Higher Level Care Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 1 Higher Level Care Ltd Registered provider: Higher Level Care 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 managed by a private provider. The service can accommodate up to 58 children and young people, in 12 shared or group-living homes that are limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers. The service can also accommodate up to four children and young people in four single-occupancy homes.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, this service was providing supported accommodation for 10 children.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since the provider was registered 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 from 4 to 6 June 2025.

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Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Ofsted has not been notified when serious incidents have occurred.

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Summary of findings

Many premises need updating and refurbishing to ensure children are living in well- maintained and comfortable home environments.

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Summary of findings

Children’s voices and views are prioritised. They are always consulted about the support they receive. Staff listen to children and support them to achieve their goals. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 2 A consistent team of staff supports children. Many staff have worked for the service for several years, and staff continue to work in the same home, which provides stability for children.

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Summary of findings

Staff ensure that children’s safety is paramount. Staff are trained to identify risks that could affect children. When there are risks to children, staff act quickly to help keep children safe.

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Summary of findings

The nominated individual and registered service manager, who are related, have been operating a supported accommodation service for 30 years. They are experienced in supporting children towards independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff. There is consistency of staffing in each home, and staff take time to get to know the children and encourage them to reach their full potential. Children lead decisions about their lives, at their own pace. This helps them to feel safe and supported in their home. One staff member said the support for each child, ‘is structured and personal, tailored to each young person. It’s not a one size fits all approach.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The diverse staff team respects children’s cultures and unique identities. This is evidenced at the referral stage when considering the most suitable home for each child. Children are encouraged to share the festivals related to their beliefs and cultures, which increases understanding of differences and encourages learning in the homes. Separated migrant children are fully supported by staff at all stages of their journey. One staff member said, ‘We strive to create a family-like atmosphere where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

All children have allocated direct workers who carry out targeted weekly sessions with them. The direct sessions are tailored for each child’s needs. Children are supported in learning practical skills for independent living, and there is also a strong emphasis on helping children develop healthy relationships and self-esteem. One young person commented that the ‘many deep and honest conversations about life’ they had with staff were instrumental in their preparation for independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Although not all children are in education, training or employment, staff actively support children to find courses, apprenticeships or work that is line with their interests and skills. Children access and enjoy a range of social and recreational activities. One child regularly attends a football club that staff helped them join. Staff ensure children know how to use local transport links safely to attend appointments and maintain connections with family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Professionals involved in children’s lives gave extremely positive feedback about the support children receive. They recognise how children benefit from the support and encouragement that staff provide as they gain greater independence. One professional said, ‘I view them as one of our top providers, who we can trust to support our young people and evidence this in their practice.’ Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 3

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How well children are helped and protected

Children say that they feel safe in their homes. They can identify a trusted adult, to talk to about any concerns. One external professional noted that one child, who had a history of non-engagement with professionals, was making positive progress due to the patient way staff interact with them.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children go missing, staff consistently follow the agreed protocols. This includes notifying the police and the child’s placing authority. While some children’s episodes of going missing have significantly reduced, this is not the case for all children. In these circumstances, managers proactively meet with the child’s social worker to agree actions to prevent further escalation.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff receive enhanced safeguarding training in how to keep children safe. This helps them to recognise risks that children could face, such as exploitation and harm. Staff know how to follow procedures to report concerns to keep the children safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers record safeguarding concerns and share these in a timely manner with the children’s social workers, however, they failed to notify the local authority designated officer of a concern. Since the service was registered, leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted of any serious events that have occurred. This prevents Ofsted’s timely oversight of how the provider responds to serious events, for example, allegations made against staff.

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How well children are helped and protected

Managers do not consistently follow their own safer recruitment processes. For example, the quality of interviews and assessment of suitability varies, and references are not always verified or sufficiently explored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and the registered service manager bring a wealth of skills and experience to their roles. They are dedicated individuals who continually strive to provide children with high-quality support to help them gain the skills needed to live independently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and registered service manager know the staff, the children and the service well. They are aware of the shortfalls in the service and are taking action to address them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff turnover is low. Staff say they feel supported by managers. They receive regular supervision which helps them to reflect on their practice. One staff member who recently completed their level 5 certificate in health and social care stated that they ‘had the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally’. Staff speak highly of the vision the leaders and managers have for the service and say this motivates them to support children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 4 Children’s accommodation does not reflect the quality of support they receive from staff. The premises are safe, however, many homes need updating and decorating to create welcoming homes for children. The properties are not well maintained. Leaders and managers’ oversight of the management of the accommodation has been lacking. For example, there is damp in one hallway and kitchens and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

bathrooms have tiles missing and lights are not working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and registered service manager are related, and the registered service manager receives supervision from the nominated individual. This arrangement is unsuitable and does not encourage independent reflection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care 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 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)) 20 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered must ensure 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— 1 August 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 6 ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

promote children’s positive self-esteem and sense of belonging within the local community, and discourage stigmatisation of children;

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Requirement Due date

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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Requirement Due date

are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children from abuse or neglect, and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and cooperation with any local authority which is, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the accommodating authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the premises in which the child is accommodated are located. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)) 1 August 2025

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Recommendations

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 7  The registered person should ensure that recruitment practice demonstrates that managers have sufficiently explored staff suitability and fitness to work with children and that they have the relevant skills, qualifications and recent experience to meet the needs of children. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 16)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the registered service manager, receive supervision of their practice from a suitably skilled and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children accommodated in the setting. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 51)

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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: Higher Level Care Ltd 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Higher Level Care Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: headoffice@higherlevelcare.org

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Inspectors

Julie Cresswell, Social Care Inspector Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Higher Level Care Ltd 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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