Highbury House

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 1 Highbury House 7 Chamberlain Road, Birmingham B13 0QP

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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 privately owned and operated. It provides accommodation for up to eight families who are subject to parenting assessments. Parenting assessments take a minimum of 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the inspection, seven families were living at the centre and undergoing parenting assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Inspection dates: 20 and 21 March 2025

Date of previous inspection: 19 November 2024

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in response to two whistle-blowing concerns received by Ofsted. Concerns were raised relating to: care planning arrangements for families moving to the centre; staff recruitment; staff sufficiency and training; management arrangements and oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The management arrangements at the centre are inadequate. The centre is not managed in a way that is consistent with the aims outlined in its statement of purpose. Since the last inspection, new management roles have been developed; however, there are no clear lines of responsibility among the managers, and they are unable to work effectively alongside each other. Staff are also not clear on the roles of the managers. Consequently, this has a negative impact on the centre and the assessment of the families.

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This monitoring visit

There is a lack of careful and considered planning when a new family moves to the centre. Managers are inconsistent in their approach around decision-making. As a result, families move to the centre in an unplanned and unprepared way. A member Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 2 of staff said, ‘More recently, we only find out on the day when a family is moving in.’ For one parent, this meant arriving at the centre in a distressed and confused manner, with little information about the expectations of living at the centre. Furthermore, managers had not ensured that sufficient staffing and plans were in place.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of poor planning, the parent went missing from the centre with their baby. The on-call manager’s support and guidance were inadequate, leaving staff unsupported during a period of crisis. Following the incident, there was a delay in implementing a risk assessment, which resulted in staff not receiving clear guidance on how to prevent a reoccurrence. The risk assessment was of poor quality and failed to provide staff with strategies to ensure the family's safety.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments for families are poor and do not fully explore parents’ known risks and vulnerabilities. A family moved to the centre, where there was a known arson risk. Managers failed to implement a safety plan despite seeking advice from their insurance company. Furthermore, a high number of staff had not received the appropriate fire safety training. This shortfall was only addressed when it was identified by inspectors.

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This monitoring visit

There are significant gaps in staff recruitment at the centre. Leaders and managers have not obtained full references for all new members of staff. When references have been obtained, leaders have not thoroughly explored concerns raised by previous employers. As a result, there has been insufficient monitoring and review of the performance of these staff. Furthermore, two new social workers were employed based on informal discussions rather than a formal interview process. This increases the risk of unsuitable persons working at the centre.

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This monitoring visit

Parenting assessments are not always carried out by a suitably qualified person. The centre has employed three newly qualified social workers to carry out the assessments. The social workers are in their assessed year; therefore, they have not yet developed their skills, knowledge and experience to carry out vigorous parenting assessments. The registered manager is working alongside the social workers to support the assessment process, but this has led to a lack of prioritisation of management tasks. This has meant that there is a lack of senior management oversight to ensure the day-to-day management of the centre.

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This monitoring visit

The centre is not sufficiently staffed to keep families safe. Staff are working excessive hours to cover gaps in the rota. This has led to staff feeling unsupported and exhausted. One member of staff said, ‘We feel deflated.’ Despite the insufficient staffing arrangements, managers have continued to move families into the centre. This means that parents and their children are not receiving fair and robust assessments in line with their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff have received relevant training to ensure that they fully understand the individual needs and risks of parents. This includes mental health, self-harm and domestic abuse. Staff training needs are not considered before placing families at Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 3 the centre. One member of staff sought their own training to ensure that they could support a parent they were working with. This does not ensure that staff are equipped to understand and manage risks or that they develop the skills needed for the specialist nature of assessment work. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

A person shall not carry on a residential family centre unless he is fit to do so.

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Requirement Due date

A person is not fit to carry on a residential family centre unless the person—

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Requirement Due date

is an individual who carries on the residential family centre—

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Requirement Due date

otherwise than in partnership with others, and satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

in partnership with others, and he and each of his partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

is a partnership, and each of the partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has given notice to the [Chief Inspector] of the name, address and position in the organisation of an individual (in these Regulations referred to as “the responsible individual”) who is a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the organisation and is responsible for supervising the management of the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

that individual satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

he is physically and mentally fit to carry on the residential family centre; and 4 May 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 5 he provides in relation to himself, full and satisfactory information in respect of each of the matters listed in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

A person shall not carry on a residential family centre if—

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Requirement Due date

he has been [made] bankrupt or sequestration of his estate has been awarded [or a moratorium period under a debt relief order (within the meaning of section 251A of the Insolvency Act 1986) applies in relation to him] and . . . he has not been discharged [from the bankruptcy or the sequestration] and the bankruptcy order has not been annulled or rescinded; or

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Requirement Due date

he has made a composition or arrangement with his creditors, and has not been discharged in respect of it. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b)(c)(i)(i) (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

*The registered provider and the registered manager shall, having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents, carry on or manage the centre (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers work effectively together to meet the needs of families living at the centre. 4 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person shall, before providing a family with accommodation in the residential family centre, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible thereafter, draw up in consultation with the placing authority a written plan (in these Regulations referred to as "the placement plan") setting out, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

the facilities and services to be provided during the course of the placement;

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Requirement Due date

the objectives and intended outcome of the placement;

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Requirement Due date

an assessment of the risks, if any, which a resident at the residential family centre may present to their own health, safety and welfare or that of other residents or staff at the centre]. 4 May 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 6 (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(c)) The registered person must ensure that the parents’ capacity to respond to the children’s needs and to safeguard their welfare is monitored or assessed by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the requirements of this regulation. (Regulation 13A (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that parenting assessments are carried out by a suitability qualified social worker. 4 May 2025

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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,

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Requirement Due date

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the residential family centre has a sufficient team of staff to meet the needs of the families. 4 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or

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Requirement Due date

allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed by a person other than the registered person in a position in which he may in the course of his duties have regular contact with residents.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless—

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Requirement Due date

he is of integrity and good character; 4 May 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 7 he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

he is physically and mentally fit for the work he is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

any offer of employment to a person is subject to paragraph (3)(d) being complied with in relation to that person; and

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Requirement Due date

unless paragraph (5) applies, no person starts work at a residential family centre until such time as paragraph (3)(d) has been complied with in relation to him.

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Requirement Due date

Where the following conditions apply, the registered person may permit a person to start work at the residential family centre notwithstanding paragraph (4)(b)—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 in respect of that person, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters specified in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of that person has been obtained in relation to the matters specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

pending receipt of, and satisfying himself with regard to, any outstanding information, the registered person ensures that the person is appropriately supervised while carrying out his duties.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any person working at the residential family centre who is not employed by him and to whom paragraph (2) does not apply is appropriately supervised while carrying out his duties. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 8 (Regulation 16 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (4) (a)(b) (5)(a)(b)(c)(d) (6))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff working at the centre are safely recruited. The registered person shall—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all permanent appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation

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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 (1)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are provided with the appropriate training to meet the needs of the families living at the centre. 4 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a system is in place for improving the quality of care provided at the centre. 4 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the centre has arrangements with local primary healthcare services and works in cooperation with health agencies so that parents and their children have the services they need. (‘Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, 6.3)  The registered person should ensure that the centre provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. (‘Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, 11.2) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 9

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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: Highbury House 1

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Twenty-Four-Seven High Support Accommodation for Young People Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 28 High Road, London N2 9PJ

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Inspectors

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Highbury House 1 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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