Norden Hills Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 1 Norden Hills Family Centre Norden Hills Family Centre Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is registered to accommodate up to five families. The centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the family court and/or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

The registered manager has been in post since the centre’s registration in June 2023.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the visit, one family was residing in the centre. The inspector spoke to the parent during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place following a safeguarding notification received from the provider in relation to a serious incident involving two children. On review of the providers most recent independent visitor report, some additional concerns were also identified.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector focused on the action that leaders and managers have taken to ensure that safeguarding practices and processes have been developed and to review any subsequent action that has been taken to address and improve staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

A serious incident has occurred between two children from two different families in the centre. Consequently, one of the children required admitting to hospital for observations. Leaders and managers acted immediately to increase the level of monitoring and to review the supervision levels for each family. The incident Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 2 occurred during a period when the families placing authorities had agreed individual reduced supervision levels in the centre.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have undertaken a lessons learned exercise to reflect on their policies, procedures and staff practice. An emergency team meeting was carried out and provided staff with guidance in relation to the changes to be made to safeguard children residing in the centre. Leaders and managers consulted with the families placing authorities to agree clear strategies to mitigate risks.

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This monitoring visit

In addition, the manager has reviewed each staff members contract of expectations agreement. This was to ensure that they understand the additional level of vigilance required in their roles when supporting families.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring plans were reviewed to reflect the changes to the levels of supervision for each family. This also ensured that at least one member of staff was always present in the communal areas with families. A parent spoken to during the visit, reported that staff consistently put in place the agreed level of increased supervision for each family.

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This monitoring visit

However, there has been a delay in leaders and managers notifying Ofsted of the child’s admission to hospital and equally no evidence to demonstrate that the placing authority’s emergency duty team was notified on the evening of the incident.

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This monitoring visit

Current plans for families show that the arrangements in place effectively safeguard children in the centre. Staff also have a good understanding of their responsibilities while supervising families. Consequently, there has been no further concerns relating to the monitoring and supervision of families.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers identified that some staff have failed to use the reporting of allegations and whistleblowing procedures appropriately. That said, leaders and managers have appropriately addressed the identified practice concerns and have taken action to prevent any further poor safeguarding practice. Leaders and managers notified the relevant safeguarding professionals and revisited the whistleblowing policy with the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Again, there has been a delay in leaders and managers notifying the placing authority and Ofsted. This means that on both occasions, all relevant professionals were not promptly notified to ensure that they had up to date information about children’s safety and well-being. A requirement has been made in relation to these shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining recommendations regarding areas of concern raised at the full inspection were not considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the centre’s next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 3

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Statutory requirement

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 with the given timescales.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and the relevant placing authority or emergency duty team without delay, if a child is admitted to hospital or if an allegation is made about a member of staff working in the centre. 25 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person approves the statement of purpose and reviews it at least annually. (Residential family centres: NMS 8.3)  The registered person should ensure that a record is kept of the recruitment and vetting checks carried out on those working at the centre, including volunteers, which includes: checks to confirm the right to work in the UK; and where the person has lived outside the UK, further checks, as are considered appropriate, where obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure is not sufficient to establish suitability to work with children. (Residential family centres: NMS 14.3)  The registered person should ensure the registered provider's written report of a visit carried out under regulation 25 is lodged in the centre for the manager and staff to read and to respond. It is also made available to inspectors as required. (Residential family centres: NMS 19.6) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the residential family centre since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 5

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Norden Hills Family Centre Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 9 Highfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5RZ

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Chitsva Tafangombe

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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