iAspire Care Services Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 1 iAspire Care Services Limited Registered provider: iAspire Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service. The service can accommodate up to six children living in solo accommodation and up to 42 children living in six shared premises that are limited to looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 24 children were being supported.

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provider

The service registered in February 2025. Since the provider’s registration, there has a been a change in nominated individual and registered service manager. A new proposed nominated individual and a new proposed registered service manager have been in post since the 30 June 2025.

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Inspection dates: 28 July to 1 August 2025

The inspection was announced on 28 July and started the same day. The inspectors were on site from 30 July to 01 August 2025.

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Outcome

Serious or widespread weaknesses lead to significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. Leaders and managers must take urgent action to address failings. The next inspection will be within approximately six months.

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Summary of findings

For many months leaders and managers have not had effective oversight of the quality of support children receive, their experiences, progress or the risks to individual children’s safety.

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Summary of findings

Children’s known needs and vulnerabilities are not considered or reflected in their individual support plans or during placement matching considerations. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 2 Staff do not have the skills, experience or understanding to meet children’s support needs.

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Summary of findings

The new leaders and managers are aware of the concerns identified during this inspection. They have created an action plan and are putting in new procedures and ways of working to improve the service and experiences for the children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s support plans are out of date, missing or generic. This means that staff cannot provide children with tailored support to help them with their specific needs or help them progress in developing their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Despite staff efforts, the majority of children are not in education, training or employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff cook with the children, but their progress in developing life skills is limited. Some children do not know who their named support worker is. The system used to track individual children’s progress is not kept up to date. When targeted one-to-one time has been identified to help children to develop their independence skills, there are no records to show what has been achieved. One recorded session with a child described a conversation about a broken plug. This does not demonstrate how children are being suitably prepared for independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s health needs are not prioritised. Staff do not help and support children to attend follow up medical appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The condition of some of the children’s living environment is not acceptable. Complaints received from children about the quality of the environment in some of the premises include alleged vermin infestations. Inspectors found one rodent trap, stained and worn carpets and damage to bedroom walls. Work to improve the quality of children’s accommodation is ongoing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children benefit from social opportunities. This includes birthday parties, group celebrations at Christmas, bowling and group swimming. Some children say they are happy and have positive relationships with staff. However, other children are unhappy. One child said they are not pleased that staff open the children’s personal post.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children do not have confidence that if they raise a complaint it will result in action. Children have complained about the smell of cannabis in their home keeping them awake at night, and other children’s behaviour. One child said, ‘Staff have done nothing to make me feel safe or keep my property safe.’

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not consistently report serious incidents to Ofsted. This means that the Ofsted has no timely oversight of the action staff take to support children’s welfare.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and manager have not considered children’s competing needs, or ensured the staff are equipped with the skills to manage the children’s behaviours. As a result, relationships between some children have been challenging. Some children have engaged in verbal and physical peer-on-peer assaults as the staff’s ability to de- escalate these situations is ineffective. The police have been called to help manage Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 4 some of these incidents, and some children have stepped in to help to separate and calm their peers.

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How well children are helped and protected

Risks to children are not always managed well. Staff do not have the information and knowledge they require to identify and safely manage risk. Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff understand, and record children’s known or emerging risks. When children’s risks increase, staff fail to show appropriate professional ,u curiosity. This has left a vulnerable child working at an unknown address.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not keep a comprehensive record of complaints from children or others. The failure to record all complaints means that managers and staff could not speak to any action that may have been taken in response.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the staff have the skills and knowledge to manage the individual children’s known and emerging needs. There is a lack of support for children out of hours. This has resulted in one child walking home from hospital in the early hours of the morning, and another child being put in a taxi to go to hospital unaccompanied.

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How well children are helped and protected

Inspectors found evidence that not all staff have completed the provider’s mandatory training. The provider sought to clarify that their training provider ‘systems’ were not accurate and that all staff had completed the required training. Inspectors were unable to confirm this during the inspection.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children frequently go missing. Staff follow the correct protocol to report and share information with other agencies. Staff encourage children to remain in touch while they are away. Staff work closely with children’s family and friends to confirm the children’s location before the child returns home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since registration there has been a significant change to the operation, leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The newly appointed proposed registered service manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not sufficiently monitor or audit the quality of the service that they are providing for children. Leaders, managers and staff do not routinely update required documents. This limits the written information available. During the inspection, staff were unable to locate all the children’s records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose requires an update. The provider has a workforce development plan. However, the timescales for staff supervision sessions are not met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say that communication from leaders and manager is poor. Some staff report low morale with limited opportunities to meet with leaders and managers to voice their concerns. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 5 Whilst some professionals report regular communication with support staff, concerns raised by other professionals are not followed up. Home manager’s and staff say they, ‘have no say’ about which children come to live in which home. A manager said that one child placed was not suitable for supported accommodation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The new leaders and managers are aware that there are serious concerns and poor practice within the service. They immediately produced a comprehensive action plan outlining the actions being taken to improve the service and children’s experiences. Leaders and managers say that they are committed to improving the service for children. The proposed nominated individual said she is working to build a, ‘Strong foundation for high-quality, child-centred care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some staff acknowledge the positive changes since the appointment of the proposed nominated individual and proposed registered service manager including the establishment of staff meetings, supervision and training. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 6

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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 protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them; 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 7 understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the staff are trained so they have the skills and knowledge to identify and respond to the needs of children

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Requirement Due date

obtain all the key information relating to children’s needs and risks prior to admission to ensure that they can meet the child’s needs, and keep this under review

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is effective oversight of children’s placements to ensure the supported accommodation remains suitable to meet their needs

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children’s risk assessments are accurate and up to date.

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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; 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 8 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must have a process in place so that Ofsted is notified of all serious events and other notifiable events, and the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers notify Ofsted, without delay, about all serious events involving children who are accommodated at any of their premises.

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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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ensure that children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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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

engage and work with the accommodating authority if the registered person has concerns or if the child’s support needs to be changed, including where that change may mean that the child requires more intensive support;

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Requirement Due date

before a child arrives or upon a child’s arrival, ensure that the child is given a written guide, in an accessible format, containing information about—

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Requirement Due date

the support and accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking; 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 9 what advocacy support or services are available, how the child may access that support or those services, and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy;

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representation in relation to the support and accommodation provided and how any such complaint or representation will be dealt with;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to access education, training or employment. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(j)(i)(ii)(iii)(k)(m))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that every child has an individual support plan and that it is kept up to date, and that children are encouraged to contribute to their support plans.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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; 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 10 are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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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 work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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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 the supported accommodation undertaking has sufficient staff to support and accommodate children safely and effectively;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions;

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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

ensure that staff have the skills necessary to support children to identify, access and receive their entitlements in a way that helps them to learn to identify, access and receive their entitlements independently in the future. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are arrangements in place to consider the competing needs of children before children move into the supported 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 11 accommodation undertaking. The registered person must take into account any impact this may have on children already living in the supported accommodation undertaking and the views of other managers and staff. The registered person must also ensure that there is sufficient out-of-hours staff cover, that staff receive regular supervision sessions and that the staff undertake and complete the provider’s mandatory training.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a behaviour management policy setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the approach to supporting children to maintain a reasonable standard of behaviour that reduces the risk of harm to, and supports the welfare and protection of, children and other individuals;

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Requirement Due date

the expectations of children in relation to their behaviour, what will happen if those expectations are not met, and how the registered person will ensure that children know what those behaviour expectations are;

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the premises providing supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

how the registered person will deal with challenging behaviour, including—

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Requirement Due date

taking a proportionate approach to involving other authorities;

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Requirement Due date

how the registered person will promote the development of positive and respectful relationships between children who are accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking and staff. (Regulation 22 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff are trained and familiar with the provider’s preferred method of challenging behaviour de-escalation, and ensure that all staff have the skills to promote positive behaviour in the premises to support children to develop positive and respectful relationships. 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 12 Workforce plan

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan (“the workforce plan”) which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

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Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

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Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

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Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance;

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Requirement Due date

the process and timescales for supervision and monitoring of staff. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 31 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 31 October 2025

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint or representation takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate. 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 13 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

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal or detriment for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The registered person must provide to the CIECSS upon request a statement containing a summary of any complaints or representations made during the 12 months preceding the date of the request and the action that was taken in response to each complaint or representation. (Regulation 31 (1) (2) (3)(4)(5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they maintain a record of any complaints that are made, and that there is a written record of the actions in response to the complaint, including the response given to the complainant.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the following matters in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

how it ensures that the child’s rights and views are at the centre of the support, service delivery and planning;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to ensure a child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

the positive outcomes the service seeks to achieve for children and its approach to achieving those outcomes;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to support the development of children’s independent living skills, in line with their identified individual needs;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to promote children’s involvement and progress in education, training or employment;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements for and policies on protecting and promoting the mental and physical health needs of children, including medication handling, recording and safekeeping; 31 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 14 anti-discriminatory practices in respect of children and their families;

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Requirement Due date

how it supports the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children;

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Requirement Due date

details of who to contact if a person has a complaint and how that person can access the complaints procedure (see regulation 31); and

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Requirement Due date

details of how a person involved in the support or protection of a child can access the supported accommodation undertaking’s child protection policies. (Regulation 9 (1)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)(o)(p)(q)(r))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose accurately reflects the supported accommodation categories that they provide.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was announced on 28 July 2025, and the inspectors were on site from 30 July 2025 to 1 August 2025. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 15

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: iAspire Care Services Limited

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Inspectors

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Josephine Onwubiko, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 16 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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