The London City Care and Support Services Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited The London City Care and Support Services Limited

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Registered provider: The London City Care and Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The London City Care and Support Services Limited registered with Ofsted on 16 August 2023 to provide non-ring-fenced supported accommodation.

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provider

At the time of registration, the provider had two properties offering supported accommodation for up to 10 children. At the time of this visit, the provider had five properties registered as open, offering supported accommodation for up to 20 children.

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provider

This monitoring visit was announced approximately one hour in advance to the nominated individual. On the day of this visit, six children from five different local authorities were placed with this provider.

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provider

The inspectors visited three properties and spoke to the proposed registered service manager, one house manager, two support workers and two children.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was arranged to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit focused on leadership and management, recruitment processes, staffing levels and the support provided to children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited The managers and leaders do not ensure they have effective oversight of the service.

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This monitoring visit

The managers do not ensure that they have effective oversight of safer recruitment practices. For example, the recently appointed proposed registered service manager was unable to access the provider’s staff recruitment files. A house manager nominated to lead some of the inspection did retrieve some staff recruitment files which did not contain all the required information. The inspector found examples of staff files that did not have full and satisfactory information available in relation to the individual (staff) as required in the Regulations. This means that the provider has employed staff when they do not have complete information about their suitability to work with children. There is no record that staff are appropriately supervised pending receipt of any outstanding recruitment information.

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This monitoring visit

Examples of missing information include no records of employer discussions with staff in relation to criminal convictions as recorded in their Disclosure and Barring Service certificate, last employer references and Disclosure and Barring Service certificates issued after employees had commenced working for the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Support plans for some children were not available. The support plans available were not up to date and did not include relevant information relating to the child’s needs and individual circumstances. This means that staff do not know what the children’s particular needs are and what support they may need.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has not paid staff in full in the previous month. The nominated individual and the proposed registered service manager explained that staff pay shortfalls will be resolved shortly. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the staffing levels are suitable to support the children living in the premises. Staff and children told the inspectors that staff shift patterns have recently changed leading to some shifts not being covered. The children verified this and provided examples of not being able to reach staff when they needed support.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor this provider. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited

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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 the supported accommodation undertaking has sufficient staff to support and accommodate children safely and effectively;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 4 (1)(2)(a)(d)(e)) 19 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (4), the registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual for the purposes of the provision of supported accommodation,

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person is satisfied that the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 19 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited the individual is of integrity and good character,

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that the individual is to perform,

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform, and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work for the purposes of providing supported accommodation or, as the case may be, for the supported accommodation undertaking, despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 1 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of that Schedule are incomplete,

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1,

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional, and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 1, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person. (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (4)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review every member of staff’s recruitment files, to ensure all the required checks have been completed and recorded for those staff currently employed by the organisation, including any explanations for gaps in employment and following up on necessary references. This includes agency staff working in the premises. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited In particular, the registered person must ensure that unless staff have full and satisfactory checks in place, they do not have unsupervised access to children.

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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; (Regulation (7)(1)(2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that each child has an accurate support plan in place that reflects their individual needs, including known risks, and that these support plans are kept up to date and are reflective of the current circumstances for each child. 19 January 2025

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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 24-hour access to help in a crisis or emergency situation; (Regulation (5)(1)(2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are suitable staffing levels in all the premises to help and support children in the event of a crisis or emergency. 19 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited 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: The London City Care and Support Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: The London City Care and Support Services Limited

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Inspectors

Josephine Onwubiko, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: The London City Care and Support Services Limited 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

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