Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 1 Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage Primrose Cottage, High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0HH

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre is owned by a private organisation. It provides care, accommodation and residential parenting assessments for up to 10 families. The centre uses the parent assessment manual and the ParentAssess framework to carry out parenting assessments. Parenting assessments take a minimum of 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to address specific safeguarding concerns received by Ofsted. At the time of this visit, there were four families staying at the centre. Three families had left at the end of their assessments.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector reviewed the records of complaints and a placement plan and spoke with three of the parents and two members of staff.

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This monitoring visit

No serious concerns were identified. However, the concerns raised to Ofsted about the standard of cleanliness are valid. The house would benefit from a deep clean and there are also areas that are very worn and require repainting. This fails to provide a suitable and clean centre for families.

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This monitoring visit

The families are at varying stages of their parenting assessments. The assessment process evokes a wide range of feelings and fears which are difficult to manage in a communal group. This means that any changes can cause general anxiety and a lack of trust in the assessment process. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 2 The concerns raised indicated that when families raise concerns, these are not taken seriously. There are mixed views about this. Some families said that they can raise concerns with key workers or the manager. The manager introduces the complaints procedure at the start of the assessment and confirms that parents know how to raise concerns. The record of complaints shows several outcome letters that demonstrate that complaints are resolved within agreed time frames.

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This monitoring visit

Parents are encouraged to express their views about the centre in weekly residents’ meetings. This forum is encouraged, to help parents share their views. However, the purpose of the service means that there are parents who feel unfairly assessed. Staff try to minimise this by being open and transparent in sharing concerns throughout the process.

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This monitoring visit

There are several systems to support parents’ emotional well-being and past trauma. Families receive support from a clinical psychologist. These meetings are offered to each family every week and contribute to the assessment findings. Some families said that key-worker staff offer good support and listen to their views.

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This monitoring visit

There are times when staff intervene and assist with parenting. Some parents undoubtedly need staff support to help embed daily routines that help children feel secure. This is difficult for parents, who can feel that they are being undermined. However, the basis of being at the centre is to provide support and assessment of parental capacity and therefore these interventions are necessary.

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This monitoring visit

Chalets have showers that heat water directly and there are bathrooms in the house. When babies and small children are bathed in the house, staff ensure parents dress and wrap children in towels before carrying them out to chalets.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have training in neurodiversity and work with the wider team to understand parents’ individual complexities and learning difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

The dynamics in the group and children’s ages, stages and previous experiences mean that some children struggle to share toys and resources. This is a difficulty with communal living areas and shared gardens which staff try to manage as best they can.

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This monitoring visit

The centre has a large garden, with several chalets in the grounds. The gates to the grounds can be problematic, with delays in night staff opening these for parents returning from work. This is frustrating for parents.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements and recommendation were outside the scope of this visit and have not been reviewed. These are restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 3

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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

The registered person shall prepare and implement a written child protection policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the residential family centre from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the prompt referral of allegations to the local authority designated officer. 3 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 16 (3)(d)) 3 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall maintain in respect of each family accommodated in the residential family centre a record which—

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Requirement Due date

is kept up to date. (Regulation 19 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that weekly reports are shared with parents and social workers within agreed timescales. 3 December 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that parents’ views are considered in relation to their health and well-being when designating and selecting staff administration days. (Residential family centres: NMS 6.2) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 4  The registered person should ensure that the centre provides a comfortable and homely environment that is consistently well maintained and well decorated. Avoidable hazards should be removed. (Residential family centres: NMS 11.2)

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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: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 5

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Savannah Lodge Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 5A The Dells, South Street, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3AB

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Savannah Lodge - Primrose Cottage 6 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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