Rachel House

Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 1 Registered Provider: Hopespring 10 Sea View Road West, Sunderland SR2 9HA Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

A charity runs this residential family centre. The centre is registered to accommodate three families.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the inspection, two families were in residence, undertaking their parenting assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre and the manager registered with Ofsted in 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 residential family 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

Date of previous inspection: not previously inspected

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

Children and parents benefit from a warm welcome from the manager and staff when they arrive at the centre. Some parents visit before coming to stay for an assessment. A parent said they were provided with information about the centre and the parenting assessment process. This helps reduce the parents’ anxiety and assists them to familiarise themselves with the staff before the formal assessment starts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

The manager and staff gather information before all admissions. There has been one full parenting assessment completed since the centre’s opening. However, the supporting case file did not have a court or local authority letter of instruction to form the legal basis for the parenting assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

The parenting assessment includes a record of direct work sessions undertaken with the support staff. This provides parents with a file of the work they have completed and is useful for parents to refer to. However, the social work assessment sessions are not kept in the parents' file. This does not demonstrate that the parenting assessment has considered all areas of learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

Parents are offered an individualised programme of interventions based on their needs, including those with learning needs. For example, parents can be provided with easily worded documents and visual instructions. This demonstrates that parents are well supported and given the opportunity to successfully complete their assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

The midway and final assessment reports are evaluative, with an account of the work completed with the parent. The assessing social worker’s report is sensitively written in a non-judgemental way and sets out clearly the next steps and their final recommendations. Nevertheless, without a court or local authority directive letter, inspectors have not been able to fully establish that all pertinent areas of concern have been covered as required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

A parent said that she is kept updated after each direct and social work session. This includes positive feedback and areas where further development is required. This gives parents clear information and keeps them involved and informed about the progress of their assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

Children and parents benefit from the managers and staff being focused on building positive relationships with them. There is an established relaxed and calm atmosphere. The voice of parents is promoted, and staff embrace open discussions. A parent said she can say how she is feeling, is confident to raise any concerns and feels listened to. When difficult discussions are required, these are undertaken sensitively. Staff continually support parents, giving them opportunities to make the necessary changes that will ensure that they can safely look after their children. Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 3 Children have positive experiences that support their development. Parents are encouraged to learn and participate in activities that stimulate their child and will increase their own knowledge and skills. This includes attending community groups and home activities, for example sensory play, baby massage, singing and music

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

sessions, cooking, baking and visits to local parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

Parents and their children are supported to have contact with their partners, other family members and friends. This occurs when professionals have considered the person’s suitability to ensure the safety of the child. This helps parents to improve and maintain important networks that will be a support to them and their children in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: requires

Children and parents enjoy the benefits of the homely and domestic environment provided for their stay. The home is well equipped and furnished to a high standard. Parents enjoy the freedom of the home and have spacious and comfortable rooms. This enables parents to focus fully on their assessment, as they are provided with all the necessities to care for their children. The outside space at the rear of the property has patio furniture that parents can use. However, this area looks bare, and there are no facilities for children.

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improvement to be good

Parents’ risk assessments are reviewed and updated routinely. There are key-worker sessions completed by support staff with parents. These cover some of the identified safety concerns posed to their children and the parent. However, the absence of important documents and records falls short of evidencing that all pertinent safeguarding work has been completed.

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improvement to be good

All staff receive training in safeguarding procedures. However, some essential training has not been provided to all staff, for example the impact of domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health. Therefore, this does not fully equip all members of the staff team with all the knowledge and skills to detect all potential presenting safeguarding matters.

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improvement to be good

Surveillance is used in the home. This close monitoring is in place to protect children and keep them safe from harm. However, the consent documents to agree to the use of surveillance have not been signed by a parent at the point at which it was used. This compromises the rights of parents.

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improvement to be good

Parents are supported to understand how their behaviour affects children and others. The staff ensure parents are aware of the expected behaviour, the rules and the boundaries for their stay and going forward. This is provided verbally by staff and is set out in the parents’ guide. Staff collaborate with parents to use strategies that will help them manage their emotions. This helps parents to maintain positive and acceptable behaviour overall. When there are instances when a parent becomes upset, staff help and support them. This assists parents to continue to have suitable behaviour that will have a positive impact on their child. Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 4 Parents complaints are treated seriously and are responded to promptly. The staff work to resolve any conflict between families swiftly. This ensures that the atmosphere in the home remains relaxed and settled.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practices have been followed before employing staff. Records demonstrate that the manager has undertaken all appropriate checks and references. This means that, as far as possible, the children and parents are supported by suitable adults.

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good

The children and parents benefit from having a stable core staff team that knows them well. This assists in providing consistency in the support and guidance provided.

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good

Staff state that they are well supported by the manager. However, not all staff receive routine formal supervision at the regular intervals set in the centre’s policy. This highlights a shortfall in providing consistently good support to all the team members and a clear focus on individual staff members care practices, training and development.

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good

There are daily staff handovers to share essential and up-to-date information about families with the staff coming on duty. In addition, staff participate in regular team meetings. However, the progress of families and matters relating to their assessment are not routinely discussed in team meetings. This is a missed opportunity to contribute to, and reflect on, the progress of assessments. This may have an impact on the consistency and quality of the parenting assessments.

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good

The internal and external monitoring does not identify where there are deficits or shortfalls in practice. A number of shortfalls have been detected during the inspection. These deficits have not been found during the routine auditing of the service and the quality of the assessment process. Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall, before providing a family with accommodation in the residential family centre, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible thereafter, draw up in consultation with the placing authority a written plan (in these Regulations referred to as "the placement plan") setting out, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

the facilities and services to be provided during the course of the placement;

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Requirement Due date

the objectives and intended outcome of the placement; and

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Requirement Due date

an assessment of the risks, if any, which a resident at the residential family centre may present to their own health, safety and welfare or that of other residents or staff at the centre. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the assessment and final report should be linked clearly to the court instruction and/or local authority requirements. Social work parent sessions must be kept on the parent’s case file. 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any use of such devices is subject to the following conditions:

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Requirement Due date

the residents are informed in advance of the intention to use electronic monitoring devices; and

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Requirement Due date

its use is no more intrusive than necessary. (Regulation 21A (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that parents sign the electronic surveillance monitoring consent form before or at the point of use. 28 May 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 6 The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him receive—

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Requirement Due date

appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should receive formal supervision at the frequency set in the service’s policy and procedure. 28 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

reviewing at appropriate intervals; and improving, the quality of care provided at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, there should be effective monitoring systems in place to ensure all residential family centre regulations and national minimum standards are implemented. 28 May 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the centre provides access to outside areas, where possible, or access to play space that is appropriate for the age of the children. In particular, develop further the outside space for children and parents. (Residential family centre NMS 11.3)  The registered person should ensure that there are good-quality learning and development opportunities that staff and volunteers are supported to undertake. These may include induction, post-qualifying and in-service training to enhance individual skills and to keep staff up to date with professional and legal development. In particular, ensure that all staff undertake all necessary training to meet the needs of parents and their children. This is to make certain that all have the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of children and parents. (Residential family centre NMS 16.2)

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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: 2736460 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 10 Sea View Road West, Sunderland SR2 9HA

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Residential family centre details

Email address: dave.jones@hopespringcharity.org

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Inspectors

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: 2736460 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 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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