Aden Homes Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 1 Aden Homes Limited Registered provider: Aden Homes Limited

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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 24 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 provided supported accommodation for eight children aged 16 or 17 years old.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2025.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 16 June 2025 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 18 to 20 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

Children living in the provision generally receive consistent care from staff who understand their needs and help them build independence skills for adulthood.

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Summary of findings

Children are encouraged to participate in decisions about their lives, which helps them to reduce risk and improve their independence skills. While children are given a written guide, this does not include information about available advocacy services, limiting their access and knowledge about any entitlement to independent advocacy. The quality of accommodation across the service is variable. While the majority of homes visited were found to be suitable and well-maintained, one property did not meet the expected accommodation standard. The provider has acknowledged this and has a plan in place to address the issues identified. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The children are welcomed into homes where they are encouraged to take an active role in shaping their environment and plans of support. As part of the welcome process, children are supported to personalise their bedrooms, promoting a sense of identity and belonging. However, the quality of accommodation varies. While some homes provide a welcoming and well-maintained environment, this was not consistent across all homes. This can detract from the overall experience and sense of comfort for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The support staff have oversight of the needs of all children in the service. Different methods are used to engage with children and help them meet their agreed targets and develop their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Relationships between staff and children are respectful and warm. Staff adapt their approach to meet children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Healthy living is encouraged through shared meal planning and preparation every Sunday, fostering a sense of community within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff advocate for children’s education and, where appropriate, support alternative pathways such as employment or apprenticeships aligned with the child’s interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Risk assessments, support plans and monthly reports are regularly updated; these help to reflect the child’s journey and progress made in transitioning to independence.

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How well children are helped and protected

More than half the children are living in a home without any other young people. Managers ensure that a support plan is developed with the child and relevant professionals. This allows children to continue to build independence skills while risks are managed.

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How well children are helped and protected

The service manager attends all planning meetings to ensure that children fully understand the nature of the support available and want to live in the home. This proactive involvement helps children feel informed and included in the decision- making process. One social worker highlighted how valuable this was for their young person, as the meeting provided a safe space to express concerns, openly discuss risks and actively contribute to their support plan.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers follow clear safeguarding procedures and ensure that any risk to children’s safety is dealt with immediately by staff. Recruitment practices are safe and clearly documented.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children go missing from home, incidents are managed effectively. Recording for each child provides management with oversight and enables timely interventions. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 3 Where risks are seen to be escalating, the provision will work with other relevant professionals, and plans can be implemented to reduce risk and enhance safety.

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How well children are helped and protected

Complaints and concerns are investigated promptly and thoroughly. When children raise issues, managers take care to understand their perspective and address their dissatisfaction appropriately.

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How well children are helped and protected

Feedback from professionals indicates that children are placed appropriately and are making progress, even when challenges arise. Staff remain committed to supporting children through difficulties, ensuring continuity of care.

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How well children are helped and protected

Where restraint has been necessary, appropriate protocols have been followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are actively present in the service and readily available for children whenever needed. The leaders and managers consistently reinforce the service’s core values to the support workers. These are that the children should feel safe, loved, listened to and respected. This is done through regular supervision, team meetings and team chat forums.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A new registered service manager is implementing positive changes aimed at improving service delivery and the outcomes for children. A key focus has been on developing a flexible support team capable of working across all homes and understanding the diverse needs of children. Most staff have responded positively to this approach, reporting enhanced skills and professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Support staff speak highly of the support they receive from managers. All support staff have completed their mandatory training and are being supported to develop professionally in key areas, such as safeguarding knowledge and report writing. This has improved the quality of the reporting and has been noticed by other professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

While the registered manager benefits from regular supervision and access to professional development opportunities, there is currently no system in place to demonstrate that the nominated individual receives equivalent supervision and appraisal. This limits the provider’s capacity to support continuous improvement across all levels of the service and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A quality-of-service review was completed within the expected time frame. However, the review did not align with the requirements set out in supported accommodation regulations and lacked meaningful feedback from children and key stakeholders. As a result, the review did not provide the necessary depth and structure to give sufficient oversight or to effectively support continuous improvement within the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 4

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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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Recommendations

The registered person should have effective oversight of all the settings, ensuring compliance with the regulations and quality standards. In particular, they2008 and 2009 and rest of 2007  should ensure the home is a nurturing, homely and welcoming environment that meets the needs of children. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 29)  The registered person should produce a young person’s guide. The young person’s guide should help young people to understand: how the young person can access advocacy support or independent advocacy if eligible; and how the young person can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. The registered person should review and update the young person’s guide as necessary, making sure young people are consulted before making any changes. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 43)

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Requirement Due date

undertake, from time to time, such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have the experience and skills necessary to represent the supported accommodation undertaking in its dealings with the CIECSS. (Regulation 11 (7)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the nominated individual does not yet have measures in place for their own development and knowledge of regulations. 31 August 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 5

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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: Aden Homes Limited 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Unit 211, 2 Cromar Way, Chelmsford CM1 2QE

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Abayomi Aisosa Timi

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Inspectors

Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Phyllis Dyer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Aden Homes Limited 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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