Pulteney House

Inspection report for residential family centre: Pulteney House 1 Pulteney House PIPS Homes Limited Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This family centre is privately owned and is registered to provide assessments for up to three families.

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Information about this residential family centre

There was one family living at the centre at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024. This was the centre’s first inspection since registration in January 2024.

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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: Pulteney House 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families are made welcome at the centre when they move in. The centre has an environment similar to a family home. One parent said, ‘All the staff are decent and helped us settle in.’ They also said, ‘I would be totally lost without them [staff] and they’ve been there to support me.’ Relationships between staff and parents are established quickly, which helps parents to settle in and feel at ease.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff ensure that families make progress and learn new skills. One family said staff have helped them provide first-time experiences for their child that they had not had the opportunity to do with their older children. A health visitor said, ‘[The parent] has grown as a mother in the time she has been here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff provide regular feedback to parents about their progress. Parents have found this helpful in knowing whether they are getting things right. Regular sessions are undertaken with parents, with a clear focus on the needs identified at the beginning of the placement. Clear plans are identified by staff, together with the parents, about areas for improvement and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff treat parents with respect and sensitivity. Parents feel supported by staff, not only as parents but as individuals. Staff have enabled parents to grow in confidence, and they have a positive impact on their emotional well-being. Staff appropriately challenge parents and ensure the child remains at the centre of everything they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Assessment programmes are effective in evaluating parents’ strengths and weaknesses in caring for their children. Staff work creatively, tailoring the individual support they offer to meet parents’ learning needs. Social workers oversee each stage of a family’s assessment. Care is taken to ensure that the final report is independent, balanced and evidence based.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding children is the centre’s priority. Staff receive a range of training, including extended training in the centre’s preferred model of practice. Training is delivered by an experienced and qualified social worker. The preferred model of practice is connected well to risk assessments. The risk assessments are detailed and regularly updated. They are also used to track progress made by families in relation to reducing their risks.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff have a good understanding of the trauma parents have experienced and how this may impact on their parenting. Staff identify and respond well to the vulnerabilities and needs of parents and their children. This includes their cultural background, learning and language needs. Inspection report for residential family centre: Pulteney House 3 There have been no complaints or allegations since the centre opened. When there are concerns relating to the safety and well-being of a child, the manager and staff respond without delay. Staff work in partnership with external professionals. This ensures appropriate action is taken to prioritise the safety of children. A health visitor said, ‘If they [the parents] hadn’t had this support, I don’t know where they would be.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The use of surveillance is well considered and proportionate. It is considered at the beginning of a placement and discussions are held with the parents and social workers. Staff take care that children are safeguarded through direct supervision and the use of CCTV monitoring, while respecting a parent’s right to privacy. Parents have a good understanding of this from the point of moving in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about her work. She is committed to providing the best experiences for children and their parents, while ensuring the children and their safety remain the focus. The manager has a clear understanding about the role and purpose of the centre and leads by example. Her previous experience impacts positively on the quality and recommendations of parenting assessments. There is a skilled, committed and established staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued by the manager. Professional supervision is regular, with a clear agenda which considers staff professional development and reflection. One member of staff said, ‘As a team, our strengths are recognised and utilised, enabling us to do more direct work/activities with families, as required.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held frequently. The manager encourages staff to reflect on practice and develop their professional knowledge. Skills and experiences of staff members are well considered. Staff knowledge is regularly shared in team meetings, encouraging discussion about what works well and what staff could do better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of families’ daily records. As a result of this monitoring and oversight, the manager has knowledge of the progress parents make. This oversight is strengthened by the manager’s presence in the centre and positive relationships developed with parents and children. However, the manager has not submitted a quality of care review to Ofsted since the home opened. Inspection report for residential family centre: Pulteney 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, 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 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

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)) 12 November 2024

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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: Pulteney House 5

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Charnwood House, Harcourt Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1WP

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Residential family centre details

Email address: accounts@parentsinpartnership.co.uk

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Inspectors

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