Norden Hills Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 1 Norden Hills Family Centre Sultan House, 54 Hope Street, Rochdale OL12 0PJ

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is registered to accommodate up to five families. The centre is privately owned. Families access the centre at the direction of the family court and/or the local authority for the purposes of assessment.

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Information about this residential family centre

The registered manager has been in post since the centre’s registration in June 2023.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of the visit, two families were residing in the centre. The inspector spoke to both parents during the visit.

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Information about this residential family centre

Date of previous inspection: 19 June 2025

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place following a safeguarding notification received from the provider in relation to a serious incident involving a child. On review of the provider’s most recent independent visitor report, some additional lines of enquiry were also identified.

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This monitoring visit

Managers reported the serious incident promptly to Ofsted. This allowed the regulator to have effective oversight of the concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The managers arrange for there to be suitable numbers of staff in the centre in the day. However, at night, there is not enough staff to ensure the appropriate level of supervision in the event of irregular nighttime requirements or contingencies. The managers and leaders responded to the shortfall highlighted by the inspector during the visit. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have undertaken training on safeguarding, bruising and reporting and recording. Staff understood the training and have embedded it in their practice. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 2 However, the manager’s tracker for training was not current at the start of the visit and was therefore limited as a tool of oversight. There has been another occasion since the last inspection when the manager was unaware of the training status of a member of staff. An addition to an existing requirement has been made in relation to this.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that staff understand how and when body maps for children should be filled in. Staff complete the maps to a high standard, and managers have prompt oversight of them. Managers recognise and immediately address any shortfalls in the documentation.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and leaders are identifying and responding to staff practice concerns swiftly and appropriately. They take immediate action to ensure the safety of children and families. Managers undertake thorough and fair investigations, and the outcomes of the processes are proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that the parents in the centre understand the assessment process and their progress. They hold regular meetings with parents, and parents understand what they are doing well and what they need to work on.

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This monitoring visit

Staff prompt parents and safely administer medication in line with the recommended dosage. Staff record when parents refuse medication. The manager amended the medication forms to ensure that all information relating to medication is in one place, which increases clarity and enables better oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Staff seek the views of parents in relation to the running of the centre. Some of their ideas have been listened to and implemented, but some have not. One of the centre rules was overly restrictive and did not allow for parents to behave as they would if caring for children in their own home. The senior leaders took the parental views on board during the inspection and considered how they could implement the ideas safely.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector did not review the requirements made at the last inspection during this visit, and therefore, they will remain in place. Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 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 with 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)) 29 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider and the registered manager shall, having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents, carry on or manage the centre (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person should have robust systems of monitoring and oversight. 29 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that the residential family centre is conducted so as to—

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Requirement Due date

promote and make proper provision for the health [(including physical, mental and emotional health)] and welfare of residents;

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Requirement Due date

make such provision for the care, treatment, education and supervision of residents as is appropriate to their age and needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)) 29 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre; or 29 September 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 4 allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre.

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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 (1)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him—

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a)) 29 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents; and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents,

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Requirement Due date

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b)) 29 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are equipped with the skills and experience required to meet the needs of the parents and their children and the purpose of the centre. (Residential family centres: NMS 16.1)  The registered person should ensure that before a placement, a risk assessment is carried out to ensure both that the centre is well placed to meet the family’s needs and that the family is able to fit in with the centre’s other residents. It should inform the level of supervision necessary for the parents and be kept under review throughout the placement. (Residential family centres: NMS 9.1) Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 5

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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: Norden Hills Family Centre 6

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Norden Hills Family Centre Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 9 Highfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5RZ

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Inspector

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre - monitoring visit: Norden Hills Family Centre 7 and inspects 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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