The Orchards Hounslow

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards Hounslow 1 The Orchards Hounslow Smith and Massen Ltd 22 Moulton Avenue, Hounslow TW3 4LR Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is privately owned. The organisation has two residential family centres in West London. This residential family centre offers a 12-week residential parenting assessment for up to five families.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the inspection, five families were living at the centre. All parents were spoken to during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre and the manager were registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 13 June 2022

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre has a family feel to it and parents feel settled. Parents have trusting relationships with staff. One parent said that ‘it is a blessing to be here as a family’.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents understand the assessment process. They are proud of what they are learning. Staff support parents to engage in key work sessions that focus on areas of concern such as attachment, self-care, emotions and communication. Sessions are tailored to their preferred learning style with interactive sessions and quizzes also taking place.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Weekly feedback sessions take place and staff encourage parents to reflect on the assessment. Weekly residents’ meetings give parents a chance to openly discuss what is on their mind.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents concerns are taken seriously. Meetings take place between staff and parents to sensitively address issues. Parents sometimes receive apology letters. Leaders and managers make sure that parents are happy with the outcome of their concern.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff respect the cultures and traditions of families. One parent is supported to attend their place of worship and is accompanied by staff who practice the same religion. Another parent uses the translation service so that they are able to fully cooperate and engage in their assessment.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents take part in various activities such as baby groups, the zoo, the beach and indoor play areas. This gives them the opportunity to have enjoyable experiences while they are being assessed.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Leaders and managers offer to signpost families to further external support. Some families send in photos of their children to update staff on their progress. Some children move into foster care and staff create ‘about me books’ so that foster carers are informed about important information about the child.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Assessments are of a good standard and address the concerns raised by the courts and placing authorities. The assessments highlight parents’ strengths and challenges. They are well informed by observations, discussions with parents and theory. The recommendations are clear and consider the child’s developmental needs well and the parents’ ability to meet them.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre is clean and of a good size for families to live during the assessment. There is no confidential room for meetings to take place. Leaders and managers are in the early stages of addressing this. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards Hounslow 3

p.2

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families feel safe and are protected from harm, abuse and neglect. Staff supervision and vigilance of families are robust. Children and parents benefit from the centre’s child and adult protection procedures, and staff adherence to this. There are effective responses to any concerns.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Professionals are confident that assessments focus on the welfare and protection of children and their parents’ ability to care for them safely. Professionals are impressed with the varied targeted support available to parents. These include support around domestic violence, substance abuse, parenting classes and mental health support. Staff work closely with other safeguarding agencies to ensure that a collaborative approach to safeguarding children and parents.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments address the specific needs of each family member. Staff regularly review risk assessments, and they are amended when there are changes in families’ circumstances or parenting abilities.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff are skilled in de-escalating situations. Staff always make sure that children are safe. Parents are supported to develop skills and strategies to manage conflicts and difficult feelings. Staff ensure that families understand the centre’s rules and boundaries which promote the safety of children, parents and others.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The use of CCTV in the centre is appropriate and provides further scrutiny in the evaluation of parents’ care of their children. Families are aware of the centre’s use of CCTV and audio monitoring devices.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers ensure that all environmental checks are completed to ensure that the centre complies with health and safety policies. However, in the kitchen some cupboards are missing locks. This is a potential safety hazard especially given that there is a toddler in the centre.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre is led by a registered manager who is a highly experienced social worker. She is passionate about the welfare of parents and their children. The registered manager is supported by dedicated staff. One parent is grateful that ‘staff do not give up’ on them.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the centre. They see themselves as ‘empathetic and understanding’. Staff are committed to equality and diversity, and respecting parents’ rights.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professional feedback is positive and commends leaders and managers for their timely communication and their regular attendance at meetings. One social worker appreciates the detailed handovers that take place between staff as this ensures that all staff are well informed about family’s circumstances. There is also a quality Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards Hounslow 4 assurance process that gives professionals the chance to provide constructive feedback for the centre.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported through a comprehensive induction, training and team meetings. Staff appreciate attention given to their professional development and personal circumstances. Staff have regular supervision. However, not all staff have reflective supervision that can further develop their learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When families move into the centre, leaders and managers are unable to evidence that a pre-admission risk assessment consistently takes place. This creates a gap in having sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the centre can meet the family’s needs and that new families can safely live with the other residents. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards Hounslow 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all potential hazards at the centre are addressed. This is specifically regarding missing locks on kitchen cupboards. (Residential family centres: NMS 11.2)  The registered person should ensure that there is a designated space for receiving visitors. (Residential family centres: NMS 11.7)  The registered person should ensure that prior to a placement a pre-admission risk assessment is carried out. This is to ensure that the centre can meet the family’s needs and that the new family can safely live with other residents. (Residential family centres: NMS 9.1)

p.5

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 Orchards Hounslow 6

p.5

Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Smith and Massen Ltd

p.6

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 255-261 Horn Lane, London W3 9EH

p.6

Inspector

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Orchards Hounslow 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.

p.6

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 4234 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7