The Orchards

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 1 The Orchards Smith and Massen Limited 6 Hillyard Road, London W7 1BH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is privately owned. It specialises in providing parenting assessments. The residential family centre provides care and support for up to three families. It offers a broad range of support, including programmes focused on substance misuse, safe parenting, domestic abuse and counselling.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre registered with Ofsted in March 2015. The registered manager post is currently vacant. The centre’s deputy team manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, there were two families staying at the centre. Two parents and one local authority social worker spoke with the inspectors.

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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: good

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good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive individualised support and they participate in a wide range of programmes that help them to understand the concerns that placing authorities or the courts have about the care that they provide to their children. Parents take part in parenting programmes and activities that help them to understand what they must do to improve their parenting skills to help to keep their children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents say the centre’s programmes are highly effective in meeting the objectives. Programmes are comprehensive and are tailored to meet the specific needs of family members. For example, as appropriate, parents complete programmes that explore issues such as safe child development, mental health, substance misuse and domestic abuse. Parents are clear that as a result of their stay at the residential family centre their parenting skills significantly improve. One parent said, ‘If I hadn’t come here, I wouldn’t have made it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents share very good relationships with the staff team. Parents say that staff are sensitive to their circumstances, and are understanding and supportive. Staff provide sound advice, which helps to improve parents’ safe care of their children. Parents engage fully in the assessment activities. Staff treat families with dignity and respect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents have excellent opportunities to share their views about their parenting assessments. Staff encourage parents to speak openly about their experiences and identify how staff can better support them. Staff are mindful of individual parents’ learning styles and modify sessions to maximise parents’ understanding of safe care. For example, staff are skilled in using the Parenting Assessment Manual (PAMS) with parents who have learning disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff provide formal and very regular feedback to parents on how they are progressing. Feedback highlights parents’ strengths and areas identified for further development. Parents receive very clear information about how to make complaints. Parents say, however, that they prefer to speak directly with staff or managers. Since the last inspection, only one complaint has been received. Staff managed this appropriately. However, the complaint outcome and how this was communicated to the parent were not recorded as required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff have clear processes to follow to support families when they arrive and leave the centre. Staff manage parents’ introduction to the centre sensitively and they are conscious of the anxieties families may have. Staff are skilled in explaining concerns professionals have about families’ parenting skills, and how the centre intends to explore and address these. Parents say that staff are welcoming, non-judgemental and clear about their expectations of them. A parent told inspectors, ‘I didn’t know in advance where I was going. I was so frightened, but from the minute I walked in I felt supported.’ Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 3 Parents leave the residential family centre with staff encouraging them to focus on how they have developed as parents and as individuals. On the final day of this inspection, a family was leaving following the conclusion of their parenting

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

assessment. The parent was clear that as a result of her experiences that she was a significantly more able and safe parent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The provider is responsible for writing final parenting assessment reports. These are evidence based and analytical. Final reports outline parents’ strengths and areas for development. They highlight parents’ capacity for change and make appropriate recommendations for children’s futures.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Children and their parents are protected from harm, neglect and abuse. Staff provide a strong and appropriate response to any safeguarding concerns. Management meetings, team meetings and staff supervision sessions consistently explore safeguarding issues. Staff complete child and adult protection training and they understand the centre’s safeguarding policies and procedures.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff devise risk assessments that address risks posed to individual family members. These include strategies that help to reduce risks. Risk assessments are regularly updated to reflect families’ changing circumstances.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents receive help and support to manage their own behaviours and feelings safely. A qualified consultant provides weekly counselling sessions to families. Staff consistently promote positive behaviour and are skilled in de-escalating potentially volatile situations. Staff’s management of conflict is effective. There have been no allegations made against staff or others.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The previous inspection highlighted the need for improvement in managers’ safe recruitment of staff. At this inspection, it was found that managers do not always obtain written references from candidates’ most recent employers. Managers are unable to verify that employment agencies have obtained written references for agency domestic staff, such as the centre’s cleaner.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The premises are safe and secure. Staff conduct weekly health and safety checks and there are good fire prevention systems in place. Risk assessments for the premises are regularly reviewed and updated.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff’s use of surveillance and electronic monitoring devices is appropriate. Families are aware of the centre’s surveillance methods. Parents and placing authorities give their consent for CCTV and baby monitors to be used. However, the residential family centre’s CCTV policy does not contain accurate information about the types of surveillance systems used.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Children and their parents benefit from staff’s effective working relationships with external safeguarding professionals, such as local authority social workers and Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 4 designated officers. A local authority placement commissioner said, ‘The Orchards is one of our placement providers. They are known for its reputable background in terms of reliability, efficiency, good communication and promptness in providing reports. The Orchards will go above and beyond to accommodate and meet the needs of our children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager position is currently vacant. The provider has appointed a new manager, who has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. The provider has also recently appointed a new responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In recent months, the provider had appointed a number of different managers to run the residential family centre. This change in managers has had a negative impact on the quality of the leadership of the service. In particular, the residential family centre’s monitoring systems are not as effective as they could be.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Required quality of care reviews are not completed regularly, so they have limited effect in highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. This is illustrated by the lack of review and appropriate amendment to key documents such as the statement of purpose, the residents’ guide and the CCTV policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers make child-centred decisions about families coming to live at the residential family centre. For example, managers explained that they have decided to admit only two families, as opposed to three, because of the dynamics of some of the families and previous staffing issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well together to provide consistency and stability to families. They say that they are very well led and supported by managers. A member of staff said, ‘I feel very proud of the work we do with families. We receive regular supervision to ensure reflection and growth as practitioners is continuous. We regularly have team meetings to ensure communication is effective. Management is fair and open to listening to views and opinions. We receive regular training to ensure we deliver a high standard of service to our service users.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training, development and induction activities are effective and enhance staff’s skills in working with children and parents. However, there are gaps in the frequency of staff supervision and some staff appraisals have not been completed each year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have realistic expectations for what parents can achieve and they ensure high standards of assessment, support and safety. Managers have a clear understanding about the progress families are making, as assessment programmes are robust and effective. The centre is achieving its stated aims and objectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have an ambitious vision and continue to introduce new initiatives that improve families’ experiences at the centre. For example, staff encourage parents to Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 5 creatively illustrate on a designated communal wall examples of their positive experiences, to encourage and motivate other families. Parents and staff create life- story and photo albums that record children’s and their parents’ stay at the centre. Parents enjoy and appreciate these opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recent changes to the centre’s management structure have resulted in improved leadership. Identified areas for development do not impact on the progress, experiences and safety of children and parents, which are positive. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 6

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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 establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

improving, the quality of care at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that there is an effective review of the accuracy of key documents. This includes the centre’s CCTV policy. Records of complaints must include confirmation that complaint outcomes have been shared with the complainant. 1 October 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 supervision an appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a)) 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

keep under review and where appropriate revise the statement of purpose and resident’s guide. (Regulation 4(a)) 1 October 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they can demonstrate that they consistently follow good recruitment practice. (Residential family centres: NMS 14.2) Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 7

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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 Orchards 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Smith and Massen Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 255-261 Horn Lane, London W3 9EH

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Inspectors

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Jayshree Pillay, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards 9 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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