Resicare Alliance

Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 1 Resicare Alliance ResiCare Alliance Limited Templecroft, Templars Way, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1PY 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 is registered to provide care and accommodation for five families. The centre provides parenting assessments that take a minimum of 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre has not had a registered manager since 5 August 2023.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The centre is not yet delivering good assessments, help and care for children and parents. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following a full inspection on 23 May 2023, Ofsted served a compliance notice in relation to the serious shortfalls identified in the leadership and management of the centre. On 6 July 2023, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit and found that the provider has taken action to meet all the steps set out in the compliance notice. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 2

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there were no families at the centre. The last family left in August 2023. Leaders and managers have made improvements in relation to addressing the previous shortfalls. However, some of these improvements have not been tested. There have been no family assessments undertaken during this time. Consequently, it is not known whether the centre can provide good help and protection for children or offer good parenting assessments.

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improvement to be good

Four families have moved on from the centre since the last inspection. One placing authority made the decision for a family to move before the end of the assessment. For another family, the final assessment report and findings were challenged by the placing authority, resulting in the family being re-assessed in an alternative provision.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have improved placement planning. Managers successfully challenged the placing authority to provide court instructions when these were delayed for one family. However, local authority objectives were not clearly reviewed in the plans for another family despite this being necessary. Although there is now scope for managers to identify the needs of individual families, further work is required to ensure a consistent approach to the review and compilation of plans to guide staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff work well with families and professionals to ensure that moves from the centre are supportive of parents and children’s well-being. In one instance, staff challenged the planned arrangements when a parent was anxious about the proposed move. This resulted in a more person-centred move that was in the parents’ and child’s best interests.

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improvement to be good

There is a qualified independent social worker in post to oversee parenting assessments alongside a highly experienced clinical psychologist. Although no recent parenting capacity assessments have been finished, suitable arrangements are in place to conduct them.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide a range of sessions that are tailored to parents’ learning needs and encourage their independence. This has included cooking activities and a yoga session with a trained instructor.

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improvement to be good

Staff have recently redecorated the centre to a high standard. There are spacious living areas, well-designed bedrooms and an extensive garden. Appropriate play resources and facilities are in place for parents and children.

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improvement to be good

One parent described their experience at the centre as positive. They said that they would recommend the centre to other families. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 3

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the shortfalls identified at the last inspection have been met. This is in regard to safer recruitment checks for staff. Gaps in staff’s employment histories have not been fully explored. The failure to ensure that appropriate checks are carried out could lead to unsuitable adults working at the centre. Therefore, this requirement has been restated.

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improvement to be good

At the time of inspection, three fire doors did not self-close and another two fire doors were propped open with door wedges. The responsible individual made immediate plans to have the doors repaired, and she removed the wedges. However, the checking systems are not good enough to identify and resolve these fire hazards promptly. These pose a risk to families and staff in the event of a fire.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have reviewed approaches to assessing risk. There is now capacity to evaluate the combined and individual risks of families living communally. This is more likely to guide staff in reducing identified risks.

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improvement to be good

When recent conflict between parents occurred, staff appropriately intervened, and supported parents to resolve their differences. Managers have introduced additional learning and review sessions following incidents, to improve staff practice.

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improvement to be good

Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and receive suitable safeguarding training.

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improvement to be good

The quality of weekly summaries provided for placing authorities and parents has recently improved. Staff raise concerns with parents regarding daily observations, and they share this information with placing authorities within appropriate timescales.

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good

Following the last full inspection, the registered manager resigned. In the interim, suitable management arrangements have been in place, including oversight from the responsible individual and an acting manager. The recently appointed permanent manager started their role in September 2023, and is not yet registered with Ofsted. The manager is experienced, and is working towards an appropriate level 5 qualification.

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good

Overall, leaders and managers have made measurable improvements in relation to the previously identified shortfalls. A clear, well-devised action plan has been implemented. As a result, there are no longer widespread or serious concerns about the centre. However, the effectiveness of managerial oversight of the centre needs to be embedded and tested to ensure that leaders and managers can sustain these improvements. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 4 Leaders and managers have appropriately responded to a serious concern raised by an independent reviewing officer against a staff member. However, they have failed to notify Ofsted about this, as required. This means that Ofsted’s ability to monitor the provider’s response on this one occasion has been reduced.

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good

There is a suitable complaints procedure. Complaints made by parents and professionals are responded to. However, the recording of these responses needs to be improved. The specific nature of complaints and the provider’s action to address these are not consistently clear or logically compiled. This hinders effective monitoring and does not provide the assurances that complaints are responded to thoroughly.

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good

Leaders and managers have ensured that staff receive a wide range of additional training. A clear training plan is now in place. As a result, staff feel more equipped to provide support to meet the individual needs of families and make meaningful contributions to parenting assessments.

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good

Staff now receive regular supervision sessions. The interim manager ensured that staff have also received their annual appraisals. These meetings have encouraged staff reflection and development. Staff say that they feel well supported and energised to provide better support.

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good

A newly appointed independent consultant has been undertaking monthly monitoring visits. This form of monitoring offers high levels of scrutiny and positively contributes to the quality assurance systems. The internal quality of care review demonstrates that leaders and managers are clear on the centre’s strengths and the areas that require further improvement. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 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

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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 16 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 27 October 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

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment.

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Requirement Due date

for the maintenance of all fire equipment. (Regulation 22 (1) (a) (c)(iv)) 27 October 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 26 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that Ofsted is notified without delay of any serious complaints made against staff or the centre. 27 October 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that family placement plans are systematically compiled and reviewed when necessary. (Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, 9.2)  The registered person should ensure that responses to complaints are effectively recorded and organised in accordance with the centres policy. (Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, 19.8)

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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: ResiCare Alliance 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: ResiCare Alliance Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 147 Stamford Hill, London N16 5LG

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Residential family centre details

Email address: hello@resicarealliance.co.uk

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 8 regulates and inspects 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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