Foundations Walsall

Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 1 Foundations Walsall Progressive Care Limited Parklands, 12 - 14 Little Aston Road, Walsall WS9 0NN Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre is privately owned. This centre provides parenting assessments for up to 10 families at any one time. The centre sets out in its statement of purpose that it provides residential assessments that usually take place over 13 weeks.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, one family was living at the centre.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: 18 February 2025

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This residential family centre was judged to be inadequate at the full inspection that took place from 18 to 21 February 2025. Due to the concerns identified during the inspection, Ofsted issued a notice of restriction of accommodation. In addition, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 13 (amendment) and regulation 23 of The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 2 Two further monitoring visits took place on 9 April 2025 and 12 May 2025. As the compliance notices had not being fully met by 9 April 2025, Ofsted issued an additional compliance notice under regulation 8 of The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002. At the monitoring visit on 12 May 2025, all compliance notices were deemed to have been met, and the restriction of accommodation was lifted. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

One family has been resident at the centre since June 2025. The assessment and monitoring period has been extended due to legal reasons. The centre continues to provide the family with a supportive environment while they undergo a parenting assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Overall, the family has developed positive and respectful relationships with staff. A parent reported feeling valued and treated with dignity. However, some challenges have emerged during interactions with assessing social workers, particularly when parents are presented with difficult or probing questions. While these are a necessary component of the assessment process, they can be emotionally challenging for parents and may contribute to anxiety, especially when linked to significant decisions about their future. Staff have demonstrated reflective practice, approaching these situations with sensitivity and empathy, and are actively considering the parents’ perspectives to improve engagement and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The assessment process is robust, balanced, and clearly underpinned by evidence. Assessment sessions are consistently of good quality, demonstrating thorough preparation and clearly defined objectives. The interim report presents a well- structured analysis of both strengths and areas for development, accurately reflecting the evidence gathered throughout the assessment process. The social worker demonstrates professional curiosity and applies critical thinking to ensure that proportionate recommendations are made regarding the family’s future. The assessment is appropriately quality assured and overseen by qualified social workers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff demonstrate an awareness of the specific vulnerabilities and pressures experienced by young parents. In addition, their respectful approach to cultural differences and collaborative working with parents has helped to reduce challenges associated with cultural and language barriers. Managers and staff equally recognise the importance of carefully balancing cultural practices with the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff exhibit a thoughtful and proactive approach to capturing the unique journeys of families attending the centre. The provision of memory books and photo journeys reflects a commitment to celebrating individual experiences and enriching the overall experience of the family. New digital systems have been implemented to enhance parental engagement, enabling families to provide feedback via a QR code platform, which is instantly received by the quality assurance team.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff educate and empower parents to safeguard both themselves and their children. Parents are encouraged to reflect on historical concerns and understand Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 4 the rationale behind their assessments. Staff deliver structured education on key areas, such as child development, domestic abuse, safety, supervision and stress management. Assessing social workers engage in critical reflection after each session, enabling them to analyse emerging risks, adapt their approach, and plan purposeful future interventions. This reflective practice not only strengthens the quality of assessments but also ensures that support remains child focused and responsive to risk.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents are well-informed about the use of surveillance within the centre. Information is shared transparently, supporting parents to understand safeguarding practices. Surveillance arrangements are subject to regular review, with decisions made in consultation with the local authority to ensure they remain proportionate and necessary. This supports children’s safety while balancing it with respect for privacy and family life.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

While safeguarding procedures are in place and are understood by most staff, not all staff have consistently demonstrated confidence in applying them. The management team has recognised this and is proactively addressing the issue by providing targeted support and guidance. This approach reflects a commitment to continuous improvement and helps to strengthen safeguarding practices across the service.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Allegations and complaints are responded to appropriately. However, on one occasion, managers failed to notify Ofsted of a significant incident that led to a staff member being suspended and subsequently having her employment terminated. This did not impact the safety of parents and children, as appropriate action was taken in response to the incident.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are generally aligned with children’s needs and the risks associated with parenting capacity. However, there is inconsistency in the regular review and updating of these assessments. This limits their effectiveness in capturing the dynamic nature of risk, particularly as new concerns emerge or existing risks evolve during the assessment period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre has experienced a period of instability due to a change in management. Two managers were appointed but did not successfully complete their probation periods due to concerns about their ability to fulfil the requirements of the role in practice. Stability has been maintained through the involvement of a long-standing senior manager, who brings considerable experience and organisational knowledge. Her application to register with Ofsted demonstrates a commitment to ensuring continuity and compliance with regulatory requirements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the senior management team has expanded and restructured. There has been a significant focus on reflection, learning and developing a culture of continuous improvement. Clear lines of accountability and oversight are in place. A culture of constructive ‘check and challenge’ supports ongoing improvement and informs reflective decision-making and support planning. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 5 The service benefits from effective monitoring systems that provide strong oversight of assessments and social work practice. These systems are embedded in daily operations and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement. Most shortfalls identified during the inspection had already been recognised by managers, and action has been taken to support service improvement. As a result, children and families receive good-quality support that is responsive to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about their experiences working at the centre and attribute recent improvements to the leadership of the new manager. Despite this, staff have not consistently received the support required to carry out their roles effectively, and regular supervision has not yet been embedded in practice. The new manager has acknowledged these gaps and taken proactive steps by introducing performance reviews for all staff. Since her appointment, supervision has become more consistent, and staff report feeling more valued as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been shortfalls in the oversight of regulatory responsibilities. Regulation 25 reports summarising monthly visits to the centre by a person who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre have not been consistently submitted to Ofsted, despite this being a recommendation from the previous inspection. Although systems are now in place, the issue was not addressed promptly. In addition, Regulation 23 quality of care reports have not been completed or submitted consistently. However, this has not compromised the good care and support provided to the family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external professionals has been mixed. One professional raised concern about fractured communication from previous managers and the approachability of some staff. In contrast, a social worker provided feedback complimenting the centre on its communication and the quality of assessment and reports. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 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 Centres 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 ensure that all persons employed by him—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure all staff receive regular reflective supervision that is of good quality. 5 December2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

reviewing at appropriate intervals; and improving,

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided 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). (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 5 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be;

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Requirement Due date

another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or

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Requirement Due date

an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre. 5 December 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 7 The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

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Requirement Due date

the Chief Inspector. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)(a))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should keep risk assessments under review throughout the placement. In particular risk assessments pertaining to children and adults should contain all known risks and clearly evidence how risks increase or decrease throughout the assessment. (Residential family centres: NMS 9.1)  The registered person should ensure there is an effective system in place to notify the appropriate authorities within 24 hours of the occurrence of significant events in accordance with Regulation 26. The system should include what to do when a notifiable event arises at weekends. (Residential family centres: NMS, 21.1)

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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 Centres Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Progressive Care Limited

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 51 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield S9 2AE

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Residential family centre details

Email address: info@progressivecare.co.uk

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Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Foundations Walsall 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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