Independent Futures (UK) Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 1 Independent Futures

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Registered provider: Independent Futures (UK) Limited

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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. The service can accommodate up to two children living in two shared premises that are limited to looked-after children and care leavers. They share the accommodation with the staff supporting them. The provider operates in northwest England.

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provider

Both the registered service manager and nominated individual have been in post since the provider was registered in May 2024.

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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

Poor decision-making by leaders and managers has resulted in the admission of children who need high levels of support. This is outside of the scope of supported accommodation. When staff have been unable to keep the child safe, managers have not acted swiftly to engage the child’s placing authority in finding a safer, more suitable placement. This has placed the child at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s support plans do not contain all the information necessary to meet the child’s needs and keep them safe. Plans are not updated after serious incidents. This limits the effectiveness of the plans and leaves staff unsure about the best way to support children when they need it most. In addition, children are not involved in developing and agreeing their plans.

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This monitoring visit

Staff complete online training courses as part of their induction to the service. However, needs-led training to help them meet the individual needs of the children they support has not always been made available to them. This includes the misuse Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 2 of alcohol and drugs as well as child exploitation. This limits the ability of staff to provide the best support to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted when serious incidents occur, of which there have been several. This limits Ofsted’s ability to ensure that the provider has taken the necessary actions to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment is not always thorough, for example gathering multiple references containing very limited information from one source and accepting these without seeking further information. This compromises the effectiveness of the recruitment process and does not keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Some essential information for children is not readily available, for example a register of children that have been accommodated. This means that crucial information is not available or is difficult to locate. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they only accommodate children whose needs risks and behaviours can be met in a supported accommodation setting. 18 May 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; 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 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)(a)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s support plans contain meaningful information that is completed in consultation with the child, and that staff understand and implement these plans in support of the child.

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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

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)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted without delay. 18 May 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. 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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 practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive specific training to support the needs of the children they support.

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that appropriate references are sought when employing new staff. 18 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep records of other information relating to the supported accommodation undertaking set out in Schedule 3.

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Requirement Due date

maintain the records in Schedule 3, which may be kept in electronic form;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

A record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child—

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Requirement Due date

the date of the child’s admission to the premises used as supported accommodation,

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the child ceased to be accommodated in the premises, 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 6 the child’s address immediately before being accommodated in the premises,

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Requirement Due date

the child’s address on leaving the premises,

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Requirement Due date

the child’s accommodating authority, and

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Requirement Due date

the statutory provision under which the child is accommodated. (Regulation 25 (1) (2)(a)(b) Schedule 3, (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain a register of all children who have lived in the supported accommodation service.

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and 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: Independent Futures 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Independent Futures (UK) Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Dalton Court, Commercial Road, Darwen BB3 0DG

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Abigail Morrison

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Inspector

Mandy Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Independent Futures 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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