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 this inspection, no families were living at the centre.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit undertaken on 20 and 21 March 2025 identified several shortfalls in care planning arrangements for families moving to the centre, staff recruitment and sufficiency, and management oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the concerns identified, Ofsted issued a notice of suspension of registration. Additionally, three compliance notices were issued under Regulation 8, Regulation 13, and Regulation 16 of The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the monitoring visit was to review the notice of suspension and assess progress against the compliance notices issued at the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, significant improvements have been made, resulting in the compliance notices being met and the suspension of registration being lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Following the last visit, leadership changes have been implemented at the centre. The previously proposed responsible individual and service manager have left, and a new responsible individual has been appointed. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 2 A comprehensive review of management arrangements has been completed, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined. Staff have been informed of these changes and have had opportunities to discuss them during team meetings. Staff have welcomed the new leadership structure, and one member of staff told the inspector that ‘There is now stability at the centre.’

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have reflected on the shortfalls identified in the previous monitoring visit. As a direct response to these findings, they have made the decision to reduce the number of families residing at the centre to improve service quality and oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has conducted a full review of the skills, experience and competencies of all staff, including assessing social workers. Each assessing social worker now has a personalised continuing performance development plan, designed to facilitate ongoing learning and reflection.

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This monitoring visit

Additionally, social workers are receiving one-to-one support from an experienced practitioner within the wider organisation to enhance their expertise in conducting robust parenting assessments.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have undertaken training in key areas, including recording and assessment practices, mental health and suicide prevention, and fire safety. Links have been established with external agencies to provide bespoke training in areas such as substance misuse.

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This monitoring visit

Most staff hold a relevant level 3 qualification, and those who do not are actively working towards attaining this standard, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills for their roles.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has assumed sole responsibility for admissions to the centre and has undertaken a full review of previous care planning arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, changes have been made to admission paperwork to ensure that all known risks are fully explored before families move in. To support smoother transitions, families now complete an ‘All About Me’ form prior to arrival. This initiative aims to foster a welcoming environment and alleviate any anxieties parents may experience.

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This monitoring visit

Furthermore, the registered manager will be present at admissions to ensure a seamless transition and address any immediate concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has also refined risk assessment procedures. Upon arrival, families undergo an initial risk assessment to evaluate all known concerns and provide structured guidance for staff. This assessment will be regularly reviewed and Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 3 updated to ensure that children’s experiences and parental behavioural changes are carefully monitored throughout the placement.

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This monitoring visit

The recruitment of permanent staff is now conducted safely and effectively. The process is robust, with thorough pre-employment checks in place, ensuring that unsuitable individuals do not have access to children or vulnerable adults.

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This monitoring visit

Not all requirements and recommendations were reviewed at this inspection. These will remain in place until they are assessed at the next inspection. 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 of integrity and good character; 4 May 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 5 he is physically and mentally fit to carry on the residential family centre; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(ii) (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

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 suitably 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)) 4 May 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 6 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.

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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

improving, 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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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: NMS 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: NMS 11.2) Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 7

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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 8

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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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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Highbury House 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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