SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 1 SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service

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Registered provider: Swift Care First Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and operated by a private provider. The service can accommodate up to six children living in three shared premises, one of which is limited to looked-after children and care leavers. At the time of the visit, one child was being supported.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this monitoring visit in response to concerns raised by the child about staff’s ability to meet their needs and keep him safe. This information indicated that the provider was accommodating a child who should not be living in supported accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

One child has been admitted since the service was registered in October 2024. Leaders and managers did not complete a thorough assessment of the child’s needs before admitting them. This has resulted in the admission of a child with highly complex needs and risks that cannot be met in supported accommodation. These decisions have placed the child and staff at unnecessary risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Since the child was admitted, there have been several incidents of concern, including allegations and threatening behaviour towards staff and the registered service manager. Not all concerns have been managed effectively, including a failure to refer to external safeguarding agencies and professionals, such as the local authority designated officer (LADO). This does not adequately protect children or staff. In Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 2 addition, leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted about these incidents and allegations. This prevents Ofsted from having effective regulatory oversight of the service and assessing risks to children.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, the child was being supported by agency staff without any quality oversight from the registered service manager. This is because it was unsuitable or unsafe for core staff and the registered service manager to work with the child because of the nature of incidents and allegations.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are not provided with a full and complete picture of the child’s complex needs, risk and behaviours because the child’s support plans and risk management plans lack key information and are not kept up to date. As a result, the child’s individual needs are not understood by staff. This has resulted in a failure to put in place effective measures to support the child, which has resulted in an increase in challenging behaviour and risk. For example, at the time of the visit, the child was smoking cannabis in the house without any challenge from staff.

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This monitoring visit

There have been several incidents that have resulted in damage to the premises. Repairs are not always made quickly to ensure that a welcoming and homely environment is maintained. Also, the smoke detector in the child’s bedroom had been covered, suggesting that the child is frequently smoking in his bedroom.

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This monitoring visit

Staff, including the registered service manager, do not receive professional supervision. This is a key component of enabling the registered service manager and staff to reflect on their experiences and make the necessary improvements going forward.

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This monitoring visit

Recognising that this placement is not suitable, the placing authority for the child has put in place additional support measures. These include specialist staff and systems for checking and monitoring the implementation of the child’s support plan until a more suitable placement is found.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, a notice restricting accommodation, to prevent new admissions, was issued. In addition, two compliance notices have been issued. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 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

Specifically, the registered person must review the procedures for managing referrals to ensure that all relevant information is gathered and assessed, and that only children whose needs can be met in supported accommodation are admitted to the service. Furthermore, the registered person should keep each child’s placement under review to ensure that that their individual needs can be met in supported accommodation. 18 May 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— 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 4 ensure that children—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(f)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that child protection procedures are understood and followed by leaders, managers and staff to ensure that all safeguarding concerns and allegations are reported to the relevant safeguarding agencies.

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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;

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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. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s plans provide a detailed picture of each child’s needs, risk and behaviours. These plans should be kept under review and include strategies to meet the child’s individual needs and should be understood and implemented effectively by staff. 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 5 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—

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Requirement Due date

are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

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

comply with all relevant statutory provisions dealing with health and safety or fire safety matters. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vi)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must maintain oversight of all accommodation to ensure that repairs and matters of fire safety are addressed quickly, and that children live in a welcoming, homely and safe environment. 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.

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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 work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(g)) 18 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have the opportunity for regular supervision to ensure that they are working effectively to meet the needs of children.

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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

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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(b)(c)(f)) 18 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are 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/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: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Swift Care First Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 399 Silbury Boulevard, Suite G18, Milton Keynes MK9 2AH

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Karen Karpuz

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Inspector

Virginia Vickers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: SwiftCF Supported Accommodation Service 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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