Foundations Stalybridge

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 1 Foundations Stalybridge 217 Mottram Road, Stalybridge SK15 2QX

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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 provide support for up to seven families at any one time. The centre is privately owned.

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Information about this residential family centre

Families access the centre at the direction of the family court or the local authority for the purpose of assessment. Parenting assessments are usually completed over a 12-week period but may be extended if agreed with the local authority or following court instruction.

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Information about this residential family centre

In October 2024, the manager left her role with immediate effect. An interim manager currently oversees the centre.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were two families 0living at the centre at the time of this visit.

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Information about this residential family centre

Date of previous inspection: 5 March 2024

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was carried out on 17 and 18 December 2024, where inspectors identified serious concerns in relation to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the centre. Two compliance notices were served under regulation 8, registered person general requirements, and regulation 12, arrangements for the protection of children. A restriction of accommodation notice was also served with immediate effect from the 18 December 2024 until 12 March 2025 inclusively.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was to monitor the compliance notices and the restriction of accommodation notice. The provider has acted to meet the steps in both compliance notices. The provider has also complied with the restriction of accommodation notice, as no families have been admitted to the centre since the last visit. However, the notice remains in place. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 2 Staff have been vigilant and responded appropriately to safeguarding concerns. Staff spoken to were confident in their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm. Relevant professionals are informed of any concerns without delay. When necessary, the manager has acted swiftly to increase the level of supervision of families, with the agreement of the placing authority. This has ensured that children’s safety has been prioritised.

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This monitoring visit

The manager now provides timely and thorough oversight of all incidents. She ensures that any lessons learned for staff are implemented swiftly, as well as ensuring that parents develop their parenting skills. The manager has conducted reflective sessions with staff in relation to previous safeguarding incidents. This has enabled the manager to provide staff with clear guidance and to improve their safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has implemented daily log feedback forms to enable her to sample staff recording and provide feedback when she feels that they could develop their reporting and recording skills. In addition, the staff team is scheduled to undertake reporting and recording training.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has prioritised staff development and learning, to ensure that staff are prepared to respond to safeguarding incidents. For example, all staff have attended a safeguarding development session and refresher training, to address behaviours that they are likely to see when observing families and the action they are expected to take. The manager has assigned time for staff to attend planned workshops and to complete any outstanding training. Service managers and human resources staff now have oversight of individual staff’s training compliance. The manager has introduced weekly reviews of individual staff training profiles to monitor their progress.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken a robust approach to improving their allegation management processes. The manager and staff team understand the procedures for safe allegation management. The local authority’s allegation management policy and Ofsted’s notifiable incidents policy have been reviewed with all managers. Consequently, following an allegation made by a parent, the manager has taken prompt and appropriate action to investigate the concerns and to keep the family safe.

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This monitoring visit

The operations director offers monthly sessions for staff and residents, to provide them with an opportunity to raise any concerns that they have about the service. This promotes transparency and provides upper management with insight into the operation of the centre. The whistle-blowing policy has also been reviewed with the staff team. Staff spoken to demonstrated that they understood the process should they be concerned about any professional practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed the referral and admission process for families. A referrals panel is now involved in considering families moving into the Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 3 centre. This ensures that there are multiple leaders considering the referrals and a joint decision is made about individual family’s suitability. A more thorough approach is in place to ensure that the staff team has the skills to meet families’ needs and that strategies are implemented to mitigate any risks associated with families living together.

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This monitoring visit

The provider’s practice-related supervision policy has been updated to include support systems that managers should regularly receive from their line managers and how to escalate concerns if they do not receive adequate support. Companywide action has been taken to ensure that more-effective support is provided to managers from senior leaders. This includes human resources overseeing the planning and frequency of individual manager supervisions and escalating this to the operations director when required.

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This monitoring visit

The manager reported that since the last visit, she has been well supported in her role. She plans to carry this forward in her role as service manager for the centre when a new manager has been recruited and is in place.

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This monitoring visit

The provider is in the process of recruiting additional staff and a deputy manager for the centre, to be able to support full capacity of families in the centre. A third of the staff are new to the team. Although the interim manager is confident that they are progressing well, time is required to embed their knowledge, skills and practice further.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements and recommendations were not considered during this visit. They will be reviewed at the centre’s next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents; and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (1)(a)(b)) 29 January 2025

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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

Specifically, the registered persons should ensure that any allegations relating to staff practice and conduct are notified to the placing authority and Ofsted. 29 January 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

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that staff and the assessing social worker are provided with regular practice-related supervisions. 29 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that the records referred to in paragraph (3) are—

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Requirement Due date

kept up to date. (Regulation 19 (4)(a)) 29 January 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 5 Specifically, the registered person should ensure that rotas clearly indicate the shifts and hours that staff are scheduled to work in the centre.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they regularly monitor, in line with the Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002, as amended, all records kept by the centre to ensure compliance with the centre's policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. ('Residential family centres: national minimum standards', 19.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that prior to a placement, a risk assessment is carried out to ensure that the centre is well placed to meet the family's needs and that the family is able to fit in with the centre's other residents. ('Residential family centres: national minimum standards', 9.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear and comprehensive summary on file of any allegations made against a particular member of staff, parent or child. The summary includes details of how the allegation was followed up and resolved, a record of any action taken and the decisions reached. ('Residential family centres: national minimum standards', 18.4) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 6

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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: Foundations Stalybridge 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Progressive Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 51 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield S9 2AE

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Stalybridge 8 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 who are looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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