Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 1 Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited

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Registered provider: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides support and accommodation for looked after children, care leavers and young adults. At the time of the registration, the provider had two properties offering shared-living accommodation for up to five children.

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provider

Since registration, the provider has expanded the service and has six shared-living homes for up to 12 children.

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provider

This monitoring visit was unannounced. The inspector spoke with one child and visited two premises

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit focused on leaders and managers’ oversight of the homes, children’s welfare, and the suitability of the premises.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s experiences of living in the homes varies. One child had a poor experience, which impeded their opportunity to engage with staff and make progress. Another child said that they appreciate the support they receive from staff and felt that they have helped them.

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This monitoring visit

The nominated individual, who is also the registered service manager, has not had oversight of all children’s plans to ensure that children’s needs are met. Children’s Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 2 support plans and risk assessments are inconsistent and lack critical information to guide staff responses to children’s known and emerging risks. The staff do not consistently implement the children’s plans.

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This monitoring visit

Staff training to manage a child’s health needs is not specific to the child. Training in regard to a child’s seizure activity is generic and not specific to the type of seizures experienced. In addition, the child’s safety plan and support plan give differing guidance. While the child has not had seizure activity while living in the home, there is a risk that staff would not follow the correct procedures if this should occur.

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This monitoring visit

A senior staff member with significant responsibility has not had formal supervision. While they have regular communication with the registered service manager this is not recorded to evidence the decision-making and their development needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers failed to intervene to prevent a child going missing from home. Furthermore, actions taken once the child had gone missing from home were poor. They did not follow professional advice to attempt to locate and engage with the child to return them home. This does not demonstrate to the child that their safety and well-being is prioritised.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not notified the regulator about the escalating missing-from-home episodes. This has prevented the regulator from conducting its functions and having an accurate understanding of the service provided.

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This monitoring visit

Complaints are not always dealt with effectively. On one occasion, managers failed to recognise concerns raised by professionals as a complaint. This was a missed opportunity to respond to the complaint formally and follow the complaints policy to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding incidents are not always responded to effectively. Records of a safeguarding investigation and actions taken by leaders and managers were not available for scrutiny. However, in another example, they dealt with a safeguarding allegation according to safeguarding procedures.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s accommodation is not consistently maintained to a high standard. In one home, repairs are not addressed in a timely manner. One child’s bedroom deteriorated to an inhabitable state and staff failed to intervene to provide support. The other home visited is a more homely environment.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers’ lack of oversight of the homes has meant that they do not deliver the ethos set out in the service’s statement of purpose. This has led to poor outcomes and unsafe situations for some children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, three compliance notices have been issued. Ofsted will continue to monitor the notices. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 3

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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 well-being 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

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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

(Regulation 4 (1) (2) (a)(b)(c)(g)) 14 September

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Requirement Due date

*The accommodation standard is 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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

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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; 14 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 4 are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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.

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(f)) 14 September

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints and representations made by or on behalf of children. 14 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 5 The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Logistics House, 1 Horsley Road, Northampton, NN2 6LJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Tackler Tinoengana

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Tackler Tinoengana

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: tackler@ashvicqualitycare.co.uk

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Ashvic 24/7 Quality Care Services 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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