Family Assessment Centre

Our ethos

The philosophy of care at Moonreach reflects the deep belief of the management that parents have the right to care for and provide a stable secure environment for their child/children. By drawing on the experiences of both the Provider and the Manager, Concordia House and Monica House will endeavour to provide a positive living experience for the parent in placement. The care will promote the well-being of the individual and give the parent special time to come to terms with the difficulties in their lives and move towards a more positive future. All care will be child centred and the staff will demonstrate a solution-focused model of working, thus empowering the parent to make decisions for themselves and their child/children that will improve their life chances.

The outcome will be achieved by the level of support offered to the parent and those in close contact with them. The parent will be offered achievable challenges in the activities offered. Interactive social skills will be encouraged in a preparation to return to a family environment. The promotion of self-worth will be encouraged by everyone and this will be promoted by the staff within the home. The parent will be encouraged to enjoy and take care of their own living spaces. Their privacy will be respected, where appropriate, and they will be able to learn to have some quality time with their child.

If a parent has a particular interest this will be encouraged and developed.

As the aim of the home is to assess the parent and support them as a family into independent living, any problems, difficulties or challenges identified during the stay in the Concordia House or Monica House setting will be addressed and the parent will be taught skills that may be used to help in these situations. It is important that we temper and bring perspective to the activity experienced whilst at Concordia House or Monica House and the ‘real world’ the parent and child will return to. There will be structure to the day and appropriate levels of routine to reflect expectations in a family environment.

Achievable goals will be set and achieved by the parent.

House staff will support and help the parent gain the skills that they will need for independent living. An independence plan and skills assessment will be completed with the parent to help them achieve this.

Admission process

1. Telephone contact from placing social worker.
2. During conversation it will be identified if Concordia House or Monica House are an appropriate placement.
3. Referral form sent and social worker agrees to complete form and send all relevant information about the parent, including the most recent review minutes.
4. Once the completed referral form is received the placing social worker and parent will be invited to visit the home. The social worker will take a copy of the Parent and Child’s Guide with them to discuss the home with the parent.
5. Placement will only be discussed with the parent when mutual agreement between social worker and the house staff member that either Concordia House or Monica House is appropriate.
6. The Residential Provider will then visit the social worker at the appropriate offices and discuss timescales, overnight stays, funding etc.
7. A key worker will be identified and the social worker will liaise directly with them regarding the parent.
8. A review will be held within the first month to assess progress. This meeting will take place at a mutually convenient location to all parties. At that meeting there will be a request for a commitment from the social worker to visit on a regular basis.

Emergency Admission

• Moonreach will only accept emergency admissions to Concordia House or Monica House, where appropriate and reasonable, at our discretion
• Our primary concern immediately upon admission is to settle the parent and their child into their new surroundings.
• Within 24hrs, we develop an initial care plan, which is finalized within seven days of emergency admission.
• It is a pre-requisite of any emergency admission that formal arrangements are already in place for full and formal medical assessment of the parent and child within 24 hours of their admission.
• Concordia House and Monica House may also accept an emergency placement outside of the specified age range providing OFSTED are immediately notified by the placing social worker and a Moonreach representative.
• Upon emergency admission, Moonreach standard non-emergency admission processes as described will apply.

Referrals

To discuss a referral, please contact Moonreach at Concordia House.

We can offer placements to:

• young parents requiring behavioural management
• parents who require intense one to one supervision 24hrs a day
• young parents
• pregnant women
• parents who have been subject to domestic abuse
• parents with drug related concerns
• parents with a mental illness
• parents with learning disabilities

Assessment

At Moonreach, recognized and tested standard assessment models are used but in every case each parent and child is treated as an individual.

The assessments used are incorporated into the Framework of Assessment using the Parent Assessment Manual (PAM) written by Dr Sue McGaw. Assessments are based on parental knowledge using cartoons, observation and workbooks. Both the professional and family needs are considered. One to one observation by staff enables Moonreach to gather the relevant information regarding the parent’s ability to care and highlight areas of need.

We now also offer Outreach Services and Semi Supported Services.

Moonreach provides in-house parenting workshops which are closely monitored, including: Attachment, Bonding, Appropriate play, Communication, Budgeting, Hygiene, Developmental needs, Life/social skills support, Nutrition, Safety, Basic care, Strengths/weaknesses, Perception of self/others. When needed, childcare will be provided for the parents to allow them to engage in the workshop. If deemed necessary in house therapy is available for the parents which is evidenced with a report for social workers.

Family assessments will focus on issues which may include: Child protection, Emotional needs, Stimulation, Play, Parent’s needs, Developmental needs,Professional concerns, Guidance and behavioural control, Supervision, Support networks, Life skills, Social skills, Family network

All information is carefully analysed and an interim report and final comprehensive court report is produced. All decisions are made within the multidisciplinary staff team at Moonreach. The assessment process benefits both parents and children and represents a structured approach contributing to the preparation of reports requested by the referral agents to be used at court proceedings.

Concordia House

Concordia House is a two storey mid terrace house organized into a spacious 2 bedroomed specialized parent and children’s home located on a quiet pedestrian street in the seaside town of Deal in Kent.

Concordia House provides the following:

• High staff to family ratio
• Good sized single bedrooms offering personal privacy
• Living facilities with provision for high needs/close supervision.
• Comprehensive assessments and reports.
• Strong, effective relationship building and key work skills.
• Comprehensive record keeping

Resources

• In house counseling therapy where required
• In house parenting wokshops including life and social skills.
• Activity and excursions for both parents and children.(included in charges)

Ofsted registered - SC436819

Monica House

Monica House is a semi-detached house organized into a spacious 2 bedroomed specialized parent and children’s home located on a road linking the town centre to the sea front in the seaside town of Deal in Kent.

Monica House provides the following:

• High staff to family ratio
• Good sized single bedrooms offering personal privacy
• Living facilities with provision for high needs/close supervision.
• Comprehensive assessments and reports.
• Strong, effective relationship building and key work skills.
• Comprehensive record keeping

Resources

• In house counseling therapy where required
• In house parenting wokshops including life and social skills.
• Activity and excursions for both parents and children.(included in charges)

Ofsted registered - SC434003

Community outreach

This service is to provide support and assessment in the community. The service is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the family. Outreach work will include observation, assessment and feedback to both the family and allocated social worker.

We are available to work weekends and evenings.

Moonreach will plan and organize relevant workshops in accordance with the families needs. Outreach reports will be promptly submitted to the allocated social worker.

Community outreach is appropriate where there are concerns regarding the parents abilities to meet all of the needs of their child, where it is felt that extended support is required or gaps in the knowledge the parent has.

Please contact us for further information.

Fern Cowie
Registered Manager for Concordia House and Monica House
Tel. 0797 039 7169

Kerri Eilertsen-Feeney
Registered Provider for Concordia House and Monica House
Tel. 0780 777 7271