BetterOasis Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 1 BetterOasis Limited

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Registered provider: BetterOasis Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

BetterOasis Limited registered with Ofsted on 24 April 2024. It provides supported accommodation in a shared or group living situation for looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

The same person holds the roles of registered service manager and nominated individual.

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provider

At the time of registration, the provider had eight properties that could support 27 children.

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provider

This visit was announced approximately one hour in advance. On the day of the visit, the provider had 12 properties that could support 36 children. There are 16 children from two different local authorities placed with this provider.

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provider

The inspectors visited two properties and spoke to the nominated individual/registered service manager.

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This monitoring visit

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

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This monitoring visit

The visit focused on the effectiveness of leadership and management and if the organisation is operating outside of the scope of The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager/nominated individual has failed to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place to make certain that only children who require support are accepted. This means that at least four children have received care and Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 2 not support. This includes one child who was subject to a deprivation of liberty order and young people who have very high care needs and require one-to-one and sometimes two-to-one support.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager/nominated individual did not ensure that there was a suitable person in charge to manage the provision in their absence. The manager who was left in charge did not notify Ofsted of a serious incident involving a young person being seriously harmed in the community. Plans made following the incident did not provide the necessary level of protection for the young person until there was intervention from the local police to reduce the possibility of further harm.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager/nominated individual has failed to ensure that staff have the necessary experience and skills to support the children. In addition, the registered service manager/nominated individual has failed to provide staff with adequate guidance on how best to support children who are at risk of exploitation and drug misuse as the children’s risk assessments are poor. These do not include sufficient information about the children or provide adequate information about how the staff should support the child.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager/nominated individual does not ensure or provide sufficient management oversight of the service. He has failed to make sure that there is an effective system in place to ensure that safer recruitment practices are followed. This is necessary to ensure that safe support is provided for the children in the provision. Lack of management oversight means that the quality of support for children and staff has diminished.

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This monitoring visit

The supported accommodation is spread across a large geographical area. The lack of suitable leadership has resulted in the staff not receiving the support they need to carry out their duties effectively. Staff report only having met managers online even though they were still in their induction phase having recently joined the company.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager/nominated individual has failed to notify Ofsted, as required, when they have added new premises to their registration. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(c)(e)(f)) 28 February 2025

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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; and 28 February 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 4 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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,

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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. (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 28 February 2025

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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 February 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 5 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)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the supported accommodation undertaking. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)) 28 February 2025

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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: BetterOasis Limited 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: BetterOasis Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Tapiwa Kundoro

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Inspectors

Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Alli Tandy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: BetterOasis Limited 7 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

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

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