Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 1 Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre Better Families Social Work Services Ltd 1 Grosvenor Road, Wallington SM6 0EG Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and is privately owned. It specialises in providing parenting assessments, care and support for up to 5 families. The centre offers a broad range of support, including programmes focused on safe parenting, therapeutic counselling and domestic abuse.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this inspection, 2 families were staying at the centre. Two parents spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted at the same time as the centre in May 2025.

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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 last inspection: not previously inspected

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 2

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Summary of findings

The centre was judged good in all outcome areas. Assessment tools and programmes are tailored to meet the needs of individual family members, and they are kept informed about their progress or areas of concern during the assessment.

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Summary of findings

Children and their parents are protected from harm, neglect, exploitation and abuse. Managers and staff work in close partnership with other safeguarding professionals to promote the safety of families.

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Summary of findings

The leadership and management of the centre are effective. Midway and final reports are comprehensive, analytical, balanced and evidenced based. Staff receive good support and supervision. Areas identified for improvement include the review of the quality of some key records, the robust recruitment of staff, the prompt notification of safeguarding events to Ofsted and changes to the lighting in some bathrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Children and parents benefit from parenting assessments that are comprehensive and tailored to meet the individual assessment needs of each family member. Staff use a good range of assessment tools and programmes that address professionals’ concerns and help parents provide safer care for their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Families new to the centre are warmly welcomed and receive clear information about how the centre operates and the expectations of parents and the staff team. Parents, local authority social workers and staff at the centre attend placement planning meetings to ensure that all parties are clear about the purpose of the assessment and the areas to be explored from the outset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Assessment programmes are tailored to meet the identity needs of individual family members. For example, a parent was supported in observing Ramadan and Eid as these religious events occurred while the family was staying at the centre. Staff supported another parent in having increased visits in and out of the centre with family and friends to ensure that they had additional support as a first-time mother.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

Parents say that they have positive relationships with some members of staff, but not all. Some parents are unhappy about the conduct of some staff. Parents know how to make complaints but largely do not do so. There has been one complaint raised about the service. Managers dealt with the complaint appropriately and sensitively. However, records of the complaint fail to highlight the dates action was taken and by whom. Managers also failed to inform Ofsted of the complaint in a timely manner as required. Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 3 Staff ensure that children and parents register with primary healthcare services soon after moving into the centre, and they encourage parents to keep healthcare appointments. Parents’ and staff’s communication with healthcare professionals is consistent. Staff encourage parents to access play and educational resources, such

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

as local children’s centres, to support and develop children’s social skills. Children and parents have access to specialist services as needed. For example, some parents attend regular counselling sessions with the organisation’s in-house therapist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

The final parenting assessment reports are comprehensive, evaluative and analytical. They are evidenced based and include recommendations for the safe care of children and identify what support children and parents need once they leave the centre.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and parents: good

‘The service was extremely effective in completing the work requested by the local authority and the courts. The parenting assessment was delivered in a timely manner, met all expectations and was of a high professional standard. The service demonstrated strong analytical thinking, effective multi-agency working and a clear focus on outcomes for the child.’

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff help protect children and parents from harm, neglect, abuse and bullying. Families benefit from staff’s training in child protection policies and procedures. Staff and managers act in accordance with safeguarding policies and procedures when there are concerns about the safety of children and adults.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

However, not all staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding protocols in relation to allegations made against senior staff. This is not in the best interests of families. There has been one allegation made against a member of staff, which managers dealt with appropriately.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Managers carefully consider the risks posed to families new to the centre by those already living there. Careful safety planning is in place to ensure that a young parent who is also a child is protected from the influence and potential risk of exploitation from other adults.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Assessment activities are focused on the welfare and protection of children and their parents’ ability to care for them safely. Risk assessments are relevant to individual family members and are kept up to date. They highlight known and anticipated risks to children and others. Any emerging risks are shared with parents and professionals. However, risk management strategies are sometimes vague and not explicit in outlining what steps are to be taken, within what time frame and by whom. Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 4 Staff use observation, supervision, key-work sessions and feedback meetings to help reinforce safe parenting. When there is a cause for concern, staff share this with parents and request professional network meetings to explore next steps.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff respond effectively to challenging situations involving parents. They manage incidents calmly and professionally, supported by training in conflict management and strategies for working constructively with adults who may display challenging behaviours. Staff work well together to provide consistent messages and clear boundaries, which supports parents’ learning and promotes the safe care and wellbeing of children.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

The centre’s physical environment is safe and secure. Staff’s use of closed-circuit television is appropriate and supports their observation of the parents’ skills. The premises are well maintained, furnished and equipped. However, the sensor lighting in some family ensuite bathrooms can momentarily turn off, which is potentially a hazard.

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

Staff work in close partnership with the network of professionals working with families. This helps coordinate the protection of children. A local authority social worker said:

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How well children and parents are helped and protected: good

‘The local authority has not had any concerns in respect of the centre keeping children and parents safe. They have demonstrated their capacity to keep children and parents safe through the consistent application of safeguarding protocols, timely risk assessments, and appropriate professional responses to identified concerns.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management of the centre are effective. The registered manager is an experienced, qualified social worker with good experience of managing residential care services. The efforts of the registered manager are supported by the responsible individual, a practice consultant, senior staff and an independent visitor to help review the quality of the service and drive improvement. A deputy manager has recently been appointed to further strengthen management oversight and governance over the centre's operations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records are of a good standard. Managers regularly audit family files to ensure that assessment records are clear, relevant, appropriately detailed and evidenced based. The registered manager holds regular team meetings and reflective practice sessions with staff to explore their work with families and how this can be further improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing levels are very good, which ensures that staff are meeting the assessment needs of families well. Staff confirm that they receive effective support and supervision. A staff member said, ‘I feel the centre offers a supportive and reflective working environment, with good opportunities for learning and development, which benefits both staff and the families we support.’ Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 5 Staff training is comprehensive and relevant to the work staff carry out at the centre. An effective training programme supports staff’s learning and development in providing families with good support, advice and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The safer recruitment of staff is an area identified for improvement, as some staff files do not contain all required vetting information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have realistic expectations for what parents can achieve, and they ensure high standards of assessment, support and safety. Managers clearly understand the progress families are making. The centre is achieving its stated aims and objectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well together to provide stability and consistency when working with families. Leadership and management at the centre are strong. Identified shortfalls do not negatively impact families’ progress and experiences, which are largely positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘ I am impressed with the service management team in how staff have welcomed professionals during review meetings, placement visits and feedback shared with professionals and parents. Communication between me and the staff team can best be described as positive.’ Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 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 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 person shall establish and maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care at the residential family centre. (Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is an effective review of the accuracy of risk assessments and records of complaints. 1 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements, by training persons working at the residential family centre or by other measures, to prevent residents being harmed or suffering abuse or being placed at risk of harm or abuse. This relates to staff developing a good understanding of action to take in the event of an allegation being made against senior members of staff. (Regulation 11 (5)) 1 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

For the purpose 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. (Regulation 16 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that written references and confirmation of staff qualifications are obtained. 1 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

all parts of the residential family centre to which residents have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their safety. (Regulation 11 (4)(a)) 1 June 2026 Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 7 This relates to the use of sensor lights in some families’ ensuite bathrooms.

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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 in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 26 (1)) 1 June 2026

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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: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 8

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: Better Families Social Work Services Ltd

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: Kare Plus, 10 Stone Street, Gravesend DA11 0NH

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Tarisai Kadungure

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Peacock Residential Family Assessment Centre 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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