Liberty ILS ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Liberty ILS Ltd 1 Liberty ILS Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider. The service provides up to five single occupancy supported accommodation premises that are limited to accommodating looked after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of this monitoring visit, this service provided supported accommodation for five children aged 16 to 17.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 28 March 2024. This was in response to concerns raised about the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the service.

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This monitoring visit

As part of this monitoring visit, the inspector visited three supported accommodation premises. The inspector spoke to one child, three staff members, the registered service manager and the nominated individual.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are aware of and follow safeguarding policies and procedures. They mostly share information with other agencies as required to help to keep children safe. There have been some instances when Ofsted has not been notified of serous events. As a result, Ofsted is unable to fully evaluate the actions of leaders, managers and staff with regard to these incidents. Furthermore, not all staff are aware of external reporting procedures when they have concerns about children’s safety or welfare. This potentially means that children do not receive a consistent approach to keeping them safe. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Liberty ILS Ltd 2 Formal supervision sessions do not provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their work or practice. This is a missed opportunity for managers to consolidate learning from work-based practice and to ensure that all staff are consistently able to

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This monitoring visit

Children live in safe and homely environments. They are invited to personalise their living space. Children are supported to learn how to maintain their home and develop independent living skills for their future.

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This monitoring visit

Children are involved in designing their support plans. Staff consult with children about their wishes, thoughts and feelings. Children’s views are incorporated into their support plans and this helps children to achieve their goals and aspirations.

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This monitoring visit

Risks to children are assessed by managers and shared with the staff. When new risks emerge, managers are responsive to assessing these risks and developing new strategies to support children to stay safe. Equally, when risks to children decrease, this is recognised and celebrated with the child.

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This monitoring visit

When children do not engage with health or social care services, staff encourage and support them through meaningful discussions to learn about their areas of vulnerability. Where necessary, staff help children to access specialist services, such as drug intervention programmes.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers investigate concerns and complaints raised by staff thoroughly. Where necessary, they enlist independent consultants and human resources specialists to ensure that investigations are conducted with rigour and transparency to protect children from harm. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Liberty ILS Ltd 3

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies. (Regulation 5 (2)(f)(i)) 3 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(f)) 3 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 18 (4)(b)) 3 May 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Liberty ILS Ltd 4

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Arms Evertyne House, Quay Road, Blyth NE24 2AS

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Darrell Lewis

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Inspector

Beth Forster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Liberty ILS Ltd 5 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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