Ayla Lodge

Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 1 Ayla Lodge Compass TFAS Limited Southlands Lodge, 75 Thwaite Street, Cottingham, Yorkshire HU16 4RB Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a privately run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities in completing fair and evidence-based assessments of parenting capacity and skills.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre can accommodate up to five families. At the time of the inspection, there were three families staying at the centre. The families have their own bedroom and bathroom and share communal areas.

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Information about this residential family centre

There is no registered manager. The acting manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this residential family centre

This is the first inspection of the centre.

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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 good

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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 previous inspection: not applicable

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff build and sustain positive relationships with parents and children at this centre. Leaders and managers, along with the staff, are committed to helping parents make meaningful progress and overcome barriers that impact on their ability to care. Through this, parents are supported to bond with their children and learn how to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Relationships within the centre are based on respect, openness and transparency. The environment is well-resourced and furnished to a high standard. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. This enables parents to feel safe and secure throughout their assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families benefit from a tailored programme that helps to develop parenting skills. Parents learn a wide range of competencies through a variety of opportunities that build these skills and promote their personal development. They attend a range of groups relating to child development alongside other fun activities and family days out. Furthermore, staff work together across the centre to ensure that identified areas of concern are assessed. Staff and parents celebrate progress and revisit areas of concern to reflect and learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Specialist counselling is available at the centre for parents through an on-site therapist. This allows parents to reflect on their own experiences and the impact these have had on them in a safe, supportive environment. Those parents who have been able to work with the therapist have found it very helpful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents spoken to were positive about the support they receive from the staff and the managers. They say they feel involved in decisions, kept informed and there are no hidden surprises. Positive feedback from past residents demonstrates the impact the centre has had for some families. One parent said, ‘The support workers and social workers are just amazing. There was no judgement, they are kind, funny and supported me in every way possible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff support parents and children to keep in contact with loved ones while they are living at the centre. This is especially important for those who have moved a long distance for the assessment. This helps to maintain important relationships and networks of support in the family’s own communities.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff understand the issues that parents are experiencing and how to support them. Help for families reduces the risk of harm or manages the risk based on their individual circumstances. When staff believe that issues parents experience cannot be managed safely, they take prompt action to address this. For example, when a Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 3 parent’s well-being declined, consideration was given as to whether they were well enough to continue with the programme or if they needed extra support.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents talk to staff about their issues and are comfortable sharing concerns. Leaders and managers investigate effectively concerns raised about staff practice through the allegation management process. Outcomes are shared with parents and options are given to challenge this. This reassures parents that concerns are taken seriously and the centre is a safe space.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

There have been very few safeguarding incidents since the centre registered. When concerns have arisen, staff have demonstrated a prompt and appropriate response to ensure the safety of both children and parents. For example, in one case, staff escalated concerns to the placing local authority. This initiated the child protection process and allowed multi-agency meetings to progress. However, on this occasion, the host local authority was not informed, demonstrating a procedural gap. This oversight could hinder safeguarding efforts and indicates that staff lack clear guidance on such matters.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff advocate on behalf of families to ensure that decision-making is safe and promotes their well-being. When this does not happen, leaders and managers challenge the local authority’s decision-making. This helps keep parents and children safe while living at the centre.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) monitors parents with their children. This does not take away from staff spending time with families. There are systems to ensure that parents have some privacy. There were concerns about whether this goes far enough when a parent is in their bedroom on their own. This issue was resolved during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers. They have opportunities for continuous learning and development. Face-to-face sessions with the therapist are added strengths and guide staff in their work. These sessions are particularly useful when working with parents with needs such as autism, mental health or concerns around self-injurious behaviours, to make sure their needs are also supported while caring for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team works effectively with the other professionals around the family. Staff work together to achieve the best outcomes for children and parents. Feedback from professionals is very positive. One professional said, ‘[Name of centre] is the best parent and child centre I have worked with.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recruitment process ensures that newly recruited staff have suitable skills to work with parents and children, helping to maintain a high-quality service for families. Although there are a couple of staff vacancies, there are enough staff and resources to meet the needs of the families. However, the current staffing ratio Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 4 would not allow more families to live in the centre. Leaders and managers are aware of this and have plans to address this should other families move in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team works together to provide consistency and stability for families. There are clear responsibilities about how staff work with parents overseeing the care of their children. Staff also use their individual skill sets to enhance experiences at the centre. For example, a parent and staff member created a bird box for the garden.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When parents struggle to settle, managers and staff take time to understand the reasons why, thinking of ways to help. When necessary, they arrange meetings with the placing local authority to consider next steps. If the arrangement ends early, staff provide sensitive support with decision-making and help parents leave.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Decisions about a family’s suitability to come to the centre for an assessment consider the needs of parents and children and whether staff will be able to support them. However, there are some gaps in evaluating those needs alongside the other families already at the centre. Although leaders, managers and staff understand and respond to risks well, this gap in the admission process may lead to avoidable risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers oversee the quality of monitoring, assessment, care and the help provided. There are some shortfalls in the quality assurance process for the social work assessment. The assessment recommendations are solid and evidenced based. However, the reports sampled were cumbersome and lacked examples to show capacity to change. Also, some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors may reduce professionals’ confidence in the report. Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 5

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Statutory Requirement

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 within the given timescales.

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(c)) 12 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the child protection procedures are consistent with the local safeguarding children board’s policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their area. (Residential Family Centres: NMS 5.6)  The registered person should ensure that the final report is evidence-based, clearly expressed and non-stigmatising, and that it distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. The report maintains a clear focus on the child and outlines the parent’s strengths, weaknesses and any ongoing risks or safeguarding issues. (Residential Family Centres: NMS 1.12) Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 6

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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: Ayla Lodge 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Compass TFAS Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Residential family centre details

Email address: jamie.wright@compasscommunity.co.uk

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Ayla Lodge 8 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 .

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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