The Oval

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 1 The Oval Shape Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre registered in March 2022 and provides accommodation for up to five families at any one time.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

The centre provides accommodation for families, usually at the direction of the family court, for the purposes of assessing parenting capacity to inform long-term plans for children’s care.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the visit, four families were residing at the centre.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit took place following a safeguarding notification received from the provider in relation to a serious incident involving a child and poor staff monitoring of the family. During the visit, the inspector focused solely on the action that leaders and managers have taken to ensure that safeguarding practices and processes have been improved and to review any subsequent action that has been taken to address staff practice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have appropriately addressed the identified practice concerns and have taken action to prevent any further incidents. Staff have attended additional training, reviewed policies in their supervision and carried out a reflective practice session with the manager.

p.1

This monitoring visit

However, there has been a delay in the referral made to the local authority designated officer by leaders and managers. This means that all relevant safeguarding professionals were not promptly notified of the incident. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 2 Leaders and managers paused admissions into the centre following the incident. This has provided them with an opportunity to undertake intensive training with the staff team. This included training in areas such as safeguarding, reporting and recording.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have undertaken a lessons-learned exercise with the whole staff team, to revisit the safeguarding incident and to consider the action staff should take in the future. This has ensured that staff understand the need to be professionally curious and to be confident in the use of the whistle-blowing policy.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has used her own supervision sessions to reflect on the safeguarding incident and to adapt her day-to-day monitoring and oversight of staff practice. She has spent time developing staff’s understanding of how to supervise and monitor families safely and appropriately. Staff spoken to by the inspector were clear about the manager’s expectations and their own accountability for safeguarding families.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed its closed-circuit television (CCTV) policy and the statement of purpose. This means that parents, placing authorities and staff are provided with clear guidance about the individualised three-stage process for monitoring families on CCTV. An allocated staff member monitors the CCTV 24 hours a day and they are now directed to review the footage without delay if there is a serious incident or concern. To support this, leaders and managers have spent time assessing individual staff capabilities of reviewing and accessing CCTV footage. In team meetings, the manager has shared her expectations of CCTV monitoring and recording.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A referral consideration form has been developed so that all relevant professionals are consulted with about the family’s needs, identified risks and health conditions as part of the admission process. The manager monitors information sent to and received from placing authorities through an admission checklist. This includes written confirmation from placing authorities that they have agreed the current CCTV monitoring in place for the family and that all requested documents have been received from the placing authority.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Team meetings have focused on embedding staff’s knowledge and understanding of safeguarding thresholds, whistle-blowing procedures and accurate record-keeping. The independent social worker has also received training with staff relating to robust screening of family referrals, risk assessment training and professional curiosity. An accident and incident flow chart has been introduced that provides staff with a clear course of action to follow should they identify any concerns in relation to a child’s or parent’s safety.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff supervision sessions have been adapted so that the standing agenda addresses safeguarding, CCTV management and whistle-blowing. Supervisors also address additional monthly topics with staff, such as effective record-keeping and code of conduct to ensure that their learning is embedded. Staff say that they feel supported by the senior leadership team and their confidence in their roles and responsibilities has improved because of the additional input and training provided. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 3 A deputy manager and senior waking night worker have been appointed. This has increased oversight by the leadership team. It has enabled managers to improve their monitoring of staff practice and to provide all staff with regular practice-related supervision to discuss safeguarding practice expectations. It has also afforded senior staff the time to sample and oversee records to ensure that they are clear and

p.2

This monitoring visit

concise, and the quality of the records has improved.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements and recommendations regarding areas of concern raised at the full inspection were not considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the home’s next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The procedure under paragraph (1)(b) must in particular provide for—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the residential family centre is situated, of any allegations of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the residential family centre. (Regulation 12 (2)(b)) 15 February 2024

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall also maintain the records specified in Schedule 4 in respect of the residential family centre.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must maintain a record in the form of a register showing—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the name, address, date of birth and marital status of each member of each family;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the date on which he took up residence at the residential family centre;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the date on which and the reason why, he ceased to be accommodated there;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the name of the person or organisation responsible for arranging the family’s stay in the residential family centre;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the name and address of the . . . social worker if any, of each member of the family;

p.4

Requirement Due date

[The name of the general medical practitioner with whom any member of the family is registered and the address of the premises at which the primary medical services are usually provided];

p.4

Requirement Due date

in the case of a child, any court order to which he is subject; 6 April 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 5 in the case of a child who is subject to a care order, the name, address and telephone number of—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the local authority which is the designated local authority in respect of the care order for the purposes of section 31(1) of the Children Act 1989; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the officer of the authority responsible for the child’s case. (Regulation 19 (3) (Schedule 4))

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that any complaint made under the complaint’s procedure is fully investigated.

p.5

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.

p.5

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. (Regulation 20 (1) (2) (5) (6)) 6 April 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

inspect the premises of the residential family centre. . . and records of any complaints; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the [Chief Inspector]. (Regulation 25 (4)(a)(b)(c) (5)(a)) 6 April 2023 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and take action when needed. In particular, impact risk assessments should fully consider the risks of the family moving into the centre in relation to risks presented by families already residing at the centre. Additionally, risk assessments should contain clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise identified risks. (‘Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, page 30, paragraph 20.2)

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 7

p.6

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

p.7

Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

p.7

Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: The Oval 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 6188524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8