Jamma Umoja

Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 1 Jamma Umoja Jamma Umoja (Residential Services) Limited 23 Haling Park Road, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 6NJ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre provides parental assessments for up to nine families at any one time and is staffed on a 24-hour basis.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

The centre was registered with Ofsted in December 2004. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, there were eight families undergoing residential assessments.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and parents are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The relationships between staff and families are consistently strong, characterised by warmth, empathy and respect. Staff are nurturing and non-judgmental, fostering a supportive environment that promotes trust and engagement.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents report overwhelmingly positive experiences, noting that they have gained valuable insights into themselves, their motivations and their parenting approaches. Staff demonstrate a high level of professionalism and emotional intelligence, resulting in forming meaningful individual relationships with families. One parent said, ‘Staff listen to me and my views. I was scared that I would be judged, but they instantly made me feel comfortable.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parenting assessments are evidence-based and include observations and key-work sessions to inform evaluations of parental capacity. Assessments are thorough and balanced and clearly address the Letter of Instruction (LoI), providing realistic recommendations to the court. Strengths and areas of concern are both identified, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents understand the assessment process and receive regular feedback. They are actively involved in regular residents’ meetings, and their feedback is valued and acted on by staff and managers.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents are offered a variety of support and guidance, including access to specialist services. Key-work sessions are thorough and responsive, aligning with the LoI and adapting to emerging challenges or potential risk.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents and children are offered a wide range of engaging activities, both in the home and in the community, including baby massage, wellness walks, pamper sessions, Pilates, bedtime story and baby groups. Many of these initiatives originate from staff and parent suggestions, which are actively supported and implemented.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The physical environment has been improved significantly, contributing to a homely and welcoming atmosphere. The refurbishments undertaken in the centre, including in the contact centre and the redecoration of the play hut, have further enhanced the centre.

p.2

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Children are kept safe in the centre, with few safeguarding incidents reported. Staff remain consistently alert to potential risks, including those associated with parental behaviours. Effective handovers ensure continuity of care and awareness across the staff team. Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 3 Complaints are responded to in full, and parents say they feel safe in the centre.

p.2

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff are suitably qualified and experienced. They have regular training to ensure that they are well prepared to follow safeguarding procedures.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers complete comprehensive risk assessments that are both accurate and reflective of family needs, with clear plans in place to mitigate identified risks. These assessments incorporate both historical and current concerns, enabling a holistic view of each family’s situation. While risk assessments are reviewed and updated regularly, the records of when these changes are made are not consistently clear, which may mean that pertinent information could be missed or that older information is no longer relevant.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Incidents are managed appropriately, with suitable actions taken and recorded, including safeguarding notifications when relevant.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers and staff work collaboratively with the external professionals involved to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. For example, a family court adviser (FCA) commended the centre staff and managers for promptly sharing ‘clear and helpful updates’ during a parent’s mental health crisis. The FCA also noted that these updates ‘helped different services understand the situation, make informed decisions together and keep the parent and child safe’.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Team around the family (TAF) and case management meetings further support a shared understanding of safeguarding risks across agencies.

p.3

How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers have effective safer recruitment practices in place and parental consent forms are appropriately signed and stored.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and senior management team are inspirational, passionate about their work and committed to the well-being of children, families and staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s knowledge of the families is excellent, which enables tailored and effective interventions.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate an exceptional commitment to continued improvements, underpinned by a strong learning culture and embedded reflective practice. The staff team and families benefit from clinical input from the in-house assistant psychologist; this supports staff resilience and helps to maintain the centre’s reflective and responsive approach.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported and valued by the organisation. This is demonstrated through initiatives such as the employee of the month award, voted on by parents and staff, celebrating staff birthdays and holding regular staff team events. All of these contribute to a highly motivated and stable staff team. Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 4 Managers and leaders provide positive opportunities for career development and learning. Staff training is varied and relevant, and assessments are of a consistently high standard. Staff demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication, which are reflected in the high-quality care and support provided to families. One staff member said that the organisation ‘has invested in me, and that’s where my loyalty and appreciation lie’.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular, high-quality reflective supervision, induction and appraisals . Suggestions made in team meetings are consistently acted on, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The well-being offer for families is exceptionally strong. Evaluation is embedded throughout the service, with parental views actively sought and incorporated via monthly, weekly and exit feedback mechanisms.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team fulfils the centre’s statement of purpose and embraces innovation, including new technologies and creative engagement strategies, such as the development of a podcast. Innovative practices, such as school-based workshops and the implementation of a trauma-informed mental health therapeutic resource, exemplify the service’s commitment to inclusive and forward-thinking approaches. The management and staff team’s participation in social care conferences and events showcase the service’s proactive engagement with the wider sector.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The introduction of new technologies, such as shift planning tools, has further enhanced operational efficiency. Regulatory reports are completed regularly, with recommendations swiftly implemented.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager advocates effectively for parents, including challenging local authority decisions when appropriate.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team balances realistic expectations with ambitious plans for future growth, ensuring that the service remains responsive and impactful. Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place to monitor the quality and standards of record-keeping and act when needed. This is in relation to the updating of risk assessments. (Residential family centres: NMS 20.2)

p.5

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: Jamma Umoja 6

p.5

Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Jamma Umoja (Residential Services) Limited

p.6

Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Mazars, Capital Square, 58 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8BP

p.6

Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Ezmaii Bulsara-Crosbie

p.6

Residential family centre details

Email address: referrals@jamma-umoja.org

p.6

Inspector

Amanda Burrows, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Jamma Umoja 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 4234 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7