Statement of Purpose of the Centre

Jamma Umoja

Statement of Purpose of the Centre

The residential family centre conducts assessments of parenting skill and capacity which are robust, fair and evidence-based and based on the family’s individual needs.

1. Jamma Umoja means families in union in Swahili. Jamma Umoja was established in 1996 as a private limited company to offer social work services to families. They have two residential family assessment centres in South London. This centre is based at: 23 Haling Park Road, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 6NJ. Tel: 020 8639 4500, Fax: 020 8680 9122 and email .

2. Mrs Hill is the Registered Manager at the Croydon site and she also oversees the Referral and Assessment Business Admin team. She can be contacted by email at at our Head Office tel 02086394500.

3. The Registered Provider is Ms Linda Daley and she is based at 94 Plaistow Lane BR1 3JE. She can be contacted on email: and via the above telephone number.

Ofsted

4. Jamma Umoja is a registered resource in line with the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000 [CSA 2000], and was registered by CSCI on 09.01.04.2004. Jamma Umoja is required to meet the National Minimum Care Standards for Family Centres (March 2015) as cited in the Regulations for Family Centres 2002. Jamma Umoja is inspected by Ofsted; our registration number is: SC052588. Our latest inspection report is September 2015 and can be found at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/CARE/SC052588

5. Overall the findings were Good.

Complaints

6. If any parent, visitor or professional, has a complaint about Jamma Umoja they can address this directly to a manager where this will be addressed within the procedures,

7. They can also contact Ofsted:

In writing: Ofsted National Business Unit, Piccadily Gate, Store St, Manchester, M1 2WD

By phone: 0300 123 1231

By email:

They can also contact the Children’s Commissioner:

In writing: Children’s Commissioner, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith St, London, SW1P 3BT

By phone 0207 783 8330

Or visit their website to contact them electronically at www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/contact-us

Statement of the aims and objectives of the service

8. The residential family centre offers assessment and treatment services. Our aim is to provide an independent range of services in respect of children and their families, formulated to meet the needs of commissioners, service users, the courts and other professionals.

9. The assessment protocol within the residential units is based on the concept of “good enough parenting”. Each family is assessed on their ability to offer their child(ren) adequate care and to prioritise the needs of their child(ren). Assessments are structured around the ‘triangle’ within the ‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families’ (DOH 2000). Jamma Umoja offers a multi-dimensional programme which integrates a wide variety of specialisms and skills and incorporates up to date research, using the triangle’ as a framework to explore the three domains of parenting capacity, child’s needs and the environmental factors.

10. The work explores each individual child’s needs and each parent’(s) capacity to specifically meet that child’s needs now and in the future.

11. Over the years referrals have encompassed increasingly complex needs[1]. Jamma Umoja takes a holistic approach to needs / risk assessment, not only considering the day to day aspects of meeting a child’s basic needs but focusing on issues of risk in relation to the parent and the external environment. We aim to both empower and challenge. Outcomes are focused on prognosis of a parent’(s) capacity /potential capacity to meet their child’s global needs now and in the future, in the context of the child’s welfare and safety being the paramount consideration.

12. Effective management of timescales is a strong principle throughout the work, in terms of service delivery, the child’s developmental needs and the court timetable.

13. Many children are looked after and the subject of court proceedings. The work must be informed by a letter of instruction, even if there are no proceedings.

14. Jamma Umoja promotes diversity and anti-oppressive practice, working alongside parents, offering guidance and modelling behaviour. They support the parent to explore their background history of experience of being parented, to identify and understand patterns within their own childhood, which have or could potentially replay themselves in their current family.

15. From the outset Jamma Umoja aims to have a transparent and coherent structure to the process, via the admission process including written referral and a Planning Meeting. Service users are given regular sessions for reflection and feedback. The programme is formally reviewed on a planned basis.[2]

The criteria for admission

16. Jamma Umoja will consider working with any adult(s) who are the parent / carer of a child(ren). There is no maximum or minimum age. A risk assessment is always carried out to determine whether the risks are manageable.

17. Where the parent / partner has a history of offending or being considered a serious risk, even if there were no convictions, there might need to be a MARAC and specialist assessment by an expert prior to admission.

18. Some parents undertake a period of viability and have supervised contact as a pre-assessment and / or whilst undergoing a risk assessment with senior staff; this might also involve our psychologist John Dowsett.

19. The unit can take service users with mild to moderate disability issues.

20. Jamma Umoja has a long history of working with adults with complex needs. Parents who have substance misuse difficulties can be admitted on a Methadone programme.

RISK MANAGEMENT

21. Jamma Umoja has a duty of care to safeguard children and vulnerable adults and has an excellent reputation in this area. We have robust safeguarding procedures and are able to make expert assessments of risk, both as part of the ongoing day to day safeguarding process, as well as in formulating prognoses around current and future risks to child(ren).

22. John Dowsett is a very experienced psychologist, is part of the team. He is able to offer initial risk assessments prior to admission or during the placement. He is also able to offer comprehensive psychological assessments as an independent piece of work. These can be commissioned by placing local authorities.

Monitoring and Supervision

23. Levels of monitoring will be determined at the admission meeting and kept under review. All children are monitored via welfare checks. These take place in the day from 08hr till 22hr. They involve staff entering the room and asking parents to inform them what care tasks have been carried out, they ensure that they check on the child, the state of the room is noted, whether there is any interaction with the child, if the parent’s mood is of concern etc. The room checks form the basis of a foundation monitoring system which ensures that children are systematically seen around the clock.

24. When the family is no longer being observed in their care tasks, and the basic care is being consistent and competently carried out, the monitoring will be reduced to every 2 hours.

25. If on admission the case is perceived to be high risk then room checks may be more frequent eg every 30 minutes. The frequency of room checks will be increased for short periods if there is a spike in the level of risk and safeguarding concerns.

26. Most families on admission are placed on 3 random checks of all children. This can be reduced if there appears to be no concerns, particularly with older children who may be sleeping through the night.

27. The intention is to work towards independence with the minimum checks. We are able to offer 24-hour audio surveillance and visual surveillance of a baby in the client’s room if this is requested. This is only instituted with the family’s agreement at the request of the local authority. However, if a working together agreement on this matter cannot be achieved then the placement may be compromised and not be able to proceed. There is no covert surveillance.

28. We ask families to bring a baby monitor (or local authority to provide the funds to purchase one) so that when their child is asleep they can go to other parts of the house and still maintain a check on them. This may be for example to attend key work sessions, attend groups, to cook and undertake their laundry.

29. Families are escorted out of the centre for the first two weeks when they go out with their children and the situation is then reviewed. We would try to recommend lifting this this restriction after a fortnight or at the earliest possible time after this, unless there are strong contraindications. The purpose of this is to assess the family’s capacity to shop, keep their child safe, from dangers on the roads, to have a view on how they deal with other people and agencies in the community, to ensure that they are offered some orientation since frequently they are not familiar with the area. However, this restriction may remain for longer periods where there are concerns regarding risks external to the centre. JU will only permit unaccompanied trips out of the centre with a child present with the local authority’s permission.

CCTV

30. In order to safeguard residents and their children we use CCTV to monitor their rooms and communal areas. Agreement is sought for this from the service user on admission.

Bag / Room searches

31. We also ask service users to sign a form agreeing to their room being searched or their bag being searched if there is any reason to suspect that the service user is hiding something which could put the child at risk / is illegal / is prohibited by Working Agreement and JU policy, eg drugs, alcohol, undeclared medication, weapon, covert media devices.

Media surveillance

32. Many of our parents have a history of domestic abuse, as a victim or perpetrator. The success of their assessment may be predicated by a Working Together Agreement based on the understanding that contact with their past abuser / victim may lead to a termination of placement. Jamma Umoja will ask to see the call and message history on a resident’s phone. This can lead to service users obtaining undeclared devices, phones etc and using them covertly. If we have concerns we may ask a service user to open any parcel they receive if we think it is a phone. Staff may also ask to see the parent’s social media accounts. We understand that this presents a serious level of intrusion into one’s private life but is triggered where senior staff believe that a child may be at serious future risk if these investigative steps are not taken.

Substance Misuse Testing

33. Where substance misuse is an issue we will undertake regular urine screening tests on a random basis. A testing regime will be agreed at the planning stage and reviewed on a formal basis.

34. Staff are trained in these techniques. All results will be shown to the service user at the time. Positive tests will be sent to LGC for lab testing to provide chain of custody evidence.

35. Breathalyser tests will be used on a random basis where there issues of alcohol abuse.

36. Service users will be tested if there is any concern that they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

37. The court may agree to hair strand testing as part of the proceedings. This needs to be commissioned outside of this assessment.

Waking Night Staff

38. Jamma Umoja has waking night staff overnight. They are available to all families and they monitor the safety of children and vulnerable adults throughout the night.

Dedicated Waking Nights

39. This may be part of 1:1 monitoring or stand alone. This ensures that staff are present with parents at all times when the child is awake overnight. A 30 minute detailed chronology is maintained of all interventions and all care tasks are supervised. If the risks are very high this may involve keeping the child overnight.

40. A baby monitor with audio /visual display will be placed on the cot in the family room and monitored by staff.

41. Staff will offer parents advice, guidance and encouragement to support them in the care of their child(ren).

Reporting Safeguarding Incidents

42. All potential safeguarding incidents are reported initially via phone call and /or email at the earliest possible time.

43. They are followed up by a written incident sheet.

44. Jamma Umoja has a round the clock system of management cover, onsite and on-call.

45. Safeguarding issues will be notified to EDT when incidents occur out of hours.

Emergency services

46. The police will be contacted where staff believe a crime may have potentially taken place; where a child / parent goes missing; where a looked after child has absconded.

47. The police will be summoned for assistance in any incident where assistance is needed to protect children / parents / staff.

48. Suitable medical advice and assistance will be sought for any child or adult requiring it, in partnership with adult family members, or independently depending on the circumstances.

Croydon’s Staff Team

49. Families are assessed by staff from a range of social care and social work backgrounds. We also employ a full time psychologist who is able to offer a range of services.

50. Our staff reflect the diverse service user population they are working with. This enables us to offer culturally sensitive assessments and to reassure parents that their religious and cultural needs will be understood and respected. Staff are able to undertake direct work in other languages but where English is a second language the local authority is asked to provide some interpreting hours.

Senior Management Team

Karen Hill – Registered Manager

51. Karen is registered with hcpc. She has been managing the service since 2001 and co-manages the service with Hugh Hill. You would meet her right from the planning stage of the assessment. and she is involved with the management of all assessments, undertaking direct work with parents with regard to the most challenging areas of the case. Karen and the team are in continual dialogue to ensure that risk is managed and children and vulnerable parents are safe and supported. She pioneered the Women’s Domestic Violence Group and has been inspired by the transforming journey that many of our female residents make in their time in Jamma.

52. Qualifications: Diploma in Social Work (1994);

53. Practice Teacher Award (1996)

54. Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies with NVQ5 in Operational Management (2007).

55. Trained in Family Therapy.

56. Qualified Family Group Conference Facilitator.

57. Karen has undertaken over 40 short courses in social work related /management issues.

58. Trained by DVIP in Domestic Violence.

59. Karen has recently completed further training in Domestic Violence with Women’s Aid ‘Tackling and Preventing Domestic Sexual Violence/ Abuse’.

60. Undertook training via the NHS in working with couples with depression.

Hugh Hill – Registered Manager (Bromley)

61. Hugh is registered with hcpc. He has been co-managing Jamma Umoja’s services with Karen Hill since 2003. You would meet him right from the planning stage of the assessment and he is involved with the management of all assessments, undertaking direct work with parents with regard to the most challenging areas of the case. Hugh and the team are in continual dialogue to ensure that risk is managed and children and vulnerable parents are safe and supported. He pioneered the Men’s Group and has been inspired by the transforming journey that many of our male residents make in their time in Jamma.

62. Hugh is oversees all financial matters in the organisation, working closely with Ms Davini who is Head of Finance in the Business and Administration Team.

Qualifications

63. Diploma in Social Work (1996)

64. Practice Teacher Award 1998

65. Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies with an NVQ5 in Operational Management (2006).

66. He is also trained in Family Therapy.

67. Qualified Family Group Conference Facilitator.

68. Hugh has undertaken over 50 short courses in social work and management related issues.

69. Undertaken training in Domestic Violence by DVIP.

70. Hugh has just completed further training in Domestic Violence with Women’s Aid ‘Tackling and Preventing Domestic Sexual Violence/ Abuse’.

71. Undertaken training via the NHS in working with couples with depression.

Experience

72. Hugh was previously a service manager in the local authority. He has many years of experience working with children and families, as well as substance misuse and mental health.

73. He has been managing services at Jamma Umoja for the last 13 years.

74. He has exceptional experience in giving evidence in court proceedings.

75. Mr Hill also works in the Croydon centre covering strategic and operational senior management roles and undertaking direct work with service users.

Psychologist

John Dowsett

1. John Dowsett is a very experienced Clinical Psychologist. He has an MA in Natural Sciences (Psychology) from University of Cambridge (1987); Diploma in Clinical Psychology (with Distinction) 1993; Diploma in Forensic Psychotherapy (Portman Clinic) 1997. He has also undertaken the following training: Sex Offender Treatment Evaluation Project (STEP) instruments; Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) training; Psychotherapy for Borderline personality Disorder (2004-2005); Reflective Functioning training (London) (2008); Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training (2005); Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) training (2006-2010).
2. He is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the British Pyschological Society (BPS) and Clinical Psychologist Registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (hcpc).
3. John has a wide experience of conducting independent psychological assessments within the court arena in family proceedings.
4. He also has a private psychotherapy practice where he sees clients for ISTDP training.
5. John has been a Clinical Psychologist in a number of health authorities since 1993 and was Head of Forensic Psychology Services in Lambeth from 1999 – 2006. He has also worked independently and as part of various prestigious consortiums providing expert witness assessments in family proceedings.
6. John is working as a Consultant to Jamma Umoja offering three distinct Consultancy Roles:
7. He will be a Panel Member once a fortnight on JU’s Case Management Panel offering expert input into our assessment plans, analysis and prognosis.
8. He will also undertake full psychological assessments if so instructed by our Commissioners within proceedings or as an additional aspect of the assessment.
9. As part of that, or as a stand-alone function, he will oversee the cognitive testing of service users who are participating in assessments.
10. He will also if instructed by commissioners undertaken short term psychotherapeutic intervention with service users.

Experienced Independent Social Worker / Trainer / PAMs assessment expert