Flexi First Class Care Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 1 Flexi First Class Care Ltd Registered provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

A private provider operates this supported accommodation service. The provider can accommodate up to 16 individuals in six shared or group living homes that are limited to accommodating looked after children and care leavers.

p.1

provider

At the time of the inspection, the service provided supported accommodation for 13 children aged 16 to 17 years old.

p.1

provider

The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual, registered with Ofsted when the organisation was registered in January 2024.

p.1

provider

Inspection dates: The inspection began on 18 November 2024, when we announced the inspection. The inspector was on site from 20 to 22 November 2024.

p.1

Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children’s outcomes are not always positive. While some children are achieving well, others are not in education, training or employment and staff do not understand their needs and risks.

p.1

Summary of findings

Some children are not always safe. This is because staff do not ensure that their support plans and risk assessments are up to date. Some staff are not familiar with these documents or adequately trained to support children.

p.1

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not monitor the service effectively, to ensure that staff are providing safe and good quality support to children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children do not always make progress or have a range of positive experiences. Outcomes for some children have deteriorated since they moved in. For example, one child had a part-time job and was in education when they moved in, but now they have neither and spend much of their time gaming.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff do not take effective action to help all children to engage in education, training or employment and are not always ambitious for children. When children are self- motivated, they are able to make progress in their lives. However, when children are more reliant on staff to motivate them, staff do not recognise this need. Consequently, there are occasions when children miss important appointments to access the services that they need.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children do not always receive the help they need to build trusting and secure relationships with staff. Staff do not always take the time to get to know children individually, listen to them and understand their interests or cultural needs and preferences. This impacts on the quality of these relationships.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children, particularly those who do not have English as a first language, are not always supported to actively participate in decisions about their lives. Children are not actively encouraged to involve an independent advocate. While staff support children to communicate in English and to develop their English language skills, important information is not always communicated in a language they understand. This means that some children do not always understand their rights and entitlements.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Plans for children, including move-on plans, are not always effective, and positive endings are not consistently promoted. Some children move on from the service with no plan in place, and staff do not know children’s new addresses. This means endings can be abrupt and children are not well prepared or equipped for the next stage of their lives.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children do make progress. For example, one child is making good progress in their education, English language skills and independent travel. Another child described a staff member as ‘a second mum to me’, explaining how they have been able to speak to this staff member about personal issues and that this helped them to feel better and more secure.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are in good health. Staff support them to manage their own health needs by registering with appropriate health care services.

p.2

How well children are helped and protected

Some children are not always protected from harm. There is not a strong or positive approach from staff to keep them safe. For example, when children are known to be Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 3 at high risk of exploitation, staff are not always professionally curious about their whereabouts. This potentially leaves children at risk of harm.

p.2

How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not consistently ensure the safe admission of children into the service. One child was placed in a shared placement in an emergency with no assessment of their support needs or risks. There was no assessment of the impact on the child who was already living at the address. This placed the child and other children living at the premises at risk. The child no longer lives at this accommodation following seven days in the placement.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Some staff do not understand risks to children’s safety, and not all children have suitable risk assessments in place. When risk assessments are available, staff are not always familiar with these and do not always follow them, for example the risk assessment for one child identified then as being at risk of exploitation. The staff member supporting this child was not aware of this and was not following the support plan in place. This left the child at continued risk of harm.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager has not notified Ofsted of all serious events. These events include a child being assaulted, allegations against children and an injury to a child requiring hospital treatment. When serious incidents occur, these are poorly recorded, and leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of progress and outcomes. Action plans put in place to address concerns are not clearly communicated to staff who work with children and therefore are not consistently implemented. The safety of other children is not always considered, and leaders and managers do not effectively communicate with partner agencies.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Most children report that they feel settled and can identify a trusted member of staff to speak to if they are concerned about their safety.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children’s accommodation is safe and provides them with a secure and well- maintained environment. Improvements to the premises have ensured that these are homely and welcoming places for children to live in. Children said that they like their accommodation and feel comfortable in their homes.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not monitor the service effectively. They have failed to identify shortfalls that impact on children’s safety, well-being and experiences. For example, the registered service manager accepted an emergency referral without suitably assessing the child’s needs and risks. This places children at risk of harm because leaders and managers do not know or understand children’s individual needs or risks to their safety.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not adequately assess the quality of the service, children’s progress or staff practice. Current monitoring systems do not support leaders and managers to identify areas for development or to take timely action to address shortfalls. Consequently, children’s experiences are not consistently positive. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 4 Leaders and managers do not ensure that all children’s support plans comprehensively address their needs. For example, the support plans for some children are not regularly updated. Some support plans identify that children are not making progress or achieving their goals, but there are no effective steps identified to support them. Case records do not always reflect children’s lives clearly or the work that is carried out with them. For example, there are no records to show that leaders and the manager escalate concerns about children’s safety to their social

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

workers. This means staff do not know the support needs, plans and risks for children, and some children receive inconsistent or poor quality support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not challenge effectively when they are concerned that placing authorities are not making decisions in children’s best interests. This means children may be left without appropriate support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are not always suitably vetted to ensure that they are deemed safe to work with children. The registered service manager does not consistently adhere to safer recruitment procedures and there are gaps in the recruitment records for some staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers and staff receive supervision, but it is not always effective. For example, some newer staff have still not completed the relevant training needed to equip them with skills to support children, despite this being identified in more than one supervision session. Training, development and induction activities are not effective, and leaders have not recognised or acted on this. Furthermore, the workforce plan is not effective as it does not include a process for managing and addressing poor performance and is not used as a tool to support leaders in their management and oversight of the service.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not ensure that children placed in their supported accommodation are suitable for the category of supported accommodation that they are registered to provide. For example, the registered service manager recently agreed the placement of a child outside of this category of registration. Additionally, leaders and managers have failed to keep the statement of purpose under review and up to date as required.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not learn from experience to improve services for children. Opportunities to gather feedback from children, professionals or other stakeholders are missed, and there are no development plans in place. The registered service manager completed a quality of support review, but this did not identify areas for development and it has not been used as a tool to bring about improvement for children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that a workforce plan (see regulation 10) for the supported accommodation undertaking is in place. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(j)) 27 January 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met. 27 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

p.6

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;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) (f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates; 27 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 7 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;

p.6

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that processes are in place to enable children to access support from other organisations and community services, such that they are encouraged and enabled to access a range of services, including those offered by advocacy organisations and training providers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

in the event that the registered person or a member of staff considers that an accommodating authority or a relevant person is failing to provide the support set out in a child’s relevant plans, make representations, or, as the case may be, enable staff to make representations, to the accommodating authority or relevant person with a view to ensuring that the child’s needs are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that an adequate level of support is available to the child to assist with the transition out of supported accommodation. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(h)(k)(l))

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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)(f)) 27 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 8 The registered person must maintain records ("case records") in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2,

p.8

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 27 January 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and

p.8

Requirement Due date

notify the CIECSS of any revisions and send the CIECSS a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

p.8

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 (3)(a)(b) (4)) 27 January 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review ("a quality of support review") at least once every six months, which must take into account—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received;

p.8

Requirement Due date

feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child’s life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

p.8

Requirement Due date

feedback from each child’s accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons;

p.8

Requirement Due date

any relevant research and developments in relation to the way in which the needs of children are best met.

p.8

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of support review, the registered person must produce a written report setting out the actions 27 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 9 the registered person intends to take as a result of that quality of support review. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan ("the workforce plan") which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance; (Regulation 10 (1)(b)(c)(d) 27 January 2025

p.9

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 10

p.9

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd

p.10

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Pennine 5 421 Spaces, Tenter Street, Sheffield S1 2EA

p.10

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Lucy Taviringana

p.10

Inspector

Tara Lovatt, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Flexi First Class Care Ltd 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11