The Groves

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 1 The Groves Green Harvest Family Assessment Ltd 125 Grove Road, Sutton SM1 2DB Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The Groves is a privately owned company that specialises in providing parenting assessments. This residential family centre provides care and support for up to five families. The residential family centre was registered with Ofsted on 17 February 2023. The manager was registered with Ofsted on 3 April 2024.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were three families in placement at the centre at the time of this inspection. Inspectors spoke with four parents.

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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: 28 November 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: The Groves 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families share positive relationships with staff and are warmly welcomed when they arrive at the centre. Most families do not have the opportunity to visit the centre prior to their arrival, but they are able to hold remote face-to-face conversations with managers and participate in a virtual tour. Upon arrival, parents receive a welcome pack and a residents’ guide that explains the purpose of the service and what families should expect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

At the last inspection families expressed considerable dissatisfaction with their relationship with staff and managers. This is no longer the case. Parents say that they largely share positive relationships with the team, who they find helpful and supportive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The previous inspection also highlighted managers’ poor management of complaints. This has also been addressed. The centre receives a high number of complaints. Staff now record both formal and informal complaints. The centre’s complaints log has a chronology of all complaints received. Other records detail the nature of complaints and the action taken to resolve issues. Complainants receive feedback about this action and they indicate that they are satisfied with the outcome of their complaint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Some of complaints received are about staff members’ poor conduct. Managers accept there is need to provide staff with additional training focussed on professionalism.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families have good opportunities to share their views about their experiences. They understand and engage well with the assessment process. Parents participate in regular individual feedback meetings and house meetings. This gives parents the opportunity to share their views and experiences about the centre. Staff take appropriate action and record action taken in response to requests made by parents at house meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents live healthy lifestyles. Staff pay attention to the health care needs of each family member. For example, staff ensure that children and parents are promptly registered with primary care professionals and that babies have their immunisations. Staff complete training in paediatric first aid and the safe administration of medication. Baby play and stimulation routinely feature in parents’ learning sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents participate in programmes that support their emotional health. For example, they attend sessions that explore healthy relationships, conflict resolution and issues of domestic abuse. Parents are able to access community-based drug and alcohol services to support the work completed at the centre. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 3 Children and parents are supported to attend education or employment where this is appropriate. Young children attend local nurseries, while older children are supported by staff and their parents to complete schoolwork at the centre. Families have access to a range of social, educational and recreational opportunities. The centre hosts leisure activities for families, to help promote relaxation and group socialising.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents’ individual needs are met while living at the centre. For example, staff are skilled in ensuring that parents who have learning difficulties understand and are able to fully engage in the assessment process. They make available key documents in easy-to-read formats, so that parents are clear about how their assessment is progressing. Staff use assessment tools that are tailored to parents who have leaning difficulties. Staff are mindful of keeping sessions short, to promote parent’s good concentration and keep their language and instruction simple and clear. Regular use of pictorial information, different coloured paper and video help to support parents’ participation within their assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Qualified staff undertake assessments that meet the identified needs of families. These assessments include a range of methods and programmes that evaluate parents’ capacity to safely care for their children. Sessions with families address local authorities’ concerns for their children’s safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff ensure that the assessment process is comprehensive. Assessment reports are of a good standard. Final reports are evaluative, evidence-based and analytical. Reports outline parents’ strengths and weaknesses and highlight their capacity for change.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families feel safe and are well protected from harm, abuse and neglect. Staff supervision and vigilance of families are rigorous. Children and parents benefit from the centre’s child and adult protection procedures, and workers’ adherence to relevant policies and procedures. Staff and managers provide a prompt and effective response to any concerns.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Individual risk assessments identify known and potential risks to all individuals. Staff regularly review risk assessments and amend them in line with the changing needs of families. Risk assessments highlight strategies in place that help to reduce and/or eliminate risks.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff supervision and monitoring of families are consistent. There have been a number of allegations made against staff and issues of discord between some families. Children and parents are supported to develop skills and strategies to manage conflicts and difficult feelings. Staff ensure that families understand the centre’s rules and boundaries which promote the safety of children, parents and others. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 4 Since the last inspection there has been one incident involving a worker restraining a parent to prevent harm to another. Staff and managers manage these situations appropriately, ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and parents. Internal investigation reports are thorough and fair.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff use closed circuit television (CCTV) and baby monitors as a method of surveillance to help them to review parents’ care of their children. This use of CCTV is with the agreement of families and local authorities. Staff receive training in the use of CCTV. However, managers confirmed that they have access to footage when off site. This practice and the centre’s related policy require review, as this kind of surveillance is not justified, families and others are not explicitly aware of the practice and families’ rights to confidentiality are not fully maintained.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre’s premises are well-maintained and decorated. However, some bedrooms that overlook the street do not have any window coverings, such as net curtains or window frosting, that would prevent bedrooms being looked into from the outside and maintain families’ privacy. The centre is safe and secure. Staff conduct regular checks that ensure the building is well maintained, comfortable and that there are no health and safety concerns.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff work in close partnership with the network of professionals working with families. This helps to co-ordinate the protection of children. Managers ensure the safe vetting and recruitment of staff, helping to ensure that staff are suitable to work with families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management of the residential family centre have improved since the last inspection. The centre’s former responsible individual is now the centre’s registered manager. The registered manager is experienced and qualified to manage the centre. Management oversight of the functioning of the centre has also improved. The provider is financially stable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that placement planning for families is effective. They consider the needs of individual family members and any risks posed, including those to other resident families. Placing authorities and the courts are appropriately engaged with the service. This ensures that assessments meet the requirements of the referring agency. Staff obtain comprehensive information about families, which assists with decision-making about referrals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective internal monitoring systems are in place. These help to identify the strengths of the service and areas that require improvement. Independent monitoring visits are conducted in line with regulation 25. The centre’s development plan highlights areas for development and improvement, while the workforce plan identifies intended developments for the centre’s staff and its staffing patterns. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 5 Managers monitor the quality of care well. This helps to improve services to families. The assessment process demonstrates the positive impact that placements have for families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good staffing levels help workers to meet the assessed needs of families well. Staff confirm that they receive good support, regular supervision and annual appraisals. A staff member said, ‘Support and supervision is amazing. It’s monthly, consistent. It gives me an opportunity to speak one-on-one with the manager and other managers. This support helps with relationship building.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well together to provide stability and consistency for families. Case records provide clear, detailed evidence to evaluate parents’ capacity to care safely for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is relevant to the work staff undertake at the residential family centre. An effective training programme supports workers’ learning and development, helping them to provide good-quality support and guidance for families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff share effective working relationships with other professionals. This ensures that all parties are aware of concerns and issues for children and their parents. Feedback from external partners is positive. A placing local authority social worker said, ‘Both parents have learning needs and [centre name] has accommodated this well. I have not used the service before. Overall, I think the longer the family have remained there the better the relationship has been with professionals and I feel the family are having a fair and thorough assessment.’ Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 6

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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

Subject to regulation 4(6), the registered person shall provide facilities and services to residents in accordance with the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to providing appropriate window covering to prevent the inside of bedrooms being seen from the outside when curtains are drawn open. (Regulation 14 (1)) 1 February 2025

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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

This relates to staff completing training focused on professionalism. (Regulation 17(5) (a)) 1 February 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear and effective policy on the use of surveillance in parenting assessments. The policy should set out how the surveillance will be used to contribute to assessments, how legitimate privacy will be protected and how residents will be protected from the potential abuse of such measures. This relates to managers’ use of remote surveillance systems. (Residential family centres: NMS 10.1)

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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: The Groves 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Green Harvest Family Assessment Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 1st Floor, Unit 3-4, Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close, Matford Business Park, Exeter EX2 8PW

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Residential family centre details

Email address: emmanuel@greenharvestcc.com

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Inspectors

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Groves 8 and inspects 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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