The Elms

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 1 The Elms Majestic Family Services 8 Richmond Road, Ramsgate CT11 9QP Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre can accommodate up to eight families. The centre offers a service to parents and children of all ages who are referred by the courts and local authorities.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the inspection, five families were in residence.

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Information about this residential family centre

The service and manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families receive a good level of support from this residential family centre. The work with families is continuous, and staff work in close partnership with them. Staff involve the families at every stage. This enables them to feel respected and valued. Staff keep families informed of the progress that they are making and the areas that they need to work on. There is a good level of personalised support. Staff are very attentive to the individual learning needs of parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Relationships between staff and families are positive. Interactions are warm and respectful. Children relax in the presence of the staff and have developed trusting relationships. Staff listen to parents, who can raise concerns and express their views about the centre.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff provide parents with opportunities to express their views, such as during regular house meetings or in one-to-one sessions with their key workers, where they also review their progress. The staff help parents make changes and improvements. Monthly visits from the independent visitor also provide an opportunity for them to express their views. Parents provide feedback on the service and offer ideas for improvements. Additionally, they provide feedback when they move on. For example, one parent said, ‘Thank you all so much for your patience with me and teaching me everything.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The staff show a strong commitment to family time. They recognise the importance of this and create an environment that is warm, welcoming and child centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff support families in having good day-to-day experiences that promote their growth and development. They encourage parents to access external activities for their child, such as music groups and playgroups. Furthermore, staff provide well- being craft sessions, sensory activities and baby massage classes. This helps families to experience positive activities that create lasting memories. Furthermore, it has a positive impact on families’ long-term physical and mental health. Staff model play and positive interactions with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The process of moving into and on from the centre is a particular strength. Families experience well-planned moves. Staff help to prepare parents so that they know what to expect when they move in. Parents can visit the centre before moving in. This gives them the opportunity to meet the staff and see where they will be staying. Welcome packs with important information help parents understand what to expect. They also provide information on what is available in the local community. Planning meetings ensure that clear plans are in place for the progress of the assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The team collaborates to gather relevant information and ensures that families receive this evidence. This is to provide clarity and assist their understanding of their Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 3 development. Assessments are comprehensive and of a good standard. It is clear how the assessor has reached their conclusion and recommendations. There is a strong focus on parental capacity and ability to provide care to their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff understand the assessment model used by the centre. They have a good understanding of parenting capacity and attunement. They know what to look for to help with the progress of assessments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

A nurse forms part of the staff team. She is available to provide advice and guidance. Additionally, when the service recognises that a parent may have additional learning needs, they advocate for psychological and cognitive assessments. This is to ensure that the parent has the best possible opportunity to show their parenting abilities.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The staff strive to ensure the welfare and safety of children. This is central to their work. Staff understand risks and how to manage them. Risk assessments are rigorous. Clear control measures mitigate risk. Regular scheduled reviews of risk and weekly discussions mean that staff and parents can work together to keep children safe.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The commitment to the safety of children means that the staff are alert to anything that might cause harm. For example, staff have shown how they can support family time while ensuring the safety and welfare of children. Additionally, the planning around sharing difficult news with a parent is commendable. Staff prioritise the child’s safety and manage the process with sensitivity.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The staff know what to do should a parent go missing with their child. When this has happened, the staff worked well with the police to ensure the safe return of the child. On an occasion when a parent planned to leave with their child, the manager worked calmly and sensitively in a volatile situation. The staff understand the challenges that parents experience living in this kind of environment, as well as the pressure that they sometimes feel. The staff work to ensure not only the safety of children but also the welfare of parents.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The service provides training to staff that meets the specific needs of children and their parents. Staff receive de-escalation training. This helps them to manage conduct that upset or stressed parents may display.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff understand and follow the safeguarding procedures. They know what to do when they have concerns about the safety of a child. They know how to raise any concerns about parents, staff or professionals who may have caused a child harm. Leaders and managers maintain good oversight of any safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are ambitious for the centre. They set high standards for the support and safety of families. They have high expectations of staff. Leaders and managers are aspirational for parents even when the outlook for them is not positive. Assessments are of a high standard, and they are monitored effectively. The requirement raised at the last inspection has been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the progress of all families. Regular reviews and meetings ensure that the manager is always aware of each family’s stage in the assessment. Additionally, the manager is always available for families. This is a strength. Families are positive about the approachability of staff and the manager. The manager ensures that records are accessible for parents and forwards them to the appropriate authorities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers. They have created a supportive environment that encourages staff development. However, several members of staff have not completed the required diploma for work in this environment. This is a missed opportunity to develop and track staff practice. Additionally, the manager has not completed a management qualification. Leaders and managers provide staff with reflective supervision and appraisals, which staff say are of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths of the service. For example, she knows that communication is effective. Handovers are of a good standard. There is good information-sharing. This supports positive professional relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion are well embedded in practice. The assessment tools used meet the needs of family members who have additional learning needs. This helps parents to engage in the assessment process and have the best opportunities to show what they can do. There are plans to develop a more diverse staff team. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

A person shall not manage a residential family centre unless he is fit to do so.

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Requirement Due date

A person is not fit to manage a residential family centre unless—

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Requirement Due date

he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary to manage the centre., (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager holds a minimum level 4 management qualification and a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services, or other accepted social work qualifications. 20 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all new care staff have a minimum Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce Diploma, which must include mandatory social care units, or be working towards the relevant qualifications within six months of confirmation of employment. Staff may also find it helpful to have a Level 3 Award or Certificate in Work with Parents or a Level 4 Award in Work with Parents. (Residential family centres, NMS 16.5)

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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: The Elms 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Majestic Family Services

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 15 West Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RL

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Residential family centre details

Email address: amy.noone@majesticfs.co.uk

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Elms 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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