Welland House

Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 1 Welland House Barnardo's Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This family centre is managed by a charity in partnership with a local authority. It is registered to provide accommodation for up to three families.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were three families living at the centre at the time of inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

There has been no registered manager since April 2024.

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Information about this residential family centre

This is the centre’s first inspection since registration in November 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: this is the first inspection

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 2

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improvement to be good

The shortfalls in safeguarding practice, and leadership and management of the residential family centre, impact on the experiences and progress of children and parents.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure parents and children have a positive experience when moving into the centre. Parents’ and social workers can visit the centre before moving in. Staff gather detailed information which ensures the support provided by staff to families is focused on their individual needs. Leaders and managers do not always consider the needs of other families when planning care for new families moving in.

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improvement to be good

Assessment plans are thorough, well planned and regularly reviewed. There is clear partnership working between the centre staff and local authority. Leaders and managers do not always have oversight of the final parenting assessment reports. They cannot assure themselves recommendations are made on evidence gathered.

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improvement to be good

When a parenting assessment is complete, leaders and managers do not always consider the care and support that will continue for the family until they move out. Some staff, a social worker and a parent were unsure of the support being provided by the centre staff while the family were waiting for a moving out date. This does not ensure a timely and well-planned ending.

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improvement to be good

The environment of the centre is well-equipped, spacious, and furnished to a good standard. There are communal areas for parents and their children to socialise. Each family has their own self-contained flat which provides their own private space.

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improvement to be good

Safe recruitment processes are not always followed. There is a weak system in place to locate required information. Sufficient information had not been obtained relating to reasons for one staff member leaving previous care roles or their full employment history.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not all received relevant training to support them in the work they complete with parents. This includes safeguarding training for more than half the team. One member of staff shared that the training is not tailored to supporting families living in an assessment centre. The acting manager was unsure why this core training had not been completed. A leader shared there is a shortfall in data gathering rather than training not having been completed. Leaders and managers cannot be clear what training staff have completed. Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 3 Risk assessments do not work effectively as a safeguarding tool. They fail to provide adequate information relating to known risks and how staff can provide effective support. A lone working risk assessment is in place however, this does not ensure families and staff are well-supported. Staff raise they feel unsafe when lone working.

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improvement to be good

There is one known occasion where there was only one member of staff working at a time when three families were living in the centre. This impacts the support available to families from staff.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers responses to safeguarding concerns are inconsistent. Where an allegation was made against a member of staff, a referral was not made to the local area designated officer until 14 days later. Appropriate action has now been taken and concerns relating to staff practice addressed.

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improvement to be good

There are shortfalls in how safeguarding incidents are managed. On some occasions, staff fail to act in the best interests of a child. There have been avoidable incidents. Leaders and manager oversight and learning from these incidents are minimal or entirely missing. Ofsted was not notified of two serious incidents. The regulator was therefore unable to evaluate whether appropriate action was taken.

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good

There has been no registered manager since April 2024. There is no registered responsible individual. Acting managers are in place, however, there is a significant impact on staff morale because of poor leadership and management structures. Staff retention is impacted. This affects the consistency of care and support provided to children and families.

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good

The centre was registered in November 2023. There has been no quality-of-care review submitted by leaders and managers to Ofsted. There are shortfalls in the current monitoring and review system. Reports for monthly visits do not meet the regulations. They do not always consider the views of parents, families, staff, and professionals. Leaders and managers cannot form a clear opinion about the standard of care and support provided to families. Areas of development are not identified in a timely manner as a result.

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good

Staff do not always keep records up to date. Lack of manager oversight has resulted in records being inaccurate. They are not free from errors. One families risk assessment reflected risks associated for a different family. Records are kept electronically however, are not easily accessible.

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good

Leaders and managers have submitted an updated version of the statement of purpose. However, there is still reference to previous leaders and managers.

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good

Staff receive regular professional supervision sessions from leaders and managers. There is a clear agenda. Where there are practice concerns, they are usually addressed well within these sessions and plans put in place to support staff development. Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 4

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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, 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, 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 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure risk assessments are completed, detailed, reflect all known risks and are regularly updated. Staff must be informed by the risk assessments about how to reduce known risks and provide support to children and their families. 12 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider shall appoint an individual to manage a residential family centre if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in full-time day to day charge of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider appoints a person to manage the residential family centre, he shall forthwith give notice to the [Chief Inspector] of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and 12 September 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 5 the date on which the appointment is to take effect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(i)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

A person shall not carry on a residential family centre unless he is fit to do so.

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Requirement Due date

A person is not fit to carry on a residential family centre unless the person—

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Requirement Due date

is an individual who carries on the residential family centre—

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Requirement Due date

otherwise than in partnership with others, and satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

in partnership with others, and he and each of his partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

is a partnership, and each of the partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has given notice to the [Chief Inspector] of the name, address and position in the organisation of an individual (in these Regulations referred to as “the responsible individual”) who is a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the organisation and is responsible for supervising the management of the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

that individual satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

he is physically and mentally fit to carry on the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

he provides in relation to himself, full and satisfactory information in respect of each of the matters listed in Schedule 2. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b)(c )(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b)(c)) 12 September 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 6 The registered provider must ensure appropriate action is taken to appoint a responsible individual.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless—

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Requirement Due date

he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

Where the following conditions apply, the registered person may permit a person to start work at the residential family centre notwithstanding paragraph (4)(b)—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 in respect of that person, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters specified in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of that person has been obtained in relation to the matters specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

pending receipt of, and satisfying himself with regard to, any outstanding information, the registered person ensures that the person is appropriately supervised while carrying out his duties. 12 September 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 7 The registered person shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any person working at the residential family centre who is not employed by him and to whom paragraph (2) does not apply is appropriately supervised while carrying out his duties. (Regulation 16 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b)(d) (5)(a)(b)(d) (6))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure staff are safely recruited. It also refers to the registered person ensuring staff have access to all appropriate training required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

improving, the quality of care provided at the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

[(1A) The system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for adequate consideration of matters raised under regulation 18 by persons working at the residential family centre.]

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the [Chief Inspector] a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available to residents.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (1) shall provide for consultation with residents. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure a review of the quality of care is completed at appropriate intervals. 12 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an individual, but is not in day to day charge of the residential family centre, he shall visit the residential family centre in accordance with this regulation.

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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 12 September 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 8 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. . . 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. (Regulation 25 (1) (4)(a)(b)(c))

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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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that Ofsted are notified of serious events reflected within schedule 5. 12 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall compile in relation to the residential family centre a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as “the statement of purpose”) which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the [Chief Inspector] and shall make a copy of it available, upon request, for inspection by—

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Requirement Due date

any person who works at the residential family centre;

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Requirement Due date

any local authority exercising any functions under the 1989 Act in relation to any resident.

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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 [Chief Inspector] within 28 days of any such revision. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose reflects all information required and that the 12 September 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 9 information is correct. The registered person must also ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review and submitted to Ofsted after any revisions.

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Recommendations

 The registered manager refers to the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer any incident, allegation or reasonable suspicion of significant harm of a child by a parent or other child while resident at the centre. (Residential family centres: NMS 18.3)

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Recommendations

 Records may be kept in electronic form, provided the information is capable of being reproduced in a legible form. Records should also be free from errors. (Residential family centres: NMS 20.1)

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Recommendations

 The manager should ensure there is a robust system to monitor and have oversight of safeguarding concerns. Prompt and effective action should be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of children and their families. (Residential family centres: NMS 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: Welland House 1

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG

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Residential family centre details

Email address: karen.ciantar@barnardos.org.uk

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Inspectors

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Welland House 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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