Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 1 Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre Registered provider: 3.13 Low Martin Field Farm, Ramshaw, Bishop Auckland DL14 0NA Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This is a charity run residential family centre. The primary purpose of the centre is to support local authorities in completing fair and evidence-based assessments of parenting capacity and skills.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre can accommodate up to 4 families. At the time of the inspection, there were 2 families staying at the centre. The inspectors spoke to both families during this inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

The residential family centre registered with Ofsted in April 2024. The manager is newly registered.

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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: 17 February 2025

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

During an inspection on the 17 February 2025, inspectors found serious and widespread concerns. These shortfalls impacted on the children and family’s safety, protection, and welfare. In response, Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulations 8 (registered person), 12 (arrangements for the protection of children) and 5 (fitness of the registered provider).

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 3 April 2025 to evaluate the provider’s response to the compliance notice issued under regulation 5. It was concluded that the provider had taken the necessary steps to meet the compliance notice, including appointing a responsible individual.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit was carried out on 29 April 2025 to evaluate the provider’s progress in addressing the two outstanding compliance notices issued under regulation 8 and regulation 12. It was found that leaders and managers had not taken sufficient action towards meeting all the steps set out in the notices. As a result, compliance notices were reissued under regulation 8 and regulation 12. A restriction of accommodation notice was issued with immediate effect to 1 August 2025, due to there being no registered manager or sufficient oversight of the setting.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 4 July 2025 to review the actions taken by the provider in response to the two compliance notices issued under regulation 8 and regulation 12. A case review was held on 11 July 2025, during which it was confirmed that the compliance notices issued under regulation 8 and regulation 12 had been met. Consequently, the restriction of accommodation notice was lifted with immediate effect. Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents develop secure and trusting relationships with staff. Although they may not form close connections with everyone, parents are able to identify staff members with who they feel most comfortable. The manager’s approach of allowing parents to choose their own key-worker strengthens these relationships and supports parents to speak openly about any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

All work carried out with parents contributes meaningfully to the parenting assessment process. Social worker final assessments are written sensitively, highlighting parents’ strengths as well as areas for development. Recommendations for the children’s futures are clear and based on gathered evidence. The manager maintains effective oversight to ensure that assessments are consistently of good quality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents benefit from a wide range of social, educational, and recreational opportunities, including activities within the local community. These are appropriately tailored to the age and developmental needs of the children. Parents are encouraged to take part, helping them to improve their relationships with their children and support positive development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The presence of a psychotherapist at the centre provides valuable specialist support for parents who wish to explore their emotional wellbeing. This work helps parents consider their children’s emotional experiences and communication, as well as reflect on their own experiences of being parented.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Referral processes are thorough. The manager gathers relevant information from multi-agency professionals to ensure the centre can meet the needs of each family. New families are welcomed sensitively, helping to reduce anxiety for those who may be nervous. Staff ensure that babies have essential items when they move in, particularly where financial delays occur. Parents said that they feel safe and well supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Arrangements for babies and children to spend time with parents who do not live at the centre are well managed. Staff follow the plans agreed with local authorities, ensuring that children maintain important family relationships while longer-term decisions are being made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Staff deliver structured programmes of work to help parents build their skills and contribute to parenting assessments. Session records are detailed and reflective. However, weekly planners do not clearly set out when parenting skills sessions will take place. This lack of clarity may cause confusion, particularly when parents are also doing other planned work and support. Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 4

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Since the last inspection, serious safeguarding incidents have seldom occurred. When concerns have arisen, staff act promptly and take appropriate action to keep babies and children safe. In one incident, staff made sustained efforts to encourage a parent to remain on site with their baby. When it became clear risks were increasing, staff acted decisively, involving the police and social care services without delay.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff advocate strongly for children and parents. They challenge safeguarding decisions when necessary to ensure that plans are proportionate and in the best interests of the family. On one occasion, when staff disagreed with a proposed plan for immediate separation, they effectively challenged multi-agency partners to seek an alternative outcome.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Parents understand how to raise concerns and are well supported to do so. Complaints are taken seriously, and the manager works with parents to resolve issues. Parents are involved throughout the process, and any concerns they have are addressed when possible. Restorative work is also completed between parents and staff, to rebuild relationships. This helps families move on once issues are resolved.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Allegations against staff are managed effectively. When concerns were recently raised about staff practice, the manager undertook a thorough investigation and followed the correct procedures. This resulted in the dismissal of a member of staff, and ensures that only suitable adults work in the centre. The investigation also identified that staff had not followed the whistleblowing policy. Leaders have since taken action to improve staff’s understanding through team meetings, policy reviews, supervision, and training.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

CCTV is used properly and in line with regulations. Its use is clearly recorded and regularly reviewed with families and placing authorities. Any changes are agreed collaboratively. Parents are informed about CCTV when they move in. However, for one family, the consent form was completed several weeks after arrival. Given the effect of CCTV on privacy, consent should always be obtained at the earliest opportunity.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre has supported one parent who was under eighteen and looked after by a Local Authority. That parent said they were happy with the help they had from staff which included additional support from the psychotherapist. Steps were taken to make sure they were protected and any issues they were struggling with. However, the statement of purpose needs to be clearer about what support will be offered to parents who are under eighteen and how they will be safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a significant change in staffing with a new leadership and management team. This has helped address the significant shortfalls that were Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 5 identified at the last inspection. A huge amount of work has been done with the staff team to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to help the parents and children who stay at the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager comes with significant social work experience. This allows her to have detailed understanding of process and procedures, enabling her to challenge other professionals when things are not happening for parents and children. Similarly, she has been able to support the staff team to understand their roles and responsibilities, setting out clear expectations for their work with the families. The change allows parents to demonstrate the strengths and gaps in their parenting skills independently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has changed and developed the culture in the centre. Staff feel supported, valued and are more confident to raise any issues or questions they have. This has developed an open culture in the home, that embraces learning and reflection. Furthermore, helping to develop trust and confidence in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team strongly advocate for the families who stay at the centre to ensure that they have what they need. Such as, challenging a parenting assessment for a young parent which did not detail their strengths fully enough. This ensured that the information put before the court was clear, accurate and thorough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and that the re-structure has been positive. The additional skills the newer staff bring enhances those already at the centre. With a focus on reflection, learning, training and supervisions staff say their knowledge has improved particularly around safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff develop collaborative relationships with professionals that contribute help the families during their stays. One social worker said, ‘Staff are incredibly responsive, communication is a real strength.’ This means professionals know what is happening quickly, enabling the right support to be put provided when situations change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An area for development is the system that holds electronic records. Although the paperwork was there, it is not easy to find as there is no consistent filing system. The management team has realised this and has a plan to address it. Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 6

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Statutory Requirement

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall compile in relation to the residential family centre a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as "the statement of purpose") which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation (4) (1)) 24 March 2026

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Recommendations

 The individual programme for each resident family is based on the placing authority’s assessment of their needs which identifies the purpose and scope of the residential assessment of parenting skill and capacity and any support which will be provided. This programme is set out in the family placement plan. The manager must ensure that staff record the time one-to-one sessions with parents are planned for and the reasons why a one-to-one session has not taken place. (Residential Family Centres: NMS 7.4)  Staff gain the consent of residents prior to the reasonable use of electronic monitoring devices during assessments. (Residential Family Centres: NMS 10.3)

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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: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 2 Maria Drive, Stockton-on-Tees TS19 7JL

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Residential family centre details

Email address: office@lowmartinfield.com

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector (lead) Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Low Martinfield Residential Family Assessment Centre 8 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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