Lynn Haven Limited

Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 1 Lynn Haven Limited Lynn Haven Limited 4 Topper Street, Cambridge CB4 2WL Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is the first inspection of this new, privately owned residential family centre. The centre registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre provides monitoring and assessment for up to three families. Assessments are generally completed in 12 weeks, however, can extend to up to 16 weeks. The centre uses a range of assessment models and frameworks including Parent Assess.

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Information about this residential family centre

The registered manager left the service in July 2025. A new manager has been appointed and was due to start in September 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and parents are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and parents are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and parents are poor.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Since the centre opened, three families have moved in. These families were present during the inspection. The judgement of inadequate reflects significant failures in staff’s actions regarding a child’s welfare and several shortfalls identified in the leadership and management of the centre.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that families’ weekly reports are provided within appropriate time frames. Two new families have not received any reports, despite moving into the centre a month ago. Placing authorities are also not receiving regular weekly summaries. These delays significantly reduce parents’ ability to reflect and make necessary changes to their parenting. This may compromise the validity of the parenting assessments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

The independent assessing social worker conducts parenting assessments using a range of assessment tools tailored to the individual needs of parents. At the time of the inspection, no parenting assessment has been completed. One midway report has been submitted within a suitable time frame. However, the independent social worker has not seen the letter of instruction from the court. Leaders and managers have not challenged the absence of a letter of instruction. As a result, it is unclear how the assessing social worker is assured that the assessment is aligned with the objectives set out by the court.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that records are consistently accurate and factual. One weekly report stated that a parent refused to feed a six-week-old child, despite the child crying for over an hour. However, this incident was not recorded in the staff’s daily monitoring logs. The discrepancy had not been identified or addressed by leaders and managers. This shortfall undermines the reliability of information shared with the assessing social worker and the placing authority. If left unchecked, this can reduce effective decision-making during the parenting assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Parents are supported and encouraged to seek support from external professionals. One parent attends a local drug rehabilitation service, and staff support the care of the child during this time. While other parents have not yet taken up external support, there is clear evidence that such support has been offered and encouraged. Two families have used in-house support from a psychotherapist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: inadequate

Parents said that they are happy at the centre. One parent said staff are ‘good’. Another parent said that staff helped her when she had a health need. Parents feel listened to by the staff. They are regularly asked for their feedback on the support provided. Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 3 The centre is well maintained and decorated. There are sufficient communal areas for parents to spend time with other families. There are appropriate resources available for babies and older children who visit their family at the centre.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff have not always intervened in the best interests of children’s welfare. On one occasion, a child remained in a wet nappy for over eight hours. Although staff prompted the parent to change the child’s nappy, they did not intervene directly. This lack of action failed to safeguard the child’s well-being and did not set a clear expectation for the parent regarding appropriate care.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

The level of CCTV monitoring and surveillance of families is unclear. Staff are unable to identify the difference between the surveillance levels of two families on different levels of monitoring. This has led to monitoring plans not being consistently followed by staff.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff are not following agreed risk management plans for families. One family is assessed to have all care tasks for the child directly supervised by staff. This level of monitoring is not being adhered to, and staff are unaware of this requirement. The failure of staff to follow the agreed plans can pose a risk to the child’s safety.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that guidelines for staff providing childcare are clear. Although the agreement with one parent was that staff would not provide childcare, staff records show several instances, both planned and unplanned, where this has occurred. On one occasion, the parent left their child in staff’s care and did not return at the agreed time. Despite this being reported to the placing authority, there has been no further action to address this issue with the parent. These inconsistencies and mixed boundaries are not helpful for parents undergoing assessment of their parenting capacity.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not overseen the effective monitoring of fire safety precautions. There are several gaps in fire checks, including fire alarm and fire door testing. At times, staff prop open fire doors with door wedges instead of using the installed door catches. This could increase the risk to families and staff in the event of a fire.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The previous registered manager left shortly after the centre opened. In their absence, the management arrangements have been ineffective. The responsible individual is unable to provide the necessary oversight needed to competently oversee the management of the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been a period of significant change in the management team and recent staff turnover. Despite this, a decision was made to accommodate two new families in the space of one week. This was without a manager in post and an inexperienced Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 4 deputy manager just starting in the role. During these moves, leaders and managers failed to assess the individual and combined risks of these parents living together. As a result, staff may not be sufficiently alert to respond to these risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff, including those still in their probation period, have not consistently received supervision in line with the centre’s statement of purpose. The deputy manager did not receive formal supervision for four weeks, despite being new to the role. Furthermore, there are significant gaps in training for several new staff members. This does not ensure that staff are adequately supported or equipped with the skills needed to meet families’ individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

On one occasion, Ofsted did not receive a notification of a serious complaint about a member of staff. This reduced Ofsted’s prompt oversight of how this concern was managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One parent has made complaints about the staff during their time at the centre. This parent feels that their complaints were handled fairly and that they were kept up to date with the outcome. All complaints have been appropriately investigated by leaders and managers, including referrals to external agencies when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The deputy manager and the responsible individual understand the shortfalls identified and are receptive to learning and change. There are clear plans to improve the service provided. Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 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

*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

leaders and managers must ensure, by the means of regular checks, that the centre’s fire detection and fire prevention arrangements are effective and equipment is free from defects;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that the decision to accommodate any new families takes into consideration the management and staffing arrangements and whether these are sufficient to adequately meet the needs of the families;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that all families receive regular written feedback on their progress in the centre;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that the records are accurate and factual;

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Requirement Due date

if leaders and managers identify inaccuracies in records, these must be rectified, and correct information must be shared with parents, professionals and staff;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that before the start of a parenting assessment, the centre and the assessing social worker have the court letter of instruction, or for families who are being supported outside of the court arena, the local authority’s objectives for the parenting assessment.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must: 5 November 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 6 ensure that there are clear boundaries and expectations for parents in relation to childcare services provided by staff;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that parents are aware of the actions that the centre may take following incidents of not returning on time when the staff have provided childcare;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the centre is led and managed in accordance with the statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that before a family moves to the centre, consideration is given to the staff’s ability to meet all the needs of the family, and any potential impact of the decision on the families already living at the centre.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person shall use reasonable endeavours to 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 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that supervision and monitoring arrangements comply with the expectations agreed with the placing local authority;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff are aware of NHS guidelines around the care of newborn babies, in particular, nappy changing;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that when parents do not care for babies in a way that ensures the baby’s health and well-being, that staff intervene to provide appropriate care. 5 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

If, in relation to a residential family centre, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 26 (1)) 5 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him— 5 November 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 7 receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Lynn Haven Limited 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 1 Jesslyn Close, Church Way, Weston Favell, Northampton NN3 3FB

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Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Lynn Haven Limited 9 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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