RIGHT - STEP LIMITED

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 1 RIGHT - STEP LIMITED Registered provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is operated by a private provider in North West England. The provider can accommodate up to nine individuals in self-contained units where the accommodation is for the sole use of one person.

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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 service manager, who is also the sole director and nominated individual, registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 2 June 2025 and started that day. The inspectors were on site on 4 and 5 January 2025.

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Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be within approximately three years.

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Summary of findings

Children enjoy living in their own self-contained flats. A member of staff is always available by telephone or in person in the same apartment block.

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Summary of findings

Staff spend time with children completing learning sessions and activities. Children have good relationships with staff and can trust them.

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Summary of findings

The registered person supports children with the skills they need for independence in adulthood. Staff complete assessments with children to identify what they need help with. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 2 Children take a lead role in their support plans. This gives children responsibility to learn the skills needed for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children say that the help they receive is excellent. The registered person ensures that children are given every opportunity to contribute to their plan of support. Staff talk to children about their wishes and feelings and children give feedback about the service provided. One child said: ‘It’s so good here, it is better than all the other places I have lived in. I don’t want to leave!’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are asked about their support and their goals, and their suggestions for service improvement. The registered person ensures that children are listened to, and that their requests are acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in comfortable self-contained flats, which are individualised to their taste. They access a shared lounge downstairs if they want to seek company. Children also have keys to their flats and to the building, and staff teach children to look after their flats and respect their neighbours. Children receive verbal warnings if their behaviour affects others. This prepares children to maintain their own tenancy in future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Several children are separated from their families and country of origin. Staff have a variety of resources to help children understand spoken English. This includes online translation applications, workbooks and picture cards. Staff identified that one child had some learning needs, in addition to speaking English as an additional language. Staff helped the child to access specialist services, and they continue to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff recognise that children have experienced trauma and its impact on their health and well-being. For example, one child did not feel ready for counselling; however, they now engage with a health support agency that promotes children’s well-being and sleep routines. Staff also listen to children and encourage them to share their experiences with others in similar situations. Children have help at a time which is right for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The registered person ensures that children’s education, employment and training are prioritised. Staff support children with applications for college courses and jobs. Children’s college attendance is monitored through communication with tutors and staff talk to children about their aspirations and provide encouragement. Children know that if they have a problem at college, staff can help them to find a solution. Children do not give up easily and this means that they improve their prospects.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children say that they know how to complain if they have any problems with their support or the accommodation. The complaints policy is detailed in the children’s welcome guide. However, it is not clear who to complain to if the concern relates to the registered person. This undermines confidence in the procedure. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 3

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered person completes risk assessments prior to children moving into the accommodation. Staff ask children about any vulnerabilities they may have and how they feel they will manage risks. For example, for one child, staff explored the potential impact of their substance misuse on moving into the accommodation and motivated them to reduce their substance misuse. They also included the child in their support review.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff form trusting relationships with children and this means that children rarely go missing from their homes. Staff are curious about children’s whereabouts and their social networks. When children are missing from home, staff follow missing person protocols with the local authority and police and children are offered return interviews. As a result, children feel that they are cared about.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff are vigilant to the signs of exploitation in children. They work with their safeguarding partners to deliver plans to mitigate risks to children in the community. One social worker said: ‘Staff give [name of child] the independence they need living in their own flat, whilst supporting them to be safe, as they are at real risk of criminal exploitation.’

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff keep children safe when there are serious incidents within the home. Staff follow safeguarding procedures and ensure that accommodating local authorities are informed. However, the registered person does not inform Ofsted when there is a serious incident. This reduces the oversight of the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person is a committed worker who is child centred in their practice. They advocate for children and prioritise their well-being and ensure that children have access to all their rights and entitlements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers challenge other agencies to ensure that support provided is in children’s best interests. One social worker said: ‘I have specifically chosen the placement for [child’s name] because of the manager’s knowledge and advocacy of children seeking asylum through the immigration system.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision from the registered person. The registered person ensures that staff understand children’s needs and reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have access to training which enables them to provide specific support for the children’s individual needs. Staff also have yearly appraisals of their performance. The registered person will address any practice issues to improve performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person ensures that children are appropriately placed within supported accommodation. They have oversight of the admissions process. They request enough information to make informed decisions about accepting referrals for Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 4 children. As a result, children are ready to progress their independence when they arrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person is available for children and staff at any time. A member of staff said: ‘We are told to ring them, even when they are on leave.’ There are currently no alternative arrangements for management support in the absence of the service manager. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 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 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)(i)(ii)(e)(f)) 4 July 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have alternative arrangements in place to maintain effective oversight when the registered service manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 47)  The registered person should ensure that people who are the subject of a complaint are not involved in investigating that complaint. Complainants should be assured of impartiality when making a complaint about the provider. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 61)

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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: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Claudia Simpson

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: RIGHT - STEP LIMITED 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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