An Accrington residential family centre, where “parents and children are supported throughout" has retained its ‘good’ status following an inspection by Ofsted.

First Steps Northwest, in Queens Road, was inspected on July 17 and 18 and maintained its ‘good’ status from February in 2023.

The family residential centre was registered in 2022 with the primary to enable children to remain safely in the care of their parents and keep families together.

They can accommodate up to five families at any one time.

A report published on August 23 found the centre to be ‘good’ at the overall experiences and progress of children and parents, how well children and parents are helped and protected and the effectiveness of leaders and managers

In the latest report, inspectors said: “Staff are committed to supporting residents to make progress in their parenting.

“Staff support families to overcome any barriers that have an impact on their ability to care for their children, bond with them and keep them safe.”

Inspectors added that the fact that residents who had moved on from the family centre chose to stay in touch with staff.

They commended the way in which residents were welcomed to the centre and complaints system when they arrived, which are acted upon quickly and are easily understood.

However, whilst a guide provided to adults at the centre was thorough, there was no copy provided to children, creating difficulties for children to understand what to expect from the centre.  

The report added: “Managers have not ensured that all residents’ records are produced in an accessible format.

“This does not ensure that all residents have the information they need to understand reasons for care planning decisions made about their children.”

Assessments, which focussed on safeguarding, were lead by an experienced social worker with clear evidence of the children’s journey and provided clear evidence-based recommendations.

Inspectors said: “Staff support the parents throughout the assessment. Staff challenge parents when necessary, encouraging them to reflect on their own behaviour.

“This enhances the parents’ understanding of how to maintain their children’s welfare, safety, and development.”

Management was praised for their response to the quality of staff practice and the training and standards set at the centre.

The report said: “Staff well-being is prioritised and as a result staff feel valued. Staff can access support from a dedicated person who is independent from the management structure in the centre.

"This ensures that barriers to staff working to the best of their ability are quickly resolved, which provides consistency for residents and children.”