Ashcombe House

Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 1 Ashcombe House Mikare Ltd 4 Ashcombe Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 3DY Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

Ashcombe House is an independent residential family centre. It is registered to accommodate up to six families, who are referred to the centre for assessment by the courts or local authority children’s services. Four families were living at the centre at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

Families have their own bedrooms and some have shared bathroom facilities. There are shared communal areas, such as the kitchen and lounge. The centre has separate self-contained accommodation for up to two families to live in as part of planned assessment arrangements. The centre provides separate office and playroom facilities that are used by families and visitors.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

Inspectors were aware during this inspection of a serious incident concerning a child that had occurred since the setting registered with Ofsted. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

The centre registered with Ofsted on 21 March 2023. This is the centre’s first inspection. The manager is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good. Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 2 Date of last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.2

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents are welcomed into the centre. Communication between the registered manager and parents helps to reduce parents’ anxieties before they arrive. Some parents may find the amount of written information provided to them difficult to take on board. In response, managers have developed an audio guide to help parents understand what to expect. This is a creative and inclusive approach to supporting families.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff know the children and parents well. They review their needs daily to ensure that focused support is in place. Staff provide advice in line with NHS guidelines for childcare to ensure that consistent messages are given to parents. In the main, parents build positive relationships with staff. They feel that their views are listened to and acted on, where this is possible.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents are supported to access a range of relevant activities and groups in the centre and the local area. They are also able to access specialist help, such as substance misuse services. As a new centre, activities in the centre are developing. The deputy manager is trained in and delivers baby massage sessions and sensory play sessions are being planned.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents understand the model of assessment used by the centre. Many are engaged in the process and they are being helped to develop their parenting skills and to learn how to keep their children safe. They are encouraged to share their views regularly. All parents spoken to said that the progress that they are making, and any difficulties, are communicated to them clearly.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parenting assessment reports are comprehensive. When there are parenting concerns, these are fully detailed. A separate short report is written for parents to support their understanding of the assessment outcome. Managers do not always ensure that information from the child’s placing authority is received in a timely way. However, assessments are completed in required timescales, and any delay is purposeful.

p.3

improvement to be good

Surveillance systems are used to monitor children’s safe care in the centre. Parents understand its use in informing the assessment process. The use of surveillance and levels of supervision are reviewed regularly and, when possible, these are reduced to help ensure its use is proportionate. There is a clear step-down process that supports exit planning well.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff intervene when there are identified risks to children. One parent described the effective strategies used to promote positive behaviour and to de-escalate an Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 4 incident. However, records do not consistently show the actions taken by staff to increase children’s safety, which were discussed with the inspector. On one occasion, different views were shared about an event that had occurred that was not recorded effectively, including follow-up actions.

p.3

improvement to be good

Planning documents include sufficient information about strengths and concerns to inform comprehensive assessment plans. However, risk management plans are not robust. They do not fully explore children’s and parents’ vulnerabilities and they lack detail about how risks will be managed. This includes risks associated with visitors attending the centre and the risks to others.

p.4

improvement to be good

The management of medication is individually assessed. This promotes parents’ independence to meet their own and their children’s health needs. When this is not possible, safe arrangements are in place. At times, staff interventions are not clearly detailed in records.

p.4

improvement to be good

Following a serious incident, managers notified Ofsted promptly and safeguarding measures were increased. Managers have completed a learning review to strengthen safeguarding practice in the centre. However, some actions have not progressed swiftly and specific guidance for staff has not yet been implemented.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre is furnished to a high standard. Family bedrooms are spacious and facilities throughout the centre are new. Parents said that they liked the seaside location of the centre and its proximity to amenities. The centre includes separate self-contained accommodation and areas that are used to support family time arrangements. This enhances the assessment process and families’ experiences.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager. They are ambitious about its future. They understand the centre’s strengths and the areas that require improvement to ensure that high standards of assessment, support and safety are provided. This includes strengthening quality assurance systems to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

During this inspection, staffing levels were reduced due to sickness and annual leave. However, suitable arrangements were in place to ensure that the needs of the families were met. Overall, feedback received from staff was overwhelmingly positive about their roles and the support that they receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parenting assessment reports are completed by the responsible individual, who is a registered social worker. They have a wealth of experience and are skilled at completing comprehensive assessments. Another social worker has been recruited and it is planned that they will complete these assessments in future. This will allow for greater independent oversight of the centre by the responsible individual.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a mix of skills and experience across the staff team. While additional training is planned, not all staff are fully equipped to respond to the full range of Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 5 individual needs of parents. At times, there are not enough experienced staff working in the centre. Following this inspection, the registered manager said that they intend to review staffing arrangements.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive ongoing support and guidance and opportunities for reflection. This is helping to drive high standards of practice. However, there is inconsistency in the frequency of formal supervision sessions, including supervision provided to bank staff. When practice concerns are identified, supervision of practice is increased. Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall, before providing a family with accommodation in the residential family assessment centre, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible thereafter; draw up in consultation with the placing authority a written plan setting out, in particular –

p.6

Requirement Due date

a risk management plan to address all assessed risks, if any, which a resident at the residential family centre may present to their own health, safety and welfare or that of the other residents or staff at the centre. (Regulation 13 (1)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments provide clear guidance and strategies for staff to manage any known risks to safeguard children as well as other parents and children in the residential family centre. 1 December 2023

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff members left in charge of the centre have relevant experience of working with families and in residential care settings and have successfully completed their induction and probation periods. (NMS 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff have access to support and advice and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (NMS 17.4)  The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and to take action when needed. (NMS 20.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff are equipped with the skills and have the experience required to meet the needs of the parents and their children and the purpose of the centre. (NMS 16.1) Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 7

p.6

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: Ashcombe House 8

p.7

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Hollydene, Clayhidon, Cullompton EX15 3PG

p.8

Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Philip Beauchamp

p.8

Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Ashcombe House 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 4234 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9