Norden Hills Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 1 Norden Hills Family Centre

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is owned and managed by a private provider and is registered to accommodate up to five families at any one time.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

The centre undertakes residential assessments to assist local authorities and courts in making decisions to promote the welfare of children.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, there was one family in residence.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

Date of previous inspection: 19 March 2024

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was conducted in response to concerns raised by health professionals regarding staff knowledge and practices in the centre. During the visit, inspectors focused on the concerns raised regarding safe sleep, feeding, parent and child bonding, the use of the call bell system and overall staff knowledge.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not been fully informed of all significant incidents that have happened in the centre. It was identified that one serious incident had not been appropriately reported by staff. This limited leaders and managers’ capacity to take timely and effective action to safeguard children. It also restricted managers’ ability to review or improve staff practice. This highlights shortfalls in the internal reporting systems and staff’s understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. However, once made aware of the incident by inspectors, leaders and managers responded appropriately. They acknowledged the seriousness of the shortfall and have a clear plan in place to address the issue.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The centre uses a call bell system for parents to alert staff before carrying out parental tasks, such as picking up or changing their child. This system does not consistently support timely or responsive care. One parent waited between three to four minutes for staff to allow them to attend to their child. This delay does not Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 2 support the development of sensitive, attuned parenting and may undermine the parent and child bond. Leaders plan to review the use of the call bell system, including the response times by staff, to address this identified delay.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff generally promote responsive feeding in the centre. However, for some families, feeding schedules have been implemented. This means staff are waking parents and children during the night to administer feeds at set times rather than allowing parents to respond to their baby’s natural feeding cues. This approach has the potential to disrupt the development of a secure bond between parents and children and could hinder parents in developing their confidence and parenting skills.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have admitted parents into the centre who fall outside of the conditions of their statement of purpose. While they have acknowledged this breach and completed a lesson learned, leaders and managers have made the decision to admit another parent outside of the conditions of their statement of purpose.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The volume of training delivered in a single day as part of the provider’s induction is excessive and does not allow staff sufficient time to absorb and reflect on the material. This limits staff’s ability to apply learning effectively in practice and may impact on the quality of support provided to families. This approach to training delivery does not support sustained professional development or the embedding of good practice. Leaders plan to review the training schedule and allow additional time for staff to complete the volume of training required to attend.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that safe recruitment procedures have been consistently followed. A reference from one member of staff’s previous employer had not been obtained, and a full employment history was not identified for another member of staff. This does not ensure that all safeguarding considerations have been explored for staff working in the centre.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are taking the identified concerns seriously and have demonstrated a proactive approach to addressing these. Staff have recently completed refresher training on all aspects of baby care. Leaders have facilitated a reflective session with staff to ensure that staff understand and can apply the training effectively. This session revisited key areas of practice, including safe sleep, feeding and bottle making, ensuring that staff are up to date with current guidance. Additionally, new signage has been placed around the centre, providing clear guidance for both staff and parents to follow. Staff now speak confidently about the advice and guidance they provide to families in these areas.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that children and parents have access to a range of activities, in and outside of the centre, to support the social, developmental and recreational needs of the children. Staff have devised learning programmes and use a range of resources to create interactive sessions. Staff provide parents with opportunities to reflect on their learning and the impact this has had on their care of their children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders have introduced a competency observation system aimed at enhancing management oversight of staff practice. This initiative demonstrates leaders and Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 3 managers’ commitment to improving practice. However, this is still in its infancy and not fully embedded into practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Previous requirements and recommendations implemented at the centre’s full inspection have not been considered during this visit. These remain in place and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply with the given timescales.

p.4

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))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and the relevant placing authority or emergency duty team without delay if a child is admitted to hospital or if an allegation is made about a member of staff working in the centre. 8 June 2025

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that the residential family centre is conducted so as to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

promote and make proper provision for the health (including physical, mental and emotional health) and welfare of residents;

p.4

Requirement Due date

make such provision for the care, treatment, education and supervision of residents as is appropriate to their age and needs.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall, so far as is practicable, ascertain and take into account the wishes and feelings of residents when making decisions concerning their health and welfare, or the manner in which they are treated. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that effective systems are in place to allow appropriate staff monitoring and supervision of parental care tasks without causing delay and distress to children. 8 June 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 5 Specifically, the registered person should ensure that appropriate health guidance is followed for children.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person should ensure that where there are concerns about a child’s welfare, staff share these with the relevant people without delay in order for appropriate action to be taken.

p.5

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

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work he is to perform;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

any offer of employment to a person is subject to paragraph (3)(d) being complied with in relation to that person. (Regulation 16 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (4)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that safe recruitment procedures are followed and that the training provided for staff equips them to understand their role and fulfil their responsibilities. 8 June 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person shall compile in relation to the residential family centre a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as “the statement of purpose”) which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 4 (1)) 8 June 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 6 Specifically, the provider should ensure that it understands the remits of a residential family centre in line with Regulation 2 and the interpretation of what constitutes a ‘family’ when considering admissions.

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should approve the statement of purpose and review it at least annually. (Residential family centres: NMS 8.3)  The registered person should ensure that the registered provider’s written report of a visit carried out under regulation 25 is lodged in the centre for the manager and staff to read and to respond. It should also be made available to inspectors as required. (Residential family centres: NMS 19.6)

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 7

p.6

Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Norden Hills Family Centre Limited

p.7

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 9 Highfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5RZ

p.7

Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Chitsva Tafangombe

p.7

Inspectors

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 6188524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8