DFD Care And Support Services Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 1 DFD Care and Support Services Limited

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Registered provider: DFD Care and Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this service. The service can accommodate up to two children living in solo accommodation and up to 58 children living in 21 shared premises that are not limited to looked after children and care leavers.

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provider

The registered service manager has been in post since the service registered in February 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this visit after receiving information that raised concerns about the ineffective management of a serious allegation. Ofsted is aware that other agencies, including the police, are carrying out investigations. In addition, this information alerted Ofsted to the possibility that the provider was accommodating children who should not be living in supported accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual, has not ensured that the needs of all the children living here can be met in line with the supported accommodation regulations or the provider’s conditions of registration. It was confirmed during the visit that decisions had been made to admit and accommodate children under the age of 16 and children requiring high levels of supervision and support, including children subject to deprivation of liberty orders. In addition, the registered service manager has failed to inform Ofsted of some of the premises used to accommodate these and other children, choosing to operate unregistered settings. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 2 The registered service manager has failed to take effective action to keep children safe. When made aware of a serious allegation and police investigation relating to a

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This monitoring visit

member of staff, she failed to share this information with safeguarding partners or make enquiries to ascertain the level of concern. This has placed children at potential risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager has failed to keep Ofsted informed when significant incidents involving children have occurred. These include incidents that required police involvement to manage behaviour in the homes, incidents of missing from care linked to possible gang affiliation and children being harmed and requiring hospital treatment. This has prevented Ofsted from having effective oversight of the service.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s plans and risk assessments require improvement. Those reviewed did not provide an accurate or up-to-date picture of children’s known and emerging needs, behaviours, risks and vulnerabilities. These plans do not provide sufficient guidance for staff. This means children’s needs are not met in a planned way when support is needed most. In addition, there is no evidence that staff have tried to engage the children in any meaningful discussion or work to reflect on incidents and reduce risk- taking behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The manager does not ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the needs of children. Training records show that several staff have not completed essential training such as safeguarding children and adults, risk management and first aid. In addition, no staff have completed training in working with children at risk of criminal exploitation or gangs, a known need of one child that was being accommodated at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The premises that the inspector visited are not homely, welcoming or safe. There are restrictors on windows and external doors so that children cannot enter or exit without staff permission. These compromise the children’s ability to be independent and also limit their ability to safely evacuate the building in the event of a fire. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services 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 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 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)(f)) 8 September 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

prepare and implement child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe. 8 September 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 4 (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(b)(f)(i)(iv))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(g)) 8 September 2024

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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

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

comply with all relevant statutory provisions dealing with health and safety or fire safety matters. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(viii)(x)) 8 September 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 8 September 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 5 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. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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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)) 8 September 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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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)(a)(b)(e)(f)) 8 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

the premises of the supported accommodation undertaking are significantly altered or extended, or additional premises are acquired for use as supported accommodation.

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Requirement Due date

If premises are no longer used, or intended to be available for use, as supported accommodation by the supported accommodation undertaking, the registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS no later than 10 working days after the registered person becomes aware of the decision to cease use of the premises. 8 September 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 6 Where additional premises are acquired, commissioned or arranged, or the supported accommodation undertaking intends to acquire, commission or arrange additional premises, and the supported accommodation undertaking intends to provide supported accommodation at those premises, the registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, of the following—

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Requirement Due date

the characteristics of the children for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation at the premises, including the age range, number and sex of the children;

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS within 72 hours of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

accommodating a child for the first time in any premises which were not referred to in the registered person’s application for registration. (Regulation 34 (1)(g) (2) (3)(a)(b) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: DFD Care and Support Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Eunice Nekete

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: DFD Care And Support Services Ltd 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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