Upwards Care Solutions

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Upwards Care Solutions Upwards Care Solutions

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Registered provider: Upwards Care Solutions Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 97 children in group living homes limited to accommodating looked after children and care leavers across 30 premises.

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provider

At the time of this visit, the provider was accommodating 72 children.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in response to concerns shared with Ofsted regarding the leadership and management of the service and the safety and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager and the staff work closely with other agencies to provide support to children when new risks to their safety emerge. However, information obtained from other agencies is not consistently reflected in children’s support plans and risk assessments. As a result, new or temporary staff joining the team are not aware of information that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. This hinders their ability to take appropriate action to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager carries out an admission assessment before children move into their accommodation. This assessment focuses on the compatibility of children to live together but does not consider the skills, experience or training of the staff team against the needs of the child. Furthermore, the registered service manager has admitted children in an emergency with limited information about their needs. This approach does not ensure that children are suitable to live in a supported accommodation service or that staff can meet their needs. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Upwards Care Solutions Children’s support plans do not contain sufficient information to ensure that staff know how to meet their cultural and linguistic needs. For example, they do not contain information about the child’s place of worship or how their dietary needs can be met. Equally, support plans for children who speak English as an additional

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This monitoring visit

language do not reflect how staff can communicate with them. This does not support children’s progress.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not consistently ensure that children’s confidential information is stored securely. Sensitive information relating to one child was left in the communal lounge. As a result, visitors and other children could access information that is not relevant to them.

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This monitoring visit

Children benefit from regular support sessions. However, these sessions are not always timely and do not consistently focus on children’s individual support needs. For example, one child finds it difficult to maintain their bedroom. Staff identified this during weekly room checks but failed to address this with the child at the time. This is a missed opportunity for children to develop their personal and independence skills.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has not consistently notified Ofsted of serious incidents, including incidents where children are at risk of harm. This has prevented Ofsted from having effective oversight of the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Upwards Care Solutions

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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

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)(f)) 15 December 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

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(f)(i)) 15 December 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— 15 December 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Upwards Care Solutions 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)(c))

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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

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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any other individuals or organisations who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(b)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 15 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place by the supported accommodation undertaking. (Regulation 24 (1) (2)(c)) 15 December 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: Upwards Care Solutions

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Upwards Care Solutions Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Suite 1, Fourth Flood Building 1, Wilson Business Park, Monsall Road, Manchester M40 8WN

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Kadie Winstanley

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Inspector

Beth Forster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Upwards Care Solutions 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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