Foundations Walsall

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 1 Foundations Walsall Parklands, 12 to 14 Little Aston Road, Walsall WS9 0NN

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This centre provides parenting assessments for up to 10 families at any one time.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre sets out in its statement of purpose that it provides residential assessments that usually take place over 12 weeks. The centre offers viability assessments over four to six weeks to inform future assessments.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, no families were living at the centre.

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Information about this residential family centre

The post for a registered manager is vacant.

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This monitoring visit

The centre was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 18 to 21 February 2025. Due to the concerns identified during the full inspection, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation. Ofsted also issued two compliance notices under regulation 13 (amendment) and regulation 23 of The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the notice restricting accommodation and the progress made against the two compliance notices raised at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has reflected on the shortfalls raised at the previous inspection and has made some improvements. The social work practice managers have a good understanding of the centre’s strengths and areas for development. They now demonstrate commitment to the development of social work practice. A member of staff spoke about positive changes since the last inspection and the Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 2 available training that supports them in developing their skills in working with children and their families.

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This monitoring visit

Systems for managing allegations have improved. Managers have carried out a review of previous allegations made by staff and parents. This has not identified any additional shortfalls in the way that allegations have been managed. Managers have reviewed policies, processes and documents to support their responses to any future allegations. The service manager has identified training for herself and the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, managers have ensured that all staff receive supervision. In addition, all members of staff now have a personal development plan. Where appropriate, performance management procedures are followed. This supports staff in developing their knowledge and skills to understand, support and assess families and the risks they face.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed and improved the centre’s quality assurance systems. This includes management and oversight of medication. Systems are in place to ensure that the quality of assessments is regularly reviewed and scrutinised at all levels of management. A social work academy is in the early stages of development to provide improved learning and development for social workers. New risk management processes are in place to support safety planning and evidence-based decision-making. Despite significant improvements, not all systems are effective in practice. This has led to an oversight regarding the training needs of social work staff. The training records for senior social work staff could not be obtained during the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, staff have received training in areas including medication, contextual safeguarding, professional boundaries, and reporting and recording. In addition, staff have received training from a specialist in parenting assessments. However, there are still significant training shortfalls for social workers. For example, staff have not received necessary training in areas such as attachment theory, the protection of vulnerable adults, reporting and recording, mental health, and assessment skills. This compromises the quality of the support and assessment that parents receive.

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This monitoring visit

There is an over-reliance on newly qualified social workers to carry out parenting assessments. As newly qualified social workers, they lack the skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out complex and robust assessments. There are concerns about the capacity of some social workers, given that they may be working across different centres in the organisation. The does not provide reassurance that social workers will have capacity to fulfil their case management responsibilities and provide families with the support they need.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this inspection, no families were living at the centre. As a result of compliance notices not being met in full, a new compliance notice has been issued Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 3 under regulation 8 of The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002. The notice restricting accommodation remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Not all the requirements and recommendations have been reviewed at this inspection and will remain in place until they are reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 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

*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)) 9 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the residential family centre is conducted—

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Requirement Due date

with due regard to the sex, religious persuasion, racial origin, and cultural and linguistic background and any disability of residents. (Regulation 10 (3)(a)(b)) 9 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should prepare a resident’s guide that includes a summary of the statement of purpose. A copy of the guide should be made available for prospective residents and for every parent and child (of appropriate age) living at the centre. (‘Residential family centres: national minimum standards’, 8.6) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 5

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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 Walsall 6

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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

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Foundations Walsall 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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