Daffodil Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 1 Daffodil Family Centre Trevi Women Ltd 10 North Road East, Plymouth, Devon PL4 6AS Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The provider is registered as a charity. Daffodil Family Centre registered with Ofsted in January 2020 and can accommodate up to five families, one of whom can be accommodated in a self-contained flat.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre offers strength-based parenting assessments that aim to support parents to identify what changes they need to make to keep their children safe. Assessments usually take place over 12 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

The inspector was aware during this inspection of a serious incident concerning a child that had occurred since the last full inspection. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Information about this residential family centre

There is a vacancy for a registered manager. The inspection was supported by the responsible individual and a manager providing interim cover.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The residential family centre is not yet delivering good help and care for children and parents. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 21 August 2024 Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 2 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: Daffodil Family Centre 3

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improvement to be good

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents are being impacted on by shortfalls in leadership and management.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is falling below reasonable standards and there is a need for improvements throughout the centre. There have been repeated concerns raised about the conditions within the centre from a number of sources, but not enough action has been taken by leaders and managers to make these improvements in a timely way.

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improvement to be good

Some parents have said that they were uncertain about the assessment process and expectations of them during their stay. Action has already been taken to improve this and to give clearer information to parents.

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improvement to be good

Children and parents are welcomed into the centre and provided with a detailed and easy to understand welcome pack. Communication between the interim manager and parents helps to reduce parents’ anxieties before they arrive.

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improvement to be good

The parents currently at the centre understand the reasons for being at the centre. They are supported by staff to engage in the process, and they are being helped to develop their parenting skills and to learn how to keep their children safe. All parents spoken to said that the progress that they are making and any difficulties are communicated to them clearly.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the children and parents well. Parents feel supported by staff and highly value the support and interventions that they provide. Staff review family’s needs daily to ensure that focused support is in place. Staff provide advice in line with NHS guidelines for childcare to ensure that consistent messages are given to parents. All parents spoken to said that they feel comfortable to ask for help without fear of being negatively judged.

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improvement to be good

Children and parents are supported to access a range of relevant activities and groups in the centre, neighbouring centres and the local area. They are also able to access specialist help, such as substance misuse services and mental health groups.

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improvement to be good

Parents are encouraged to share their views regularly. All of the parents spoken to said that they know how to challenge a decision or make a complaint.

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improvement to be good

Following a serious incident, managers notified Ofsted promptly and safeguarding measures were increased. Leaders and managers have taken some actions in Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 4 response to this incident. However, not enough has been done to reflect on practice and consider any learning in order to ensure that further incidents do not occur.

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improvement to be good

Planning documents include sufficient information about strengths and concerns to inform comprehensive assessment plans. Staff understand children’s and parents’ vulnerabilities and are given guidance on how to manage risk. However, decisions made by leaders and managers to accept families with higher levels of need and risk do not always take into account the experience and skills of the staff team.

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improvement to be good

Staff speak to parents about areas of potential concern or risk. This supports parents to take steps to reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring. A change in the way in which these conversations take place means that there has been inconsistency in staff practice. Leaders and managers have taken action to simplify this process and ensure staff are consistent in their approach with all families.

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improvement to be good

Surveillance systems are used to monitor children’s safe care in the centre. Parents understand its use in informing the assessment process. The use of surveillance and levels of supervision are reviewed regularly, and, when possible, these are reduced to help ensure its use is proportionate. There is a clear step-down process that supports exit planning well.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers take thorough action to address complaints from parents and others. Concerns are investigated and appropriate feedback given when the complaint is resolved.

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improvement to be good

The centre takes a balanced approach to drug and alcohol testing. Each family’s history is considered alongside initial testing, when required. The need for testing is consistently reviewed to ensure that it is only used when required.

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improvement to be good

The management of medication is individually assessed. This promotes parents’ independence to meet their own and their children’s health needs. When this is not possible, safe arrangements are in place. Regular audits take place, and discrepancies are clearly accounted for.

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good

The centre does not have a registered manager. Since July 2025, temporary cover has been provided by an experienced interim manager.

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good

Leaders and managers have not done enough to ensure that the centre is running effectively, efficiently or safely. Staff in the centre feel unsupported and have said that leaders and managers have not listened to their concerns. Staff have not received supervision sessions and team meetings have not taken place. One member of staff described the centre as ‘unsafe’ due the lack of consistent support from leaders and managers. Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 5 There is a mix of skills, experience and qualifications across the staff team. Not all staff are fully equipped or qualified to respond to the full range of individual needs of parents. Training needs across the staff team are not fully understood and the induction for new staff is not comprehensive.

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good

There has been a significant turnover of staff since the last inspection. At times, staffing shortages have resulted in an overreliance on overtime, agency and bank staff. This has impacted on staff morale and caused instability for families.

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good

Leaders and managers are not consistent in ensuring that there is effective oversight of practice. Monitoring and evaluation processes are not robust and do not support a culture of continual improvement. When shortfalls have been identified, leaders and managers have not always taken swift enough action to make improvements.

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good

Leaders and managers have already taken action to begin addressing these shortfalls. The centre will also have a period with no families to enable improvements to be undertaken to the home environment and for staff to attend a bespoke training programme.

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good

The centre is currently being supported by an interim manager, who is highly experienced and ambitious about its future. The interim manager understands the centre’s strengths and the areas that require improvement to ensure that high standards of assessment, support and safety are provided. The interim manager has played an essential role in ensuring standards have not declined further.

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good

Professional feedback is mainly positive, particularly about the trusting relationships staff form with parents and the support which is provided to help parents learn about their parenting. Professionals have spoken about good levels of communication with the centre but have said that sometimes there is a delay in receiving written updates.

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good

Parenting assessment reports are completed by qualified social workers and signed off by a manager who is also social work qualified. Their assessment processes are underpinned by skilled family support workers who complete direct work with families and compile detailed recordings of their parenting. Assessment reports are comprehensive, analytical and outline clear recommendations for care planning. Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 6

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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

Subject to regulation 4(6), the registered person shall provide facilities and services to residents in accordance with the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure the residential family centre is suitably furnished with adequate living, storage and communal space to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1) (2)(k)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the home environment is in a good state of decoration and repairs and improvements are carried out in a timely way. 19 December 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all 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; in addition, the registered person should ensure that staff 31 October 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 7 receive appropriate training to equip them to undertake the role.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 17 (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff receive appropriate levels of supervision on a regular basis and an accurate record is maintained. 30 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

improving, the quality of care provided at the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for adequate consideration of matters raised under regulation 18 by persons working at the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the Chief Inspector a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available to residents.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (1) shall provide for consultation with residents. (Regulation 23 (1) (a)(b) (1A) (2) (3)) 28 November 2025

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Recommendation

 There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the centre. The registered person takes action to address any issue of concern that they identify or which is raised with them. (NMS 19.1, 19.7)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 8 The inspector has 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: Daffodil Family Centre 9

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 29 Sutherland Road, Plymouth, Devon PL4 6BW

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Victoria Channing

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Residential family centre details

Email address: victoria.channing@trevi.org.uk

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Inspector

Stacey Pellow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Daffodil Family Centre 1 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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