For Families Ltd

Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 1 For Families Ltd FOR-FAMILIES LTD 17 Longford Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex, PO21 1AA Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The aims of the centre are to undertake assessments of parent’s ability to care for their children. Assessments are usually commissioned by a local authority or court. The centre can accommodate up to four families. At the time of this inspection, three families were resident.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager was registered by Ofsted on 21 November 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected 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 provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 29 June 2021

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive good quality care and support. They are welcomed to the centre sensitively by staff. Staff provide a welcome basket with essential items to help families to settle in. They involve other families already living in the centre in this process. For example, families have baked cakes for a new family and have offered to cook meals for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families have positive experiences while at the centre. They are involved in a range of events and activities that create a homely feel. Families have good relationships with staff and trust the support that they are receiving. Staff provide opportunities for parents to play and engage with their children. Regular baby sensory session are well received by families and children benefit from the interactions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive a range of opportunities to express their views and wishes, which make them feel heard and valued. Regular weekly house meetings create a time and space for families to make suggestions, about the house and how the spaces in the home are used. The manager gathers family’s views which feed into her review of the service to make improvements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families are positive about their assessments and speak about the staff and their experiences with high regard. One family said that they, "feel lucky to get a place like this" and "staff work on your achievements, not our mistakes". This supports families to feel valued and respected during this difficult time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

When families leave the centre, a life story workbook is prepared for the children so that they can reflect on this in the future and understand their time at the centre. It captures memories and those important first few weeks of their lives. Additionally, staff are available to provide support to families after they leave.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

A strong assessment process is in place. Staff know the process used and spoke positively about the parenting programmes. Assessments are of a good standard, and this is a strength of the service. Staff recognise the learning and support needs of families. They adjust assessment programmes to meet these needs. Assessment are thorough, thoughtfully written, and considerate of the parents’ needs and experiences. They use affirming language while showing the parents capacity to care for their child and ensure their welfare.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The welfare of children is central to the work that staff do. They ensure that families engage in the programmes that enable them to understand how to keep their children safe. A good system is in place for the management of risk. Risk assessments are detailed and updated regularly. Families are involved in the Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 3 assessment process which helps them learn about the risks that their children are subject to, and start to understand the concerns identified by the court and responsible authorities.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The staff receive support and training in how to manage difficult situations. The manager advocates for families to build on positive relationships. The manager facilitated a meeting between a resident and their social worker to build on their communication which had become ineffective. Their communication improved and they gained a better understanding of each other's views.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families welcome the strategies put in place to support their emotional well-being. For instance, they can wear wrist bands of different colours to communicate to staff how they are feeling, this helps staff in their response to them.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff demonstrate confidence in their safeguarding responsibilities. They know what action to take if they have any concerns. The manager responds quickly to safeguarding concerns. They provide information to relevant bodies and follow up as needed. The use of a secure messaging service means that staff receive updated information in a timely manner.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There are suitable arrangements for the health and safety checks of the premises to maintain the environment. Additionally, arrangements for the safe storage of medication and support for families regarding medicines is effective.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There are shortfalls in the arrangements for the vetting of staff. The reasons for staff leaving previous employment with children or vulnerable adults is not explored. Furthermore, some staff do not have the right level of disclosure and barring checks in place. Action was taken by senior leaders during the inspection to address the shortfalls in the disclosure and barring checks.

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good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive a comprehensive induction. They provide ongoing opportunities for learning and development around their role, alongside further support to help their understanding of the role. However, none of the staff have the relevant level three qualification as detailed in the regulations. This means that staff may not have the full knowledge and skills needed to support the families.

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good

Monitoring and recording systems are not fully effective. Important documents are not maintained to a suitable standard. Significant information and details are missing, and dates are inaccurate. As a result, staff may not have the correct up to date information and guidance on how to support families effectively and in accordance with the local authority and/ or court instructions. Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 4 The independent visitor has not visited the service every month as required by the regulations. The quality of the reports of these visits is variable. They do not provide suitable analysis of the service. Consequently the manager does not have full information all facilitate a thorough oversight of the service. The reports of the visits have not been sent to Ofsted for some four months prior to this inspection. This undermines Ofsted’s ability to maintain suitable regulatory oversight of the service.

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good

Leaders and managers are ambitious for the centre and have high expectations of staff. They provide an environment where families receive the best possible care and support. Leaders and managers ensure the active engagement and involvement of parents in their assessment. The support to families is strong and parents spoke highly of this. One family said, ‘If it were not for this centre, I would be fighting a losing battle’

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good

There is sufficient staffing to support the families, with plans for new staff to join the team once vetting checks are complete.

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good

The centre is staffed by a passionate and committed team. They receive regular supervision that is reflective and supportive. Leaders and managers invest in the development of staff. Some staff have recently stepped into senior roles.

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good

Families feel heard. They are aware of the complaints process and staff support them to use it, as necessary. Where identified, leaders and managers enlist restorative work between staff and parents to ensure effective communication. This enables them to build on relationships with mutual respect.

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good

There are good relationships between leaders and managers and external professionals. They work in partnership to ensure the best possible outcome for families. However, the manager is confident to challenge when the responses from partner agencies are not effective or in the best interest of families.

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good

The manager ensures that they effectively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. They show a strong commitment to ensuring that families receive the right support to engage in their assessment. This includes using communication aids and adapting programmes to meet family’s needs. Additionally, families receive easier to read versions of their assessment reports. Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 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, 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 person shall maintain in respect of each family accommodated in the residential family centre a record which— is kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall also maintain the records specified in Schedule 4 in respect of the residential family centre. The registered person shall ensure that the records referred to in paragraph (3) are— kept up to date; (Regulation 19 (1)(b)(3)(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that all relevant information is recorded on documentation and stored in the relevant area of the system. 30 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents; and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that all staff have the level 3 qualifications for working with children and young people. 30 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall not— employ a person 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— 30 June 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. Regulation 16 (1)(a)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive the correct level of safeguarding checks. Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by— the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be;

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Requirement Due date

another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or

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Requirement Due date

an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

inspect the premises of the residential family centre, its daily log of events and records of any complaints; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to— the Commission Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(c)(5)(a)) 30 June 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 7

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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: For Families Ltd 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 17, Longford Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1AA

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Rachel Richardson

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Residential family centre details

Email address: cress@foundationsforfamilies.co.uk

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Inspectors

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: For Families Ltd 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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