MEL Supported Living Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd MEL Supported Living Ltd

p.1

Registered provider: MEL Supported Living Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider. The service provides two shared supported accommodation premises that are limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers.

p.1

provider

The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual and director, was registered with Ofsted when the service was registered in January 2024.

p.1

provider

On 13 March 2025, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the provider.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 13 March 2025 to address specific concerns received by Ofsted relating to unsafe recruitment practices. This visit identified significant regulatory shortfalls regarding safer recruitment practices and the leadership and management of the service. Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the provider and two compliance notices. The purpose of this visit was to review the providers compliance with the suspension notice and to assess the progress made against the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children now have alternative accommodation and support arrangements. The provider told Ofsted they have not admitted any new children to the service and are not responsible for the support of any children at any premises address linked to their registration.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Safer recruitment processes and procedures are still not in place. The provider was unable to demonstrate that they have taken sufficient steps to ensure that their recruitment practices met the requirements of the regulations to keep children safe. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd Arrangements for staff to receive suitable induction, training and development were not in place. The provider was unable to demonstrate that their processes are clear and suitable to ensure that staff have the relevant training and development to equip them with the skills needed to safely and effectively meet children’s needs.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A process to ensure the safe and suitable admission of children was not in place. The provider could not demonstrate that they had taken sufficient steps to implement admission arrangements that would ensure children’s needs and risks are suitably assessed at the point of admission. Furthermore, there is no suitable process in place to ensure that children’s needs and risks would be reflected in their support plans, or that these plans would be suitable and appropriate for 16- and 17- year-olds living in supported accommodation.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The additional requirements made at the last inspection were not reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training, and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(g))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that only children suitable for supported accommodation are admitted to the service and that children’s needs are reflected in their support plans. The registered person must also ensure that staff receive suitable induction and training to equip them to meet children’s needs. 30 May 2025

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character 30 May 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd the individual has the experience, qualifications, and skills appropriate for the work that the individual is to perform,

p.3

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)(a)(b)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that processes and procedures are in place for the safe recruitment of all staff. They must also ensure that all staff employed or working for the provider have all the necessary recruitment records in place and are suitable and safe to work with children.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

p.4

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;

p.4

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)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(vi)) 14 April 2025

p.4

Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full 14 April 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan (“the workforce plan”) which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation, and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the process and timescales for supervision and monitoring of staff.

p.5

Requirement Due date

keep the workforce plan under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and

p.5

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the workforce plan available on request to the CIECSS. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) (2)(a)(b) 14 April 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd

p.5

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: MEL Supported Living Ltd

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 3 Mercia Drive, Birmingham, West Midlands B14 6TW

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Bonsinkosi Musimanga

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Bonsinkosi Musimanga

p.6

Inspector

Tara Lovatt, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: MEL Supported Living Ltd 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7