The Oval

Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 1 The Oval

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International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

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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 owned and managed by a private provider and is registered to accommodate up to five families at any one time.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre provides residential assessments that assist local authorities and courts in making decisions that promote the welfare of children.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, there were three families in residence. All families were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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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: 14 March 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

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: The Oval 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families have positive relationships with the staff that support them. There are a number of systems in place to ensure that staff are informed about the families they work with, and they have a good understanding of their needs. Staff place the well- being of individual children at the centre of their practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff know the local resources and refer families promptly for specialist support. For example, fathers can access dedicated support, and parents in drug and alcohol recovery receive tailored help. Parents have support delivered that aligns with their circumstances and needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Managers and staff regularly review each family’s progress. They carefully consider each family’s strengths and development needs and create clear and detailed action plans. These plans are shared with parents, so they know exactly what to focus on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre uses independent social workers to complete family assessments. Assessing social workers visit the centre regularly to meet with families, and staff understand how their work contributes to the assessment process. The assessments are detailed, evidence based and include clear rationale for the recommendations made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The manager and assessing social workers recognise where families require extended assessments based on their circumstances and need. Requests to extend assessments are in the best interests of children and made in a timely way. The centre is spacious, welcoming and includes all the relevant amenities for children and their families. However, the front door uses a fob system, which means parents have to ask staff to leave the building. There are no concerns that families have been unable to leave when they have wished to do so, but a recommendation has been made in relation to this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The centre staff support families to have time with family and important people who do not reside in the centre. They are flexible to each family’s needs and provide practical support when required and appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff manage challenges in the relationships within and between families in the centre well. They have discussions with families together and individually and ensure they understand what healthy relationships look like. When needed staff provide mediation. They give individuals the time and space to recognise and reflect on their own and others’ behaviour. Positive relationships between all those who live and work in the centre are actively promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff support families to move on in a positive way, regardless of the outcome of their assessment. Families are provided with detailed memory books of their time in the centre. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 3

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

A monitoring visit was undertaken in the inspection period, where concerns about safeguarding practice were raised. However, currently safeguarding incidents are well managed. They are not frequent in the centre. When they occur, staff understand their responsibilities and respond swiftly and appropriately. They ensure children are safeguarded and appropriate processes are followed.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Surveillance and monitoring systems are used in the centre. Parents are made aware of the systems at the first possible opportunity. There are measures in place to protect the privacy of parents in the centre as far as possible, particularly when they are couples.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The plans of support for families include a clear overview of what work parents can expect to complete throughout their stay. The plans are written to parents in language that is meaningful and easy to understand. There is a range of direct work completed with parents to support them in developing key knowledge and skills to support the care of their children and reduce risks.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The manager completes an assessment before families move in to consider the suitability of the placement. This includes all known risks for the family coming into the centre. However, the manager does not fully evaluate the impact on families already staying in the centre, or whether staff have the skills and experience to meet the needs of the family moving into the home. This means that not all matching considerations have been assessed and evaluated to consider the suitability of the placement. A previous recommendation relating to this has been restated.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families know how to make a complaint. The centre has recently updated its complaints procedure to include digital methods of submitting complaints, making them more accessible for families. Complaints are taken seriously; the manager treats each comment that relates to where the service could improve as a complaint, regardless of whether the complainant has marked it as such. The manager responds promptly and in line with timescales set out in the complaints policy. Where the manager identifies practice shortfalls through complaints, they undertake reflective work with staff to agree actions to improve the service. Managers respond promptly to families, and they know the outcomes of their complaints. Families feel listened to and that their concerns are taken seriously.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families rarely go missing from the centre. On the one occasion when a parent left, staff acted quickly after noticing early signs that they may leave the home. Staff tried to support the parent to stay, and when they left, staff followed the centre’s missing policy. Staff kept in touch with the parent, offered support in the community and safeguarding the child, and they informed all relevant professionals promptly.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff rarely search the rooms or belongings of families. On the one occasion a room search was completed, this was for a clear safeguarding reason, and the parent was informed and present. Staff completed the search sensitively. However, on another Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 4 occasion a member of staff looked inside a parent’s bag without a valid reason. The manager did not evaluate this incident or recognise this was a breach of the parent’s right to privacy and dignity. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Families are rarely asked to leave the centre prior to the end of their assessment. However, when they are, it is considered, fair and with the best interests of children in mind. Managers are transparent with families about decision-making, timescales and reasons. Information is delivered clearly and sensitively to parents.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The manager has not ensured that all staff are safely recruited. Some staff have not had their reasons for leaving work with children or vulnerable adults explored, and there are unexplained gaps in employment. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The former manager left at the beginning of the year. The current manager, previously the deputy manager, has provided consistency and stability for staff and families. The manger has appropriate qualifications and experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said the manager is supportive and approachable. They describe an open culture where they feel free to ask questions, discuss concerns or make comments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work proactively and positively with other agencies. They communicate effectively with all the professionals working with the families in the centre. One professional said, ‘We have lots of collaborative conversations; they are professionally curious.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safeguarding incidents do not consistently show written oversight from the manager. Their views on staff practice and recording are unclear, which means opportunities to improve practice are missed. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken effective action to meet the requirements made at the last inspection. However, the two recommendations were not progressed. One has been restated, and one has been made into a requirement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The centre has sufficient staff. Staff join the centre with relevant life and professional experience for their roles. Staff work together to promote consistency for families. They have clear responsibilities within the centre and a sense of shared ownership of their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly. Staff discuss families and reflect on placements when they have ended. This enables staff to have clear and shared understanding of the families they support. The manager undertakes quizzes with staff, particularly in areas of infrequent practice, to ensure they have relevant skills and knowledge for their roles. External specialists are invited to the meeting to share information about their services, and this is impactful for families as many access these services through referral by staff. Staff are supervised regularly. Supervision is reflective, allows staff to consider their practice, and focuses on the development of staff. Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 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.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there are effective procedures in place to evaluate staff practice and recording, enabling them to identify and address shortfalls. 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the residential family centre is conducted— in a manner which respects the privacy and dignity of residents.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any searches of residents’ belongings are for a clear, safeguarding reason and are recorded appropriately. Managers should have prompt oversight of searches. 5 January 2026

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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.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16 (1)(a) (3)(d)) 5 January 2026 Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that where a person has previously worked in a position whose duties involved work with children or vulnerable adults, so far as reasonably practicable, verification of the reason why the employment or position ended should be gained. Staff should also have a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.

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Recommendations

 There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. In particular the manager should ensure that impact risk assessments fully consider the risks of the family moving into the centre in relation to risks presented by families already residing at the centre. Additionally, that risk assessments should contact clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise identified risks. (‘Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards’, page 30, paragraph 20.2)  The registered person should ensure that the centre does not restrict the liberty of any resident as a matter of routine. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that residents are able to leave the centre freely. (‘Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards’, page 12, paragraph 5.4)

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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: The Oval 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspectors

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: The Oval 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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