Cranmead

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 1 Cranmead Registered provider: Cranmead Ltd

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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. The provider can accommodate up to 49 children living in six shared or group-living premises which are not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers and one in a self-contained unit, where the accommodation is for the sole use of the child.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing support for 35 children aged 16 and 17.

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provider

Both the registered manager and nominated individual have been in their respective roles since the service registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 28 July 2025 and started off site on the same day. The inspectors were on site on 30 and 31 July 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

Children live in clean and welcoming homes. Children and staff jointly keep the homes clean. However, a consistent approach is not followed in the maintenance and furnishing of the homes.

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Summary of findings

Some matching processes for children moving into the homes lack sufficient scrutiny. Although some children make progress, others move on in an unplanned way due to poor management decisions.

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Summary of findings

Staff support children with their education and future aspirations. Children are registered at colleges and supported in gaining adult life skills, with well-planned progress trackers. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children live in clean and welcoming homes. Children and staff take pride in their homes. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests and backgrounds. However, managers have not consistently maintained all homes. This includes one child’s bedroom not being refurbished when damp walls caused unpleasant smells, and kitchens with rusty fridges that were thawing out that were unsuitable for storing food. During the inspection, out of date and mouldy food was found in one fridge. The presentation of this home does not match the homely and clean look of other homes visited during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop independence skills. Staff use individualised progress plans to outline tasks for children to complete. These tasks are personalised to meet the needs of children from various backgrounds, cultures and religions. Staff help children to learn to cook, travel independently using public transport, budget and shop for groceries. Consequently, children gain essential life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children’s educational needs. The team ensures children are registered with and attend college from the time they move in. Children who struggle to attend education are consistently encouraged to do so. Staff support them in completing educational work at home. They encourage children whose first language is not English to communicate in English and understand British culture. This helps children to interact positively with others, make friends and understand the importance of education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children participate in a variety of activities. They arrange barbecues and cook meals with friends, staff and visitors. Two children said they enjoyed cooking together and proudly offered inspectors a well-cooked and well-presented dish from their home culture.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Outcomes for children are inconsistent. Some children make progress and develop positive relationships with staff. However, leaders and managers sometimes accommodate children who are not ready to live in supported accommodation. Poor management oversight negatively impacts these children’s progress and has led to them moving on in an unplanned way.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff support children to understand how to keep themselves safe at home and in the community. Staff engage children in reflective discussions about the dangers they may face in the community, at home and online. Staff also support children in developing health friendships and relationships. This helps children make safer choices.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers use regular meetings and supervisions to review safeguarding issues concerning children. They work with other professionals to Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 3 promote children’s safety both at home and in the community. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. However, these do not provide sufficient detail on the current levels of risk to children or how best to manage these risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

Some children go missing, and others return home late. Staff engage in useful discussions with children to help them understand the dangers they may face in the community, the importance of sharing their location with staff and how to stay safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are aware of the provider’s rules and boundaries. Staff build trusting relationships and most use a trauma-informed approach to help children manage their feelings and build emotional resilience. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of incidents. When incidents occur, staff talk with children and help them reflect on the impact of their behaviour towards others and how to resolve conflicts. Kind and descriptive language is used to record incidents, complemented by in- depth evaluations from the manager.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes. They ensure that all required checks are completed before staff start work. As a result, children are supported by suitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers maintain a nurturing and friendly culture in the service. Staff say they feel well supported and that the management team is approachable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff and managers receive regular supervision. Supervisions are effective and well structured. Managers and staff reflect on practice, explore ways to develop professionally and address identified issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers provide staff with good opportunities to learn and develop. All staff are up to date with training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not have appropriate policies that guide staff practice. One policy refers to therapeutic models that are not practised by all staff. Another one relates to children’s home regulations instead of supported accommodation regulations and standards. This leads to inconsistent practice across the service and differing outcomes for children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 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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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 wellbeing 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

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 each child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation, including—

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Requirement Due date

what they can expect from the provision of supported accommodation. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(f)(h)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to all children’s needs being carefully assessed before they are accommodated by the service so that only children ready for supported accommodation live there. 30 September 2025

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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— 30 September 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 5 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

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

ensure that each child is provided with a private bedroom—

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Requirement Due date

with sufficient space to accommodate a reasonable number of personal possessions,

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Requirement Due date

which is equipped to meet the child’s individual needs,

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Requirement Due date

which is physically secure. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)(i)(ii)(iv))

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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. (Regulation 22 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 30 September 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 6 This relates specifically to ensuring that risk assessments provide guidance to staff about the evolving risks to children and how to best support children to reduce the risk of harm.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure they have appropriate policies for the protection of children. All policies should be reviewed regularly and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, pages 54-59)

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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: Cranmead 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Galloways Accounting, 28 Fourth Avenue, Hove BN3 2PJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Genine Dungate

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Cranmead 8 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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