Chance Residential and Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 1 Chance Residential and Assessment Centre Chance Further Support CIC 45 Marischal Road, London SE13 5LE Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre provides parental assessments for up to four families at any one time and is staffed on a 24-hour basis.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

The centre and the manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022. At the time of this inspection, there were four families living in the centre.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account requires improvement to be good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 21 June 2023

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 2

p.1

improvement to be good

The overall experience of children and parents is negatively affected by the poor leadership and management of this residential family centre.

p.2

improvement to be good

Parents say that they share good relationships with some members of staff, but poor relationships with others. Some parents say that they have little faith in the centre’s complaints procedures and at times do not feel listened to. Some parents have shared incidents with managers that highlight staff’s poor conduct and managers have sought to resolve these issues with the individual staff member.

p.2

improvement to be good

Records of complaints are incomplete and disorderly. During the inspection, managers failed to produce a central log of complaints, making it difficult to track the number and management of all complaints received. Records do not consistently include details of the complaint, but merely information about how the complaint was addressed. It is unclear whether complainants receive a written response to their complaints. Records do not state whether or not complainants are satisfied with the outcome of their complaint. Complaints are not managed in line with the centre’s complaints procedure.

p.2

improvement to be good

Families’ placement plans are not consistently clear and comprehensive. Some care plans are incomplete and do not highlight placement objectives and how these are to be achieved.

p.2

improvement to be good

Children and parents receive good support to attend education. This includes parents attending courses and having access to relevant learning resources both at the centre and within the local community. Babies and toddlers attend children’s centres for learning and play, while older children attend school.

p.2

improvement to be good

Children and parents are supported to life healthy lifestyles. Families attend primary health care appointments and follow recommended treatment plans. For example, children’s health care checks and immunisations are kept up to date. Staff support families to eat balanced and nutritious meals.

p.2

improvement to be good

Parents access specialist services to that are integral to their parenting assessment. These include for example, mental health and drug and alcohol misuse services. Staff complete random drug testing on site and parents attend community-based programmes that explore relationship issues and domestic violence.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff’s administration of medication is not robust. Medication records are not always complete and gaps are noted. Some records do not confirm that parents take medication as prescribed and in some cases staff signatures and dates are missing. In other records the tally of unused medication is inaccurate. Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 3 Final assessment reports are generally of a good standard. Staff understand and use the centre’s assessment framework. Since the last inspection there has been a strong focus on improving assessments and staff training to ensure that the centre’s framework of assessment is embedded in practice and is evidenced in records.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff work hard to protect children and their parents from abuse, neglect, and harm. Families say that they feel safe at the centre. The centre’s child and adult protection policies and procedures are clear and staff are familiar with these. Staff complete regular safeguarding training and the protection of children remains the central focus of staff’s work. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the centre’s whistle blowing policies. This was not the case at the last inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Assessment information is focused on the welfare and protection of children and their parents’ ability to care for them safely. However, some risk assessments are incomplete and fail to highlight known risks or provide strategies to manage risks posed to children and parents.

p.3

improvement to be good

Parents receive help and support to manage their own behaviour and feelings safely. Staff manage well behaviour that is of concern and they provide families with clear boundaries. Staff effectively manage any conflict between residents.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff’s use of CCTV is appropriate and provides an additional level of scrutiny during the assessment process. Families are aware of the centre’s use of CCTV and audio monitoring devises.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are no health and safety concerns for the building. However, records of fire drills and the evacuation of the premises do not confirm that staff complete these as frequently as expected. Records state that the last fire drill was conducted in July 2023. This is not in accordance with the centre’s evacuation procedures that require staff to conduct fire drills soon after a new family arrives at the centre, and at regular intervals thereafter.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some areas of the home’s physical environment does not promote the safely and security of children. During the inspection, the ground floor stair gate was observed most of the time to be open. The first-floor stair gate had been removed. Staff said that the gate was due to be replaced imminently. This is of concerns as at the time of the inspection, a toddler who could walk and a primary school aged child were staying at the centre. There is no window restrictor to windows that are accessible to children in the lounge area and on the first-floor landing. Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ oversight of the service is not strong. Some of the areas identified for improvement at the last inspection have not been met and are highlighted again at this inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers’ review of key documents, to ensure that staff record important information fully and accurately is ineffective. The quality of some records is poor. These include families’ care plans, risk assessments, complaints information and medication records.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, the provider has appointed a deputy manager to support the development and improvement of services provided at the centre. The appointment of additional senior staff is planned to further strengthen the management and leadership of this residential family centre.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Quality of care monitoring reports highlight the centre’s activities, trends, strengths and identifies areas requiring attention. Monthly monitoring visits and subsequent reports completed by independent visitors have shown improvement over time. However, the scope of these visit are insufficient in driving improvement. Monitoring reports are not consistently completed as required under the regulations.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff say that the team work collaboratively and that there is noted improvement in how the centre is run than in the recent past. They feel well supported by managers. However, gaps are noted in the frequency of staff’s supervision and the recording of these meetings. Staff appraisals are not completed each year as required.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff’s completion of core training was cause for concern at the last inspection. Leaders and managers have since monitored and encouraged staff to complete this training. There are plans in place to develop further training specifically designed to address the needs of staff working at the centre. Currently, staff training does not include key subject matters such as adult mental health, substance misuse, attachment, stimulation and play, and learning disability. Some of the training courses completed by staff is geared towards staff working in other residential settings such as children’s homes.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The recruitment and vetting of staff is not robust. Staff recruitment records do not demonstrate that staff vetting practices are in accordance with safe recruitment procedures. Some staff information is missing. This includes, for example, updated Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), evidence of two written references and confirmation of staff’s formal qualifications. This does not confirm that staff are suitable to work with children and their parents.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers and staff work in partnership with other professionals. This is particularly the case of local authority staff, the courts, guardians, health professionals, and Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 5 community-based early year’s services. This partnership working promotes staff’s co- ordinated approach in completing parental assessments. Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre. (Regulation 25 (4)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the reports accurately reflect what has happened in the centre during the reporting period. This includes details of incidents, records of complaints and commentary about the premises. 15 June 2024

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall provide a written copy of the complaint’s procedure on request to any resident and any person acting on behalf of a resident.

p.6

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. 1 June 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 7 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the Commission at its request a statement containing a summary of the complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken. (Regulation 20 (1)(2)(3)(5)(6)(7))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that residents' complaints are formally recorded and responded to.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 17 (1)(5)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive appropriate training that is relevant to residential family centres. The registered person must ensure that staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals and that there are records of these. 15 June 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed by a person other than the registered person in a position in which he may in the course of his duties have regular contact with residents.

p.7

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless— 15 June 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 8 he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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)(b)(2)(3)(b)(d))

p.8

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

the objectives and intended outcome of the placement;

p.8

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.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In preparing or reviewing the placement plan the registered person shall, so far as practicable—

p.8

Requirement Due date

seek and take account of the views of the members of the family;

p.8

Requirement Due date

take account of any relevant assessment or other report relating to any member of the family which may be provided by the placing authority. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the quality of children and parents' placement plans and risk assessments. 15 June 2024

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements for the recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the residential family centre. (Regulation 11 (2)) 1 June 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 9 The registered person shall having regard to the size of the residential family centre and the number and needs of residents—

p.8

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against risk of accidents. (Regulation 14 (2)(g))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, this specifically relates to the appropriate use of stairgates at both the top and bottom of the staircase and the restriction of windows that may be reached by children. 1 June 2024

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall after consultation with the fire and rescue authority—

p.9

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire. Regulation 22 (1)(a))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, this specifically relates to increasing the frequency of fire evacuation drills and maintaining records of their outcome. 1 June 2024

p.9

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: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 1

p.9

Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Chance Further Support CIC

p.10

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 31 Stroud Road, London SE25 5DR

p.10

Residential family centre details

Email address: michelle.riley@chancefs.org

p.10

Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Chance Residential and Assessment Centre 1 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.

p.10

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.

p.11

Inspector

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11