required. This limits the quality and consistency of practice in the centre. Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 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, the 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

keep under review and where appropriate revise the statement of purpose and resident’s guide; and

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Requirement Due date

notify the Commission within 28 days of any such revision.

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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) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the service provided by the centre is in line with the statement of purpose. If there are any changes made to the statement of purpose, the registered person must ensure that a copy is sent to Ofsted. 25 August 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, 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 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 25 August 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that the reports accurately reflect what has happened in the centre during the reporting period. This includes details of incidents, significant events, the support offered to parents and the general conduct of the centre.

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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 provide a written copy of the complaints procedure on request to any resident and any person acting on behalf of a resident.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the Commission at its request a statement containing a summary of the complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken. (Regulation 20 (1)(2)(3)(5)(6)(7))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that residents’ complaints are formally recorded and responded to. 25 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

If, in relation to a residential family centre, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation (1)) 28 July 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; and 25 August 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 7 are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 17 (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive appropriate training and an induction that is relevant to residential family centres and that staff complete all mandatory training. The registered person must ensure that staff receive regular supervision and that qualified staff receive supervision from a person with the relevant skills and experience to oversee assessments.

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or

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Requirement Due date

allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed by a person other than the registered person in a position in which he may in the course of his duties have regular contact with residents.

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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

he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform;

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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 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(b)(d)) 25 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the residential family centre conducts assessments of parenting skill and capacity which are robust, fair and evidence- based and based on the family’s individual needs. The assessment should distinguish between the assessment of parenting skills and capacity and any support, advice or guidance provided during the placement. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 1.1 and 1.6) Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 8  The registered person should ensure that the final report is evidence-based, clearly expressed, and distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. The report should maintain a clear focus on the child’s needs and the impact of parenting capacity on their safety and well-being. The report should outline the parent’s strengths, weaknesses and any ongoing risks or safeguarding issues. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 1.12)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should seek feedback following a placement from the parents, children (when of appropriate age) and professionals involved as part of their quality assurance process. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 1.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff complete a written family placement plan, in consultation with the placing authority and agreed, so far as may be practicable, with the parent(s) and, if age appropriate, the child. The plan should specify the objectives and intended outcomes of the placement, the details of training, assistance, assessment, supervision and protection to be provided at the centre, and how the child’s welfare will be promoted. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 9.2)  The registered person should ensure that all staff, parents and children (of an appropriate age) know the whistle-blowing policy and procedure. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 18.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the centre. These should include regular reviews of the centre’s policies and procedures to ensure that they are effective and relevant to the service. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 19.1)  The registered manager should have a level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services, or other recognised social work qualifications. (Residential Family Centres: NMS, 12.2)

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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: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 9

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Chance Further Support CIC

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 31 Stroud Road, London SE25 5DR

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Residential family centre details

Email address: michelle.riley@chancefs.org

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Inspector

Leanne Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 1 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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