Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House

Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 1 Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House Kattz (YH) Limited 9 London Road, Sandy SG19 1EX Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is owned by a private organisation. It provides care, accommodation and residential parenting assessments for up to six families. Assessments are implemented in accordance with a strengths-based framework (ParentAssess) and take a minimum of 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were no families living at the centre at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre and the manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 30 August 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

At the time of the inspection, there were no families at the centre. The last family left four days before the inspection. Since the last inspection, four parenting assessments have been undertaken. Social workers and health professionals have praised the staff, highlighting an individualised and reliable approach to parenting assessments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Final assessment reports are compiled by a qualified assessing social worker. These include detailed, evidence-based methods that determine the final recommendations. Observations and findings, including concerns, are shared throughout. Staff ensure that final reports are adapted and accessible to parents who have additional learning needs. Parents’ capacity is assessed within a clear timeframe. The court reports are well written and incorporate skilled social work analysis. This is underpinned by a fair and transparent process throughout the assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive well-planned support and structure throughout the assessment. Families are sensitively welcomed. Staff follow good-quality family placement plans. Staff ensure family’s individual needs and backgrounds are understood. This has included adapting the support for one parent in line with their complex health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff work well with the parents and build relationships based on mutual respect. Staff deliver targeted sessions that support the assessment of parents’ capacity. This includes support to understand personal safety in relation to domestic violence and substance misuse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents and children’s health are supported well. Appropriate registrations and referrals are made to healthcare services. Staff encourage parents to attend external groups with their children. Staff support parents to participate in local group sessions that develop their parenting skills and increase their wider support network.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents understand how to make a complaint. Complaints are responded to promptly and fairly. Regular centre meetings give further opportunities for the parents to discuss and resolve issues together.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff focus on children’s safety and welfare throughout the assessment process. When required, staff intervene and medical advice is sought promptly, this ensures that children are protected.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers have ensured that risk management systems enable families to live in a safe environment. New referrals are carefully considered and individual Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 3 risks affecting each family are identified. There are clear strategies to minimise risks which are followed by staff.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff promptly raise concerns with parents through daily observations. This ensures that parents are made aware of anything that places children at risk or could potentially influence the assessment. This approach gives parents the chance to understand safeguarding concerns and improve their parenting.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff receive safeguarding training and understand the centre procedures. Leaders and managers hold regular and comprehensive safeguarding meetings to review and prioritise emerging concerns with families. These meetings include discussions about the actions needed to support children’s welfare and the assessment process.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The use of closed-circuit television is reviewed regularly in agreement with social workers, families and staff. Leaders and managers are proactive in ensuring a good balance safeguards children and respects parents’ privacy.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff have received fire safety training. Regular fire drills are practised with families. However, at the time of the inspection, three fire doors required work to address defects. These shortfalls were not identified by staff despite the regular fire safety checks. Leaders and managers took the necessary action to rectify the shortfalls during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre is well managed by a qualified and experienced leadership team. The registered manager works closely with the service manager, responsible individual and assessing social worker. Staff and external professionals highly regard the skills of the management team. The managers oversight of parenting assessments has enabled these assessments to be conducted smoothly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The shortfalls identified at the previous inspection have all been successfully addressed. These considerable improvements are reflected in the overall judgement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value the support provided to them through a wide variety of training and supervision sessions. Staff have ample opportunity to develop and reflect on their practice, which equips them with the skills to support families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet regularly and discuss the ongoing parenting assessments and what is working well. Daily staff handover systems have been improved with a clear focus on safeguarding children and establishing a unified approach to support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use a varied range of internal systems to monitor the quality of support and care provided. They have a good understanding of the centre’s strengths and developmental areas. Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 4 Leaders and managers are providing further support to staff to enhance their knowledge and expertise. This has included some staff undertaking specialist qualifications in baby feeding, baby massage and responding to domestic abuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monthly monitoring by an independent person takes place. There is an appropriate level of scrutiny to contribute to improvements in staff practice. However, the independent person does not always speak to families during these visits. When discussions do take place, these are not implemented in a manner which allows meaningful feedback to be obtained. This reduces the effectiveness of this external safeguard. Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that systems for monitoring and addressing shortfalls in fire protection measures are effective. Any hazards are identified and promptly addressed. (Residential family centres: NMS 11.2)  The registered person should ensure that external monthly monitoring by the independent person includes regular and in-depth consultations with families. (Residential family centres: NMS 19.1)

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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: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 51 Station Road, Letchworth, SG6 3BQ

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Kofoworola Ibitoye

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Inwood Residential Services - Yahweh House 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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