Judith Lodge

Inspection report for residential family centre: Judith Lodge 1 Judith Lodge Veritas Care Group Ltd 10 Lagos Avenue, Ramsgate CT12 6JZ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This privately owned centre is registered to conduct residential parenting assessments for up to three families. At the time of this inspection, one family was resident. Assessments are usually commissioned by a local authority or the court.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre and manager were registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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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 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: Judith Lodge 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive a good level of support in this residential family centre. The staff work in partnership with the families throughout the assessment process and involve them at every stage. Staff keep families informed of the progress that they are making and the areas that they need to work on. The strength of the relationships staff develop with parents means this guidance is well received.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The staff and families have good interactions that are warm and respectful. One parent said, ‘I like the staff. I get on well with them.’ Parents feel listened to and able to raise any concerns. Staff encourage families to express their views. Families feel that their views are respected. They contribute to reviews of the service and suggestions for change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families are supported by warm and committed staff. They have good day-to-day experiences that help to promote their growth and development. Families value ‘well-being Wednesday,’ when families are encouraged to prepare a healthy meal with staff and enjoy quality time and share the meal. Additionally, trips to the cinema and meals out are also well received. One parent had never played a board game before. Staff introduced this activity to them, and the parent loved it. The nurturing environment of the centre helps parents to value themselves as well as understand the need to nurture their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families experience well-planned moves into the centre. Staff help to prepare parents so that they know what to expect when they move in. One parent visited the centre before moving in. This gave them the opportunity to meet the staff and see the room where they would be staying. Welcome packs with important information help parents understand what to expect and what they can access in the local community. Planning meetings ensure that clear plans are in place for the progress of the assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Independent social workers carry out the parenting assessment in partnership with the staff team. They work together to ensure that they gather all relevant information. They share this evidence with parents to ensure transparency and assist their understanding of their progress. Assessment reports for the court are comprehensive. They provide an extensive view of the family’s parenting capacity. It is clear how the assessor has come to the conclusions and recommendations made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff understand the assessment model used by the centre. They have received different levels of training in this, including in workshops and through information sheets. Inspection report for residential family centre: Judith Lodge 3

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff ensure the welfare of children. The safety and well-being of children are at the centre of the work that they do. Staff understand risks and how to manage them. Individual risk assessments are rigorous, with clear control measures to mitigate risk. Staff follow these. Regular reviews of risk by the manager and weekly case discussions mean that staff and parents can work together to keep children safe.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff do not have experience of a parent going missing from the centre. However, staff know what to do should this happen. There is a protocol in place and an individual missing risk assessment for all parents. The use of 24-hour CCTV helps staff to safeguard children and intervene to prevent harm or the neglect of children. Parents consent to the use of CCTV and know where they can go to have privacy.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre staff have not yet experienced difficult behaviours from families. However, there are clear and consistent boundaries in place that families respond to. For example, they know that if they smoke, this must be outdoors and they must use the smoking jackets provided. Staff help families to understand the dangers to their child of residual smoke. Managers work with staff to ensure the maintenance of appropriate professional boundaries.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff know the safeguarding policies and procedures and follow them. They know how to raise any concerns about a parent, staff or professional who may have caused potential harm to a child. The small number of complaints received have been swiftly and effectively dealt with by the manager. Leaders and managers maintain good oversight of any safeguarding concerns or complaints.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are ambitious for the centre. They set high standards for the support and safety of families and have high expectations of staff. They ensure that families receive the best possible care from a committed and well-trained staff group. Leaders and managers ensure that the quality of assessments is of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the progress that families are making. Staff maintain thorough, clear reporting and recording. One professional said, ‘Weekly and daily logs are extremely clear,’ and they are the best I have ever seen in any residential family centre’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by accessible leaders and managers. They have created a supportive environment that encourages staff development. They provide staff with reflective supervision. Additionally, staff receive group supervision from an external therapist. One member of staff said, ‘It was easy to settle - they are very supportive.’ However, the manager and a new member of staff have not received the level of supervision that they should. This is a missed opportunity to develop and track staff practice. Inspection report for residential family centre: Judith Lodge 4 Leaders and managers provide staff with training that meets the needs of the families that they support, for example, around domestic abuse and mental health. Staff value the training and career development opportunities. However, flexi or bank workers do not have their training kept up to date. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that all people who work in the centre are equipped with the same level of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work with a range of professionals to ensure that they provide the best possible care and support to families. Because of this, leaders and managers are confident in challenging professionals when they fall short of expectations or their responses are ineffective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion are well embedded in practice. The assessment tools used meet the needs of families with additional needs. There are plans to develop a more diverse staff team. Inspection report for residential family centre: Judith Lodge 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 ensure that all persons employed by him—

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision, and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to new staff receiving regular and consistent supervision. Also, to the registered manager receiving good-quality supervision that includes discussion and review of the whole service. 30 October 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there are good-quality learning and development opportunities which staff and volunteers are supported to take up. These may include induction and post-qualifying and in-service training, to enhance individual skills and to keep staff up to date with professional and legal developments. (Residential family centres: NMS 16.2)

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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: Judith Lodge 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Veritas Care Group Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Marlowe Innovation Centre, Marlowe Way, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6FA

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Kathryn Davenport

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Residential family centre details

Email address: hello@veritascaregroup.org

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Judith Lodge 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 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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