Norden Hills Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 1 Norden Hills Family Centre Norden Hills Family Centre Limited Sultan House, 54 Hope Street, Rochdale OL12 0PJ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is registered to accommodate up to five families. The centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the family court and/or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

This is the first inspection since the family centre was registered by Ofsted in June 2023. The registered manager has been in post since registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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good

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

There was only one family living in the centre at the time of the inspection. Children and parents are enabled to build trusting and secure relationships with staff at the centre. Staff know the children and parents well, listen to them and promote their welfare. One family member said, ‘The team was supportive in helping me to understand professional reports and to understand decisions being made about my baby.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parenting assessments are of a high standard. They highlight the progress made, are in line with court directions and detail the specific issues to be focused on. The assessment process is thorough; parents’ views are evidenced in the work that they undertake when at the family centre.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and families are treated with respect. They experience assessments that are responsive to their individual needs and family history. For example, staff take the time to support parents to understand professional reports and explain what impact the report has on their assessments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The families’ guide and induction to the centre’s procedures and assessment are good. The guide provides families with the information they need to help them to understand why they are living at the centre and what to expect from their assessments. One parent said, ‘The booklet helped me to understand what I had to do to keep my baby safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre is very well maintained and decorated to a high standard. Each family has their own bedroom and en-suite facilities. Communal areas are spacious and well equipped with essential equipment, toys and books. Posters signpost families to relevant activities to enjoy with their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Community resources are identified for families to access help and support for activities, participation in community groups and health services. The centre engages parents in play, craft activities and group sessions. Families benefit from this social and emotional interaction.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents know how to make a complaint. The centre’s complaints policy is easy to understand and is accessible. Families understand what has happened as a result of their complaint.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There is a robust focus on safeguarding at the centre. Careful management of a family’s care ensures that safeguarding concerns are identified and addressed. This ensures children’s safety. Transparency around safeguarding practice is promoted with parents and professionals. Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 3 All staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Accidents involving children are responded to quickly, and actions taken by staff ensure the children’s immediate safety.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The use of CCTV and monitoring follows a risk-based approach for individual families. All families are fully aware of the need for CCTV to be used during their assessments. This ensures transparency with staff and families.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risks are clearly understood and risk management plans begin at the pre-placement stage. The manager has a clear system to manage risks. Processes are in place to ensure that staff are fully aware of any risks that families may present.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Some families are involved in ‘ The Freedom Programme’, which supports families who have suffered domestic abuse and violence. The programme has resulted in improved knowledge by staff and parents in recognising the effects of domestic violence. This also safeguards the families, with the aim of families acquiring the knowledge to live a safer life.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Each family has a planned schedule at the centre; this includes supporting parents with basic skills and making safer choices to reduce risky behaviour. Depending on the individual risks to the family, this could include understanding the risks relating to domestic violence, the effects of child neglect or reducing drug misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

The management and leadership team is confident and committed to developing the service. The team has a wealth of knowledge and experience in driving improvement. Managers are available in the centre and staff say they are approachable and supportive. There is investment in training and development, and staff say managers pay attention to their individual training needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

The management team has a good understanding of the parents’ needs and risks and the progress they are making. They recognise the need to involve parents in accessing community activities to provide a realistic environment for assessment. This helps them understand if families can parent in the community safely without the support of the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

A social worker was very positive about the staff team and the quality of the assessment process. He said there had been significant positive improvements with his family. This demonstrates good professional relationships and that staff at the centre communicate well with stakeholders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

Monitoring systems are in place and working effectively. Reports under regulation 25 have not routinely been sent to Ofsted, which has hindered the regulator’s ability to monitor the centre. A good practice recommendation has been made to address this. Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 4 There are some gaps in safer recruitment processes. Employment checks for some staff are not always evidenced. A good practice recommendation has been made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

Team meetings have a focused agenda that includes monitoring families’ progress and exploring any safeguarding issues. Staff say there is a good team culture where staff and the management team respect and support each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

The statement of purpose does not include the qualifications, competence and experience of some staff working at the centre. It does not record fees and charges as defined in Schedule 1. A good practice recommendation has been made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be

There have been one complaint and one allegation made about poor or unsafe practice. Managers were quick to refer these to the appropriate agencies and, when asked to investigate, they did so in a timely fashion. They have determined any lessons learned and have put strategies in place to support staff, through the use of extended probation and further training. Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a record is kept of the recruitment and vetting checks carried out on those working at the centre, including volunteers. This should include checks to confirm the right to work in the UK and, where the person has lived outside the UK, further checks as are considered appropriate, when obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure is not sufficient to establish suitability to work with children. (Residential family centres: NMS 14.3)  The registered person should ensure the registered provider’s written report of a visit carried out under regulation 25 is kept at the centre for the manager and staff to read and to respond to and that it is also made available to inspectors as required. (Residential family centres: NMS 19.6)  The registered person should approve the statement of purpose and review it at least annually. (Residential family centres: NMS 8.3)

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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: Norden Hills Family Centre 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Norden Hills Family Centre Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 9 Highfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5RZ

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Chitsva Tafangombe

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Residential family centre details

Email address: priscilla@nordenhillsfamilycentre.org.uk

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Inspector

Claire Mason, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Norden Hills Family Centre 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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