Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 1 Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre Blue Springs Social Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately owned residential family centre. It is registered to accommodate two families at any one time. The primary purpose of the centre is to carry out evidence-based assessments of parenting capacity and skill.

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Information about this residential family centre

There were two families living at the centre at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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good

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The residential family centre provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families are made to feel welcome when they arrive at the centre. Pre-admission processes are well established and support staff to feel prepared to welcome new children and families. Communication with placing authorities is established quickly to prevent any delays to admissions or assessment planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families make progress and learn new skills while living at the centre. Staff work hard to quickly establish relationships with families who arrive here under difficult and traumatic circumstances. Staff listen to parents and recognise the emotional impact of living in an assessment centre. This helps to form trusting relationships between families and the staff team. Parents are encouraged to share their views about the centre, which helps to inform care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are supported to attend a variety of social and therapeutic activities while living at the centre. Opportunities are varied and focus on life skills in addition to core parenting subjects. Parents who speak English as an additional language are supported to learn vital skills such as reading and writing. This enables parents to engage with local amenities for their children and to begin developing aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Suitably qualified and experienced social workers carry out parenting assessments. Assessment plans are clear and communicated to parents. Regular feedback is given so parents know their strengths and areas of concern. Interim and final assessment reports are evidence based. Clear recommendations are made to inform decision- making for children’s future care planning. Quality assurance processes for parenting assessments are robust, with both social work managers and the centre manager having oversight of reports.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The physical home environment is safe and secure. A programme of refurbishment has benefited children and families. Shared spaces are furnished adequately and provide a welcome change of scenery for families. A wide range of toys and planned activities enhance families’ experiences while living at the centre. Staff support parents to learn about the local area and explore community services, which is especially helpful to families who are placed a significant distance from home. An outside play area provides an additional space for families to enjoy.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The safety of children is the centre’s priority. Staff supervision and the use of camera monitoring provides 24-hour oversight. When it is safe to do so, and agreed with the placing authorities, this intense level of supervision can be reduced. Staff are careful to recognise the impact this intrusive model of care has on families. For parents who require a short break from their caring responsibilities, staff offer to care for their children, providing welcome respite for self-care. Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 3 Risks associated with parental behaviours are identified and understood. Risk management strategies are clear and help staff understand what action to take in the event of any safeguarding incident. Communication with safeguarding partners is effective, ensuring placing authorities have concise and current information about

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

the children placed in the family centre. One social worker said, ‘I would not hesitate to place a family in the centre, staff and managers communicate well with me, there have been no concerns at all.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents receive help and support to manage their own emotions safely. Staff constantly promote positive behaviour by upholding consistent boundaries for behaviour in the centre. When incidents do occur, the safety of children is paramount. Staff use de-escalation techniques wherever possible to support parents in difficult circumstances. On occasion, when this has not been effective, staff have requested emergency support from the police to ensure everyone’s safety. Any learning from incidents is promptly embedded throughout the workforce.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Careful recruitment and regular monitoring of staff practice prevent unsuitable people from being recruited and having the opportunity to harm children and parents. Managers conduct unannounced visits to the centre to assure themselves that the level of care is always good. Staff working in the centre know and follow procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of a child or parent. There is effective communication and partnership working with safeguarding partners. Clear records are kept for reference and information-sharing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024. The responsible individual was also appointed at this time. Together, they have formed a leadership team which has driven forward significant improvements. They are ambitious for children and families in their care and are excellent role models for the staff team. All statutory requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have improved the quality of relationship-based assessment practice in the centre. Changes in the workforce have resulted in a confident and competent staff team being established. Each staff member is clear about their role and responsibilities, all working together towards the same goal. The team describes high morale and strong support. Development opportunities for senior positions have improved staff retention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a real strength of the service. Managers communicate regularly with placing social workers and children’s guardians. Assessment practice is timely and purposeful, which prevents unnecessary delays for children and families. Feedback from others is unanimously positive. Families report enjoying their time at the centre, despite the challenging circumstances of their arrivals. Professionals who place families at the centre would do so again without hesitation. Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 4 Leaders recognise the strengths of the service. They have improved all aspects of care for those who reside and work here. They use all opportunities for feedback as learning, with a continual strive to do better. There is no complacency, with managers having a clear development plan for the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no breaches of regulation. Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and parents using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Blue Springs Social Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 45 Springbrook Road, Nuneaton CV11 6PA

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Inspectors

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Chloe Harvey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Blue Springs Residential Family Assessment Centre 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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