Signature Aftercare Ltd.

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Signature Aftercare Ltd 1 Signature Aftercare Ltd

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Registered provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider in the northwest of England. They can accommodate one individual in a self-contained unit where the accommodation is for the sole use of one person, and up to 12 individuals in three shared or group-living homes that are not limited to accommodating looked- after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, six individuals were being accommodated. All six were looked-after children aged 16 or 17.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since the organisation was registered in May 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Following a full inspection, which took place on 16 October 2024, Ofsted issued a compliance notice under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000 due to the provider delivering care for a child which was outside the registration conditions of supported accommodation. This related to regulation 7, the support standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the progress made by the provider to meet the steps set out in the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have collaborated with one child’s local authority to find alternative accommodation for them, as staff could not keep them safe. Regular care planning meetings have been held to support the child to move to a suitable residential setting. Leaders and managers challenged the local authority effectively to ensure that the child had a suitable home to move to. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Signature Aftercare Ltd 2 No children have moved into the accommodation since the compliance notice was served. However, leaders and managers demonstrated that they now have satisfactory arrangements in place to ensure that children are ready for supported accommodation. They have introduced a new system to assess children’s suitability for their service at the point of referral. This enables the service manager to gather sufficient information about the child so they can make an informed decision.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review, it is Ofsted’s view that the provider has successfully met the compliance notice. No further requirements or recommendations have been made from this monitoring visit. Requirements set at the last inspection will be considered at the next full inspection and are restated. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Signature Aftercare 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)) 28 November

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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 allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

is instigated, or 28 November Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Signature Aftercare Ltd 4 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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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)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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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: Signature Aftercare Ltd 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 1st Floor, Cloister House, Riverside, New Bailey Street, Manchester M3 5FS

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Anne-Marie Jacobson

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Emma-Louise Porcu

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Signature Aftercare Ltd 6 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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