Prefer Homes Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 1 Prefer Homes Ltd Registered provider: Prefer Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider. The service can accommodate up to 17 children in two shared-living premises which are not limited to looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, the service was providing support for eight children aged 16 and 17.

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provider

The manager, who is also the nominated individual, has been registered with Ofsted since the organisation was registered in July 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 12 May 2025 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 14 to 16 May 2025.

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Outcome

Serious or widespread weaknesses lead to significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. Leaders and managers must take urgent action to address failings. The next inspection will be within approximately six months.

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Summary of findings

Admission procedures do not enable leaders and managers to understand the needs or vulnerabilities of children. This leads to children being admitted to the service whose needs are beyond the scope of supported accommodation. Additionally, for these children, staff do not have the skills or the training to meet their complex needs or to keep them safe.

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Summary of findings

When children raise concerns about staff’s conduct, staff and managers do not take appropriate action in line with the provider’s allegation management procedures. This leaves children at unnecessary and prolonged risk of harm. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 2 The manager and staff lack awareness about children’s progress, patterns and trends of behaviour and serious incidents. This limits staff’s ability to provide meaningful support. As a result, children’s progress is limited.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s experiences and progress while living in this service vary greatly. When children move into the service with high and increasing levels of independence they make good progress. However, the manager admits children whose needs and vulnerabilities are beyond the scope of supported accommodation. For these children, their progress is limited and their experiences are poor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The manager does not ensure that staff have sufficient information about children’s past experiences to ensure that they understand children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s support plans lack relevant information about their current circumstances and how staff should provide meaningful support. As a result, staff do not understand how children’s past experiences may influence their behaviour or vulnerabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are not consistently provided with opportunities to co-design their support plans. This hinders their engagement in support sessions to develop their life skills and independent living skills. Additionally, children’s development plans and goals are not individualised to their needs. This limits children’s opportunities to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff understand children’s cultural and linguistic needs. For children whose first language is not English, staff use a range of methods to ensure they can communicate with children effectively. Places of worship are identified in the local area and children who wish to attend are supported by staff. This helps children to develop relationships with their cultural communities. Equally, children are supported to learn about British culture.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children said that they have positive experiences when they arrive at their new home. Staff take time to welcome them and show them around the home and the local area. They have opportunities to meet the staff team and the other children living in the service. Children said that this helps them to settle in quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s accommodation is well maintained. It provides a homely environment where children are encouraged to take ownership of their personal space.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not understand safeguarding procedures. Their lack of management oversight of safeguarding and child protection concerns places children at risk of harm. For example, when children and staff raised concerns about a member of staff’s conduct and practice, the manager did not follow allegation management procedures. The staff member continued to lone work with children for Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 3 several days before the matter was addressed. The manager’s failure to act places children at prolonged and unnecessary risk of harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children’s needs and vulnerabilities are not sufficiently understood or considered by the manager before their placements are agreed. Consequently, the manager has admitted children to the service whose needs are beyond the scope of supported accommodation. This means that they cannot live safely in this service. For some children, this has resulted in their placements ending suddenly, in an unplanned way.

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How well children are helped and protected

The manager does not sufficiently challenge the placing authority when children’s needs can no longer be met by the service. Her lack of challenge has resulted in children living in the premises for prolonged periods without adequate support arrangements in place to ensure their safety.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children are at risk of harm, the manager and staff do not consistently share information with other agencies. For example, they failed to share information about a member of staff’s conduct towards a child and failed to report a child being missing from home, despite escalating concerns about their physical and mental well-being. The lack of information-sharing does not allow other agencies to take the necessary action to keep children safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Medication storage and administration procedures are not safe. The manager stores and administers medication in a staff toilet. This is unhygienic and requires children to access the staff toilet to receive their medication. The manager has failed to develop a plan of support to help children learn how to manage their own medication safely. Additionally, medication designed to be administered when children overdose on illegal substances is not stored safely and can be accessed by children who are known to misuse substances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager does not operate the service in line with the statement of purpose, relevant regulations or statutory guidance. They do not ensure that the organisation’s policies and procedures are carried out and reflected in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Recruitment procedures do not ensure that employees are safe or suitable to work with children. For example, references are not consistently verbally verified, despite information in one member of staff’s references indicating concerns about their practice. The registered service manager’s lack of professional curiosity has led to staff being employed who have subsequently placed children at risk of harm. Furthermore, the manager has appointed two siblings. She permitted one to carry out recruitment checks on the other and appointed them to the role of mentor. The manager has failed to consider the risk of a closed culture developing in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager does not ensure that staff have suitable skills and experience to carry out their roles. For example, an apprentice who is the same age as the children living in the premises has been employed. On several occasions, they Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 4 have lone worked in a premises where a number of children live. Their lack of skills and experience to provide support for children with complex needs is concerning and demonstrates the manager’s lack of understanding and consideration of safeguarding children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The service’s monitoring system is ineffective. Monthly monitoring is undertaken by support staff who lack the skills, understanding or authority to carry out the task to good effect. The monitoring system does not provide the registered service manager with an overarching understanding of children’s progress, patterns of behaviour or significant events. As a result, the manager does not identify areas for development or take adequate action to address shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager does not notify Ofsted of serious incidents. Several serious incidents have occurred, including two children taking away and driving a vehicle and one child being exploited by an organised criminal gang. As a result of the failure to send notifications, Ofsted cannot assess the effectiveness of the manager’s actions in response to serious incidents to keep children safe from harm. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 5

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

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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(1);

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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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(h)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the service is operated in line with the statement of purpose and only admit children who are ready to develop further skills in preparation for adult living. They must ensure that they seek information about each child’s circumstances, vulnerabilities 3 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 6 and areas of need before agreeing children’s placements. The registered person must provide and implement training to ensure that staff understand the needs of children and have the skills to help children with their individual needs.

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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

prepare and implement child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the effectiveness of child protection policies is kept under review and ensure that, where appropriate, those policies are revised;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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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. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b)(c)(f)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they implement the child protection policy, specifically, the allegation management procedures. They must ensure that all staff are aware of the internal and external reporting procedures they must follow in the event of an allegation of abuse towards a child. 3 July 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. 4 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 7 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 for the supervision, training and development of staff;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation, including—

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Requirement Due date

where relevant, their entitlements as a looked after child. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(g)(h)(iii))

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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

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(f)(vi)) 4 July 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 children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates;

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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; 4 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 8 ensure that processes are in place to enable children to access support from other organisations and community services, such that they are encouraged and enabled to access a range of services, including those offered by advocacy organisations and training providers;

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Requirement Due date

in the event that the registered person or a member of staff considers that an accommodating authority or a relevant person is failing to provide the support set out in a child’s relevant plans, make representations, or, as the case may be, enable staff to make representations, to the accommodating authority or relevant person with a view to ensuring that the child’s needs are met;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to access education, training or employment. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(g)(h)(k)(m))

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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; 4 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 9 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;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") in relation to each child accommodated by the su pported accommodation undertaking which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2,

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure a copy of plans and reports from the placing authority or other agencies involved in supporting children are held on record. They must ensure that children’s support is provided in line with the placing authority’s agreed plans. 4 July 2025

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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, or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work for the supported accommodation undertaking in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work for the supported accommodation undertaking, 4 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 10 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, and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at premises used as supported accommodation and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that apprentice workers have a job description that reflects responsibilities which are in line with their experience and skills.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 11

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Prefer Homes Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Sharon Taylor

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Inspector

Beth Forster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Prefer Homes Ltd 12 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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