Rubi Living Ltd.

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living Ltd 1 Rubi Living Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service. The service can accommodate up to seven 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. At the time of the visit, 20 children and 18 young people aged 18 and over were being supported.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2023.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 5 December 2024 in response to third-party concerns abouts staff’s ability to manage risk and keep children safe. In addition, this information alerted Ofsted to the possibility that the provider was accommodating children who should not be living in supported accommodation. Following the visit, a notice restricting accommodation, to prevent new admissions, was issued. In addition, two compliance notices were issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor compliance with the notice restricting accommodation and to review progress in relation to the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

No children have been admitted since the notice restricting accommodation was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager has reviewed the admissions process. Systems for assessing children’s needs and their suitability to live in supported accommodation, prior to their admission, have been introduced. However, the restriction on admissions means that it is not possible to assess the effectiveness of these procedures. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living Ltd 2 The manager was unable to evidence that there is effective oversight of children’s placements to ensure that supported accommodation remains a suitable placement for them.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have been reviewed. Although there have been some improvements, not all assessments provide an accurate or up-to-date picture of children’s known and emerging needs, risks and vulnerabilities. Also, practices that are not usually necessary for children living in supported accommodation are used as strategies to manage risk, for example, locking away items that could be used to self-harm, dispensing medication and restricting access to mobile phones. Furthermore, children’s support plans have yet to be reviewed.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to notify Ofsted when incidents of concern occur. This prevents Ofsted, as the regulator, from having effective oversight of the service and assessing the risks to children.

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This monitoring visit

Although some progress has been made, Ofsted reissued the two compliance notices following this visit. These will be reviewed at the next visit along with the five requirements and recommendation from the previous visit. The notice restricting accommodation, to prevent new admissions, remains in place. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living 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

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)) 23 February 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

are protected from harm; have their individual needs met. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)) 23 February 2025

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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— 23 February 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living Ltd 4 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. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a))

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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 their individual needs met; ensure that staff—

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe; support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them;

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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)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)) 23 February 2025

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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— 23 February 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living Ltd 5 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

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children;

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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)(ix)(x))

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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; 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; is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 23 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints and representations made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint or representation takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate. 23 February 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living Ltd 6 The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 31 (1) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they effectively supervise the management of all the settings in the service, taking into consideration the breadth, scope and geographical reach of the service being offered. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 50)

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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: Rubi Living Ltd 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Kennedy Sigobodhla

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Kennedy Sigobodhla

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rubi Living 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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