First Steps North West

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 1 First Steps North West 15 Queens Road, Accrington BB5 6AR

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately owned and run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities, courts, parents and children in the provision of fair and evidence-based parenting assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is registered to accommodate up to five families. At the time of the inspection, there were four families in residence.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre was registered on 27 May 2022.

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Inspection date: 5 December 2023

Date of previous inspection: 14 February 2023

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in response to information shared by the provider with Ofsted about a significant incident. There was a delay in the provider notifying Ofsted and two children’s placing local authorities about the significant incident.

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This monitoring visit

There has been no registered manager since March 2023. Leaders have not always been effective or consistent in their oversight of the service. In some instances, managers have taken appropriate action to respond to concerns about staff conduct. In other examples, managers have not taken sufficient action in response to shortfalls in staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not identified that staff do not always record important information as required. For example, information about a significant incident has not been well recorded. This has the potential to undermine the quality of evidence on which assessments are based. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 2 Managers do not always ensure that staff are given clear guidance on how best to support children and their families. This undermines the effectiveness of the plans in place to protect children and promote their welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not use feedback from families to review the effectiveness of procedures. For example, there can be a delay in staff responding to parents’ requests for support with feeding their child at night. This is because families are required to send a text message to staff, but staff do not ensure that their phones are audible. As a result, in some instances, families do not get timely help to meet children’s basic needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff said they feel supported by managers and they enjoy working in the centre. Staff have well-being supervisions in addition to regular supervision sessions. This provides them with targeted support to meet their individual needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed a range of training. However, managers have not always identified when staff have required additional training to meet the specific needs of individual children and families. This has contributed to families experiencing an inconsistent quality of care and support.

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This monitoring visit

Parents spoke positively about the residential family centre and the support they receive from staff. Staff arrange social events for families in the centre and in the community. This supports families to develop confidence and form support networks for the future. Families access input from a therapist in the centre. Managers seek out opportunities to work creatively with families, for example, through the use of games and visual aids. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 3

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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 provider shall appoint an individual to manage a residential family centre if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there is a registered manager in the centre. 22 January 2024

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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

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. (Regulation 16 (1)(a)(b) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of the families. 22 January 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 4 The registered person shall maintain in respect of each family accommodated in the residential family centre a record which—

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Requirement Due date

is kept up to date. (Regulation 19 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s records contain current information and identify children’s known needs. 22 January 2024

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall without delay notify the parent accommodated in the residential family centre with a child of any significant incident affecting the child’s welfare unless to do so is not reasonably practicable or would place the child’s welfare at risk. (Regulation 26 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring notifications are made to all relevant parties, including placing local authorities and Ofsted, within 24 hours of a significant incident. 22 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should use feedback from families to review the centre’s policies, procedures and guidance. (‘residential family centres: national minimum standards’, page 16)  The registered person should monitor staff practice and take steps to address any shortfalls identified. (residential family centres: national minimum standards’, page 29)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the residential family centre since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 5

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: First Steps North West Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 15 Queens Road, Accrington BB5 6AR

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Inspectors

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Lisa Mulcahy, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 6 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. 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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Inspectors

W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: First Steps North West 7

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