Project Phoenix Ltd

Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 1 Project Phoenix Ltd Project Phoenix Ltd 9 & 11 Wentworth Street, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 5PX Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately owned and run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities, courts, parents and children in the provision of robust, fair and evidence-based parenting assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre has recently increased the number of families accessing the service. It can now accommodate up to six families in two adjoining buildings.

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Information about this residential family centre

The families have their own bedroom, and some rooms have en-suite facilities. All other facilities are shared communal spaces. The communal spaces include a kitchen/dining room, playroom, lounge, and bathroom. There is a storage area for prams and a medium-sized garden to the rear of each property.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were no families in residence at the time of this inspection.

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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 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: 27 June 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents benefit from the undertaking of a thorough, fair, evaluative and analytical parenting assessment. Staff show a real understanding of and empathy for parents’ past experiences and current needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The assessment process clearly demonstrates the parents’ ability to safely care for their children. There is a strong emphasis and focus on the child’s needs, well-being and safety. The final assessment report details the parents’ strengths and capacity to change, including where shortfalls remain. The final report clearly evidences the assessment of the parents, and makes recommendations for the areas where parents require further support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The staff demonstrate that they know each family well. The staff achieve this by having a good understanding of the reason for each family’s placement and their past experiences to ensure that they consider each family’s circumstances. The families are provided with individualised support, guidance and clear direction to promote good parenting. Child-focused activities include observations of parenting tasks and daily sessions that help the parents respond to areas where change is required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Consultation with parents is a great strength of the service. Immediate feedback from staff is given to inform parents of how they are doing and what changes, if any, still need to be made. Staff conduct routine checks on the parents’ well-being, and offer appropriate support and guidance. Time for reflection is built into the parenting programme, which enables parents to better understand their parenting capacity and the need for change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

‘This was a positive experience for mum. She has specific communication needs. The staff adapted their communication style and managed this very well. The staff were good to explain the parenting assessment process to the parent. This also helped to improve her relationship with that of the placing local authority. She developed strong relationships with staff and wanted to stay.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff understand the importance of establishing positive relationships with the parents and children. This helps staff to build strong and trusting relationships with parents. In turn, this assists in making the assessment process a more positive experience for the parents and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

An exit feedback form from a parent recorded the following comment: Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 4 ‘The support given has been brilliant. Overall, the placement was good, with a few issues. I praise staff for the effective communication and knowing how to support me when I went into crisis. Staff have been accommodating and have made adaptions for each family’s needs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents benefit from key-work sessions on a weekly basis. From these, they learn about matters that are important to caring for their child. For example, the learn about attachment, healthy eating, childhood illnesses, emotional warmth, basic childcare tasks, and child development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

During social work sessions, the parents explore their previous life experience and the impact this has had on them. Work has involved discussing areas such as positive relationships, experiencing domestic violence, and the impact of substance misuse. This assists parents to better understand themselves and recognise the changes required moving forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents benefit from their health needs being met. The children’s and parents’ health needs can be addressed swiftly, when required, as they are registered with local services. Parents and children routinely access the GP service and have visits from the health visitor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents take part in and access activities in the home and the community. These include pampering and games nights, music sessions, and play groups. This ensures that parents learn the importance of play and child development, as well has having access to activities that help them to unwind and relax.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Strong safeguarding practice exists at the centre, and clear policies and protocols are adhered to. All staff are trained in the provider’s required safeguarding training. They are clear about the action to take when concerns arise, and they have taken appropriate action when safeguarding incidents occur. A reflective practice approach is used in staff meetings. This provides clear evidence that learning from incidents takes place. This helps staff to continue to keep children safe from harm.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents receive written guidance about what is expected from them during their stay, when they move in. In addition, staff verbally explain the importance of respecting each other, and the home’s rules and boundaries. This assists parents to be clear on the expectations throughout their placement.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Each family has an individual risk assessment that details their specific vulnerabilities and areas of concern that may impact on parents’ capacity and ability to keep their child safe. These include any mental health difficulties, personal hygiene issues, domestic neglect, violence and abuse, and substance and alcohol misuse. The risk assessments are updated regularly. This ensures that the manager and staff respond effectively to safeguard children and adults by using the identified strategies to reduce and eliminate the identified risks. Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 5 Parents know how to complain. Their complaints are treated seriously and are responded to promptly. Regular house meetings give parents a further opportunity to discuss any issues collectively. This helps parents to feel listened to.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The home has effective arrangements in place for recruiting staff. Records demonstrate that the manager undertakes thorough recruitment and selection processes. All the appropriate checks and references are undertaken prior to the staff taking up employment.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There are now two adjoining houses that provide facilities for three families on each side. While health and safety checks ensure that the building remains a safe environment for families to live, there are areas in the homes that are showing signs of wear and tear. The paintwork on the hallway skirting board and radiator is chipped, one stair carpet is frayed, and some of the walls and doors in number 11 have marked areas. In addition, the springs in one single mattress are near to the surface, and the garden grass areas and patio are not family friendly. These matters detract from the otherwise positive environment provided to families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. There is a committed management team who wants to provide the best support and guidance to parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children and parents benefit from a core of established staff, including the management team. Families receive support from a committed and compassionate staff team. All staff undertake induction training that includes the provider’s mandatory and specialist training. Most of the staff hold the level 3 diploma qualification. The provider’s mandatory training includes first aid, child development, attachment, food hygiene, and the safe administration of medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Specialist training areas now include the impact of domestic abuse, neglect, drugs awareness, and self-harm. More recently, staff have undertaken training in emotional unstable personality disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This provides the staff with the knowledge and skills to support the parents who are undertaking their assessment, so the parents are equipped with sound parenting skills that enable them to keep their child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have recently investigated two complaints from parents. Appropriate action has been taken to address the shortfalls found. This demonstrates that parents’ complaints are taken seriously, and deficits are addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from receiving regular formal supervision sessions from a line manager. These sessions have a strong focus on the families’ progress, and on the staff’s well- being, practice and training and development. Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 6 A placing social worker said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘The manager has kept me well informed and has been in touch a lot by email and phone. I have received a weekly update report. They did prioritise the local authority requests made. There have been frequent meetings to support mum’s specific needs. This was very positive for mum and the meetings were managed very well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, there are suitable internal and external monitoring systems. These include the routine monitoring of the parenting assessments that are underway, the environment, and staffing matters. This assists the manager and deputy to have good oversight of the service and to implement action plans when shortfalls are identified. However, there is no evidence of when the human resources advice and guidance has been accessed in line with policies when addressing shortfalls in staff practice. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate that formal procedures have been followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the previous requirements and recommendations have been implemented. This includes staff knowing when to record their observations of the CCTV. The staff take effective action and respond to the health needs of the children. The management team has good oversight of incidents when the staff have used body maps, and there is now protected time for staff handovers. However, one requirement and one recommendation have not been implemented. These relate to the reports under Regulation 25 not being consistently sent into Ofsted in a timely manner, and the assessing social worker not receiving formal supervision from the manager. These have been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two families said that the parent’s guide does not precisely reflect the facilities and service accurately. Improving the parent’s guide could provide parents with a more accurate insight about the home’s environment and parenting assessment process. Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 7

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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—

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Requirement Due date

the registered manager; and in the case of a visit under paragraph (2)—

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Requirement Due date

where the registered provider is an organisation, to each of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b)(c) (5)(a)(b)(c)(i)) 31 July 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 8 This requirement has been reissued.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should prepare a resident’s guide, which includes a summary of the statement of purpose, and provide a copy for every prospective resident, parent and child (of appropriate age) resident in the centre. In particular, the registered person should review this document and take into consideration the feedback from parents. (Residential Family Centre, National Minimum Standards 8.6)  The registered person should provide a comfortable and homely environment that is well maintained and decorated throughout. In addition, where possible, provide access to play space that is appropriate for the age of the children. In particular, the registered person should address damaged decoration. All mattresses should be in good order and the garden safe and fully useable. (Residential Family Centre, National Minimum Standards 11.2)  The registered person should ensure that the staff have access to support and

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Recommendations

advice (including from external specialists) to provide a comprehensive service for the parents and their children, and are provided with regular supervision sessions by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. In particular, the registered person should ensure that the assessing social worker receives supervision as detailed within ‘Working together to safeguard children’. (Residential Family Centre, National Minimum Standards 17.4) This recommendation has been restated.  The registered manager should make sure that staff understand the nature of records maintained and follow the centre’s policy for the keeping and retention of files, managing confidential information, and access to files (including files removed from the premises). There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and take action when needed. In particular, the registered person should provide evidence of the guidance provided by human

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Recommendations

resources when dealing with disciplinary matters. (Residential Family Centre, National Minimum Standards 20.2)

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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: Project Phoenix Ltd 9

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Project Phoenix Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 11 Wentworth Street, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 5PX

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Lucille Gabriel-Gilchrist

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Residential family centre details

Email address: admin@projectphoenixltd.com

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Project Phoenix Ltd 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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