Resicare Alliance

Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 1 ResiCare Alliance ResiCare Alliance Limited Templecroft, Templars Way, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1PY Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for five families. The centre provides parenting assessments that take a minimum of 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and parents are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The centre is not yet delivering good assessments of parenting capacity and/or is not delivering good care and help. The weaknesses identified need to be addressed to fully support children’s and parents’ progress through the assessment process and to mitigate risk in the medium and long term. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that mean children’s welfare is not safeguarded and promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 2

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improvement to be good

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there was one family at the centre. Leaders and managers continue to address the shortfalls identified at the inspection in May 2023. There are some improvements, despite these shortfalls remain in the leadership and management of the centre and the safeguarding responses in relation to children’s welfare.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have not been any finalised parenting assessments. One family moved on before the final assessment due to the identification of immediate concerns. Leaders and managers shared their concerns with the placing authority and submitted a well-written report for court. This enabled the placing authority to implement the actions necessary to safeguard the children.

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improvement to be good

An independent, qualified social worker oversees the parenting assessments. A psychologist provides clinical expertise and oversight. Although there have been no written assessments, appropriate arrangements are in place to compile these.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers provide detailed family placement plans. Full referral information is considered and aims are formed from the objectives identified by the local authority. Leaders and managers challenge the placing authority when court instructions are delayed. Placement plans identify the family’s needs and provide clear guidance for the staff to follow.

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improvement to be good

Staff have provided important support for children to reach their developmental milestones. This has included two children managing their continence and reducing their reliance on oral pacifiers during their time at the centre.

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improvement to be good

Family’s health is supported, and appropriate registrations and referrals are made to healthcare services. Referrals are made when necessary to support children’s educational needs.

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improvement to be good

The house is well decorated and welcoming. Family bedrooms are spacious and well- appointed. There are a large range of resources for children which encourage parents to support children’s stimulation and play. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 3

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improvement to be good

On one occasion, staff failed to intervene when a concerning incident between a parent and a child was observed. This meant that appropriate medical attention for the child was not sought. When leaders and managers identified this failure four days later, appropriate action was taken. This included notifying the placing authority and making a referral to the local authority designated officer. Following this concern about staff, leaders and managers undertook an internal investigation that outlined areas of appropriate learning and action for the staff. However, there was a delay in leaders and managers identifying the necessary learning points. The actions included improving staff handover systems, staff induction processes and management on-call systems.

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improvement to be good

On a further three occasions, when concerning incidents were observed between parents and children, staff did intervene to protect children’s welfare. However, again staff did not seek medical attention despite this being needed to provide assurances for children’s welfare.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have improved the safer recruitment processes for staff. All of the staff now have appropriate suitability checks before working at the centre.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have ensured that risk assessments are detailed and identify individual risks for each family. These guide staff by providing clear strategies to reduce risks. Before families arrive at the centre, comprehensive working-together agreements are made between parents and staff, resulting in clear shared expectations.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have improved the checking systems for fire hazards. Fire drills are conducted, and fire safety equipment is suitably maintained. There are appropriate measures for staff to monitor the wider health and safety arrangements at the centre.

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good

The registered manager is experienced and has the skills to manage the centre. She is working towards an appropriate leadership qualification. A new deputy manager has been appointed. Although there are some improvements in the quality of service provided for families, weaknesses remain in the leadership and management of the centre.

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good

All staff have attended recent report writing training. However, leaders and managers have not ensured that written reports are considered and professional. This has resulted in a poor record relating to a safeguarding concern about a child. Additionally, information provided in one family’s weekly report contained subjective and judgemental language. Leaders and mangers retracted this report during the Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 4 inspection and made the required changes. However, increased managerial monitoring is necessary to ensure that staff learning is embedded.

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good

Since the last inspection, external monitoring visits by the independent person have not taken place every month, as required. The resulting reports are not always evaluative and are not submitted to Ofsted within appropriate timescales. Furthermore, when leaders and managers have revised the statement of purpose, they have not ensured this is submitted to Ofsted. This reduces Ofsted’s oversight of the centre.

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good

Leaders and managers have made some general improvements to internal monitoring systems. A new electronic recording system is in place. Weekly reports for families are written on time and notifications to placing authorities and Ofsted have been made when necessary. However, monitoring systems have not been good enough to identify all of the shortfalls found at this inspection.

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good

Leaders and managers have not reviewed the quality of care in appropriate timescales. This is a missed opportunity to evaluate staff’s practice and parents’ views to give a greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in practice.

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good

Staff receive good-quality supervision sessions from leaders and managers. This provides opportunities for staff to develop their practice. Staff say that they feel well supported. However, some staff members have not received an annual appraisal within a suitable timeframe. This limits opportunities for staff to reflect on their annual work objectives.

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good

Leaders and managers have systems in place for staff to identify and take action on maintenance work at the centre. Appropriate budgets are maintained, and any works needed are undertaken promptly.

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good

Staff value the wide variety of training provided to them. Staff team meetings are held regularly to provide further systems of support. Generally, staff feel better equipped with the skills needed to support families.

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good

Leaders and managers have sustained positive relationships with professionals who have worked with the centre. Social workers have praised the levels of communication and would recommend the service to others. The police have identified good collaborative working with staff in relation to the measures taken to safeguard children. Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 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, 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 person shall make arrangements for residents to have access to such medical advice or treatment as may be necessary.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements, by training persons working at the residential family centre or by other measures, to prevent residents being harmed or suffering abuse or being placed at risk of harm or abuse. (Regulation 11 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that: staff have the skills to recognise and act on concerns about a child’s welfare; on-call and handover systems enable concerns about a child’s welfare to be shared immediately; staff seek medical attention for a child, when required. 31 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that the records referred to in paragraph (3) are—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records of incidents and information included in weekly reports are written objectively and professionally. 31 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

When the registered provider is an organisation or partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

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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. 31 May 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 6 The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

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Requirement Due date

the Commission. (Regulation 25 (2) (3) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

keep under review and where appropriate revise the statement of purpose and resident’s guide; and

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Requirement Due date

notify the Commission within 28 days of any such revision. (Regulation 4 (4)(a)(b)) 31 May 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff receive an annual appraisal within a suitable timeframe. (Residential family centres: national minimum standards’,17.2)  The registered person should ensure that monitoring systems are strong enough to identify concerns in the response to safeguarding incidents. They should also ensure that the quality-of-care review is completed at appropriate intervals. (Residential family centres: national minimum standards’,19.2)

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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: ResiCare Alliance 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: ResiCare Alliance Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 147 Stamford Hill, London N16 5LG

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Residential family centre details

Email address: hello@resicarealliance.co.uk

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: ResiCare Alliance 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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