Alpha Care Service Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 1 Alpha Care Service Ltd Registered provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider operates this supported accommodation service. The provider can accommodate up to 26 individuals in seven shared or group-living homes that are limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, this service was providing supported accommodation for 12 individuals, 10 of them children aged 16 or 17.

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provider

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

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced and started on 2 June 2025. The inspectors were on site from 4 to 6 June 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.

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Outcome

The next inspection will be within approximately three years.

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Summary of findings

Most children enjoy living in their homes and are making progress in their personal development. They have established positive relationships with staff, but these could be improved to ensure that children feel comfortable to share their concerns.

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Summary of findings

Most children are engaged in education or employment. Staff provide guidance to help children develop essential life skills, ensuring they are prepared for adulthood. The service benefits from a stable and experienced staff team.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers advocate for children and actively challenge local authority plans when necessary. Their proactive approach helps secure positive outcomes and tailored support for each child. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The supported accommodation service provides a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive. Homes are maintained to a good standard, ensuring that children live in a comfortable and well-kept space that promotes their well-being. One child wrote, ‘I would like to tell the inspector that i really enjoy living where i am and i love my room and the house, i think the support is amazing as whenever i need help i can just ask for support most of the time.’ [sic]

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team, as this helps them build positive relationships with staff. Some children, however, may require additional support or specialised resources to meet their emotional well-being needs. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the diverse needs of the children in their care, ensuring that cultural and identity needs are met through tailored support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are encouraged to engage in group activities with staff, fostering social skills and integration into the wider community. Recent events, such as a barbecue to celebrate Eid, have provided opportunities for children to connect with others from diverse backgrounds and develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff receive additional training when necessary to enhance their ability to support children with differing needs. Children also benefit from discussions that are tailored to their individual circumstances, ensuring that their specific needs are addressed effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Each month, children receive a life journal that documents their achievements, providing them with a tangible record of their progress towards independence. This initiative helps children reflect on their growth and development, reinforcing their sense of accomplishment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The provider demonstrates a commitment to advocating for children by challenging the placing local authority when concerns arise regarding their plans. Children are supported to develop essential life skills in line with their individual needs, preparing them for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

While support plans are tailored to individual needs, they should more clearly demonstrate that children have been fully consulted and involved in their creation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 3

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How well children are helped and protected

Children in this supported accommodation service benefit from a well-structured and responsive safeguarding approach. The service is well suited to their needs, allowing staff to support them effectively while managing risks appropriately in line with their independence. Feedback from professionals indicates that children are appropriately placed, and the overall impact is positive, even in cases where incidents have occurred. Staff remain committed to supporting the children in their progress despite challenges.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children go missing from the service, incidents are well managed, with appropriate responses. The registered service manager is actively involved in overseeing these situations, ensuring that necessary actions are taken to safeguard children and reduce risks to both the children and members of the community.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of how to manage potential risks involving children. They are familiar with the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures, and this knowledge is reinforced through regular supervision sessions. Staff supervision notes provide evidence that policies and procedures are reviewed across the organisation and incorporated into staff development.

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How well children are helped and protected

Complaints from children are taken seriously, considered carefully and dealt with promptly. Staff maintain clear records of complaints, ensuring transparency and accountability in the resolution process. Where appropriate, staff actively work with children to resolve incidents. Staff keep records of concerns raised by children and the discussions to explore solutions or receive guidance. Additionally, risk assessments are regularly updated to reflect emerging concerns and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to mitigate risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

Safeguarding incidents have been managed appropriately by leaders. The provider has also made use of external resources and specialist professionals when needed to help reduce risks. This proactive approach ensures that children receive the necessary support and intervention to address concerns effectively.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children who are new to the country are supported to register with universal health services. Staff make sure that children receive access to health services quickly when they arrive in the country. When children have health concerns, prompt action is taken by staff to address them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers demonstrate good oversight of the service and maintain an active and consistent presence in the homes. The provider ensures that all leaders receive regular supervision, supporting their ability to guide staff effectively and maintain high standards of support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager is deeply involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation, providing clear guidance and support to staff, particularly in Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 4 challenging situations. Their hands-on approach ensures that staff feel confident in managing complex issues and delivering high-quality support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say they feel well supported by leaders and managers, with regular supervision and access to relevant training. Additional training opportunities, such as information on global developmental delay, eating disorders, and trauma experienced by asylum- seeking children, are available and documented in the training matrix. This commitment to professional development enhances staff knowledge and equips them to meet the diverse needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is passionate about improving outcomes for children and has actively worked to implement positive changes within the organisation. Their openness to continuous improvement ensures that practice evolves to better support children’s well-being and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Professionals involved in the lives of the children report that the registered service manager is a positive presence in the home. They acknowledge the manager’s dedication to supporting children and appreciate their proactive communication, ensuring that all relevant parties remain informed about significant events and developments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager has completed a quality-of-service review in the expected time frame. However, the report did not sufficiently showcase the collaborative work undertaken with children or include enough of their feedback, particularly regarding support and preparation for transition to independence. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should 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. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 32)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of support provided by the service and the experiences of children living in each of the provider’s settings, looking at the impact the support is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The review must be robust and must consider feedback and evidence from all settings under the provider’s registration. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 62)

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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: Alpha Care Service Ltd 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Unit D, 17 Plumbers Row, London E1 1EQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Carly Desmond

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: Jon@alphacareservice.co.uk

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Inspector

Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Alpha Care Service Ltd 7 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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