Gawber Road

Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 1 Gawber Road Twenty Four-Seven High Support Accommodation for Young People Limited 32 Gawber Road, Barnsley S75 2AF Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities in completing fair and evidence-based assessments of parenting capacity and skills.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is registered to accommodate up to 10 families over three properties. The families have their own ensuite bedrooms and share the communal rooms. Each property has its own communal space that includes a kitchen, dining room, playroom, lounges and a bathroom. There are outside garden areas and storage facilities for children’s pushchairs and other equipment. At the time of the inspection, there were eight families staying at the centre.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager is experienced and has been registered since 21 June 2021.

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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 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 previous inspection: 25 January 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents benefit from a warm welcome from the manager and staff when they arrive at the centre. The atmosphere is homely, relaxed and mutually respectful. One parent said, ‘I wasn’t judged, and I was provided with information about the centre and the parenting assessment process.’ This helps parents to feel less anxious, and they can settle at the centre before the formal assessment process begins.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Relationships between the parents and staff are a main strength of the centre, and they are based on openness and transparency. Leaders, managers and staff are committed to helping parents make sustained changes and meaningful progress in their lives. This enables parents to overcome barriers that impact on their ability to care and bond with their children and keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The initial, midway and final assessment reports are evaluative, with a detailed analysis of the work completed with each parent. The assessing social worker’s report is thoughtfully written in a non-judgemental way and sets out clearly the next steps and their final recommendations. External professionals confirm that the assessments are detailed, evidence-based and child-centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Residents’ meetings are regular and take place fortnightly. There is a topic subject included in every meeting, and this is a helpful way of sharing information and improving knowledge for parents. Any issues between the residents are spoken about and addressed in the meeting, which helps to foster positive relationships between residents and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre has a range of resources, activities and equipment that give children and parents positive experiences that support their development. Parents are guided and supported to engage in activities that stimulate their child, such as baby massage, sensory play, reading stories and music sessions. In addition, parents attend a community playgroup three times a week, baby and parent swimming and trips to the park. This promotes good parenting and enhances children’s day-to-day life experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents say that they have developed trusting relationships with staff where they can share any worries or concerns. One parent said, ‘As far as a centre can go, you can’t get much better than this. If I have any problems, I will speak with the staff, who will help to resolve the issue.’ This reassures parents that any concerns will be acted on.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The safety and protection of children are well established in the ethos of the centre and underpin all assessment processes. Safeguarding practice is an essential Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 3 component of staff practice and helps to keep children safe. Risk assessments are completed, reviewed and updated routinely, and staff work with the parents to manage the identified risks sensitively.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Surveillance is used in the home, and consent is sought from parents at the earliest opportunity. The use of CCTV is proportionate and does not replace direct observation by staff. This promotes parents’ rights to privacy. CCTV is used primarily to protect children and keep them safe from harm and is individualised to each family’s needs and identified risks. Direct observations are the preferred practice method, and this is much more helpful for parents.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers and staff understand each family’s individual risk factors, vulnerabilities and support needs. This feeds into placement planning and the subsequent parenting assessment, with parents being regularly consulted at various stages. As one parent said, ‘I am looking forward to the midway review; I have been prepared and so there will be no surprises.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre has good links with external agencies that provide parents with therapeutic and counselling support in areas such as mental health, alcohol and drug misuse and adverse childhood experiences. This adds an extra layer of support and assists in providing a well-rounded holistic assessment.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Significant or serious incidents that have occurred since the last inspection have been managed and investigated in accordance with safeguarding procedures and have involved all the relevant safeguarding agencies. Body maps are consistently completed if there are any injuries or knocks, and children are well protected. However, the manager has not notified Ofsted of two serious incidents. This lack of oversight prevents the regulator from being assured that the manager and staff have taken effective action to safeguard the children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The manager ensures that important information is sought from the placing local authority before accepting a family into the centre. Thorough assessments consider all risks, and strategies have been identified to support the family when they arrive. However, the manager does not consider the risks posed by the incoming family to other existing families. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to develop a plan to mitigate against any identified risks. Furthermore, consent from the placing local authority to share information about the families is not always in place for families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are motivated, manage the centre well and provide visible and confident leadership. There is continuity in service delivery due to a stable management and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported and have opportunities for continuous learning and development. This has enabled some staff to progress in their career and be Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 4 successful in gaining a promotion to more senior roles. This provides consistency and stability for families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Families benefit from living in a well-managed centre. Families who were spoken to are positive about the support they receive, and written feedback from past residents consolidates this. One parent wrote a poem about their stay, and another said, ‘Although I wasn’t ready for taking my baby home. I will always be grateful for all the help you have given me, it has felt the closest thing to a family I have ever had.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions and six-monthly appraisals. Furthermore, daily handovers, team meetings and family assessment discussions enable staff to reflect on their practice and interventions with families. Staff say they feel well supported, they love their work and are proud of what they do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular, good-quality training that keeps them well informed. Leaders and managers are proactive in delivering bite-sized learning opportunities and inviting external agencies to deliver workshops on important areas such as attachment. Most staff have relevant experience and hold a level 3 diploma qualification or are working towards it. There are good systems in place to ensure that staff do not go beyond the timescale for completion. Some of the more senior staff, including the manager, are working towards their level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place so that staff employed to work with children and parents are safe to do so. However, the manager has not always ensured that checks on any gaps in employment history have been explored and recorded. This is a potential risk. Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 5

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Statutory requirements

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

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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—

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the local authority has sought the consent of parents to share information included in the referral form and placement plan. 12 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

If, in relation to a residential family centre, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 26 (1)) 12 July 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that a record is kept of the recruitment and vetting checks which have been carried out on those working (including as volunteers) for the residential family centre. In particular, any gaps in employment should be explained and recorded. (Residential family centres: NMS 14.3) Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 6

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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: Gawber Road 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Twenty Four-Seven High Support Accommodation for Young People Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 28 High Road, London N2 9PJ

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Inspectors

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Gawber Road 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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