Athena Supported Accommodation (North-East) Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 1 ForeverCare (North-East) Limited

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Registered provider: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited

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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 20 placements in self-contained units that are available for the sole use of one person and are limited to accommodating looked after children and care leavers. On 12 April 2024, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the provider and a notice suspending the registration of the service manager.

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provider

The service manager post has been vacant since 22 May 2024.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 April 2024, the registered service manager notified Ofsted of the death of a child. As required, a safeguarding notification was submitted to Ofsted under Regulation 27 of The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 9 April 2024, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation at this supported accommodation provision while investigations continued, to ensure that no further children were admitted.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 and 12 April 2024, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit and identified significant regulatory shortfalls with regard to the protection of children and leadership and management of the service. Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the provider and a notice suspending the registration of the service manager. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 2 On 16 May 2024, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review the provider’s progress against the regulatory shortfalls identified at the previous monitoring visits. Ofsted concluded that some progress had been made at that time but that the notice restricting accommodation and the notices suspending the registration of the service and the manager would remain in place.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the provider’s progress and compliance with the suspension notices and the restriction notice. The visit included discussions with the nominated individual, the recently appointed new service manager, who is to apply to register with Ofsted, and allocated social workers for children who were previously living at this supported accommodation service. During the visit, inspectors also reviewed the provider’s policies, procedures and improvement action plan.

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This monitoring visit

The provider told Ofsted about the changes that it is making to improve its practice and keep children safe from harm while learning to live independently. This reflects the provider’s intentions as outlined in its development plan. Due to there being no children accommodated at the time of the monitoring visit, Ofsted has been unable to assess the effectiveness of the provider’s actions in practice. As a result, Ofsted will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the service.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has been restructured. The provider has applied to register a second supported accommodation service. This means that the provider’s accommodation will be separated into two geographical areas. The provider has appointed two new managers, who will each be responsible for a geographical area. The new management structure provides a greater level of monitoring and oversight in each region.

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This monitoring visit

Independent monitoring and consultation arrangements are now in place to help managers to identify areas that require further development. An independent person visits the service monthly and undertakes a themed review of the provider’s policy and practice. Managers respond to actions raised by the independent person to improve the service.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have developed a system to assess children’s needs and vulnerabilities before they move into their new home. This will better allow for the analysis and evaluation of information to ensure that staff have suitable skills and experience to meet the needs of the new children. At this time, this new system has not been put into practice.

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This monitoring visit

When children require a support service quickly, the provider could not demonstrate effectively how it will ensure that it has the relevant information that it requires to evaluate the suitability of the service for the child. As a result, Ofsted has requested that the provider does not provide support for children without having the relevant information it requires before the child moves into their new home. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 3 Staff training is now provided and monitored by an external company. Staff will now complete a range of mandatory courses before they begin to support children. An induction programme will help staff learn how to support and keep children safe. When children have additional needs, staff will receive bespoke training to help them understand how to support children safely and effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers undertake relevant training to enable them to carry out their roles. They work with other providers and agencies to learn about and share good practice examples. For example, the local authority designated officer recently visited the service to talk to the senior managers about safeguarding practice in the service. This helps senior managers to develop their skills and understanding and improve the service that they provide to children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not yet reviewed all of the service’s policies and procedures to ensure that these now reflect the changes that they have identified in their action plan. However, they have assured Ofsted that such reviews will be completed quickly.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, Ofsted lifted the notice restricting the accommodation of the service and the notice suspending the registration of the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 4

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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

lead and manage the supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(f)) 17 May 2024

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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

have their individual needs met; 17 May 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 5 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm; and

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(f)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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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

only use devices for monitoring or surveillance in communal areas and then only if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(i)) 17 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe; and

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Requirement Due date

engage and work with the accommodating authority if the registered person has concerns or if the child’s support needs to be changed, including where that change may mean that the child requires more intensive support. 17 May 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 6 (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (5), the registered person must ensure that the supported accommodation undertaking is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 9 (4)) 17 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only be registered as a registered service manager if—

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Requirement Due date

the number of premises used as supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

the geographical scope of the premises used as supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

the supported accommodation undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

the number of children accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking; and

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Requirement Due date

the category or categories of accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking,

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate skills to manage the supported accommodation undertaking effectively. (Regulation 12 (b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 17 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: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Hallgate House, 9 Grange Terrace, Sunderland SR2 7DF

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Inspectors

Beth Forster, Social Care Inspector (lead) Tara Lovatt, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: ForeverCare (North-East) Limited 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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