Community Hosting and Support Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 1 Community Hosting and Support Limited Registered provider: Community Hosting and Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider.

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provider

The service can accommodate up to 24 children in four group-living homes which are not limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers. The provider operates in London.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, the service was providing support for 12 children aged 16 or 17 who are looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 11 August 2025 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 13 to 15 August 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 take place in approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

The provider works with a diverse range of children of different genders and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Most staff are supporting children to improve general independence and life skills, and this leads to progress for these children.

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Summary of findings

While most children are thriving, progressing and developing skills for independent living, some children have not had good experiences.

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Summary of findings

The admissions process, particularly for children who arrive in an emergency, has meant that basic information is not always available. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 2 Some children have experienced instability and uncertainty because the provider has not been able to update other relevant professionals in a timely way to ensure that children’s needs are known and are being met.

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Summary of findings

A breach of professional boundaries has had a detrimental impact on the welfare and emotional well-being of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children are actively supported by the support workers to be involved in decisions about their lives. This includes children for whom English is an additional language.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The staff explain the rationale behind their decisions and talk to children about what is in their best interests. Staff employ sensitive and inclusive approaches to ensure children understand when their wishes cannot be fulfilled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children develop life skills such as cooking and learning how to participate thoughtfully in a group. These experiences contribute to their personal development and readiness for living independently. Most children open bank accounts, learn how to budget and explore savings options. This proactive approach from staff helps children to take increasing responsibility for their finances and prepares them for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most staff treat children with dignity and respect. The service is responsive to the individual identities of children and supports a diverse group of children, from different genders, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. When relevant, children are encouraged to engage in faith-based activities and participate in cultural celebrations. The homes are in areas with diverse populations, enhancing opportunities for inclusion and personal expression by the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children like to engage in the plans for their next move to living more independently. They express clear views and preferences about what is important to them. While some children’s preferences have conflicted with available options or local authority policies, staff have demonstrated resilience and commitment in maintaining positive relationships with the children during these challenging periods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children live far from their placing local authority area and, after an extended period in the home, no longer wish to return to their original area. The managers work collaboratively with local authorities to ensure that moving on is managed sensitively, with a strong focus on preserving children’s emotional well-being and preventing feelings of isolation or abandonment.

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How well children are helped and protected

Most safeguarding concerns related to issues in the community are managed appropriately by the staff and most children feel protected and settled in their homes. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 3 The service demonstrates well-coordinated responses when children go missing, which helps to reduce harm and risk. Although minimal information is known about some children when they move in, staff work collaboratively with other professionals to understand and address risks once identified. This approach helps to manage immediate safety concerns effectively.

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How well children are helped and protected

The presence of staff in the homes at all times ensures that children can access support whenever needed. Most children can identify a trusted adult to speak with, which contributes to their overall sense of safety and emotional security.

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How well children are helped and protected

Some children who live far away from their placing local authority area no longer wish to return there after living in the home for up to two years. The staff and managers work well with these children’s local authorities to address the concerns raised by children. The provider tries to ensure that the move on does not harm the children’s emotional well-being and leave them feeling isolated and unsupported if they are moved to areas where they have no ties.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider follows safe staff recruitment processes. While most staff build positive relationships with the children, there have been times when some staff have failed to maintain appropriate personal boundaries. Although concerns regarding staff conduct were known, the provider’s response was not timely or sufficient to mitigate the risk of harm. Concerns about adults’ inappropriate behaviour were not immediately reported to the local authority designated officer.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager does not consistently notify the regulator of significant events relating to the welfare and protection of children. The managers are not clear enough about their responsibilities in matters relating to staff conduct. A lack of understanding about thresholds for reporting leads to delays in addressing safeguarding concerns with the relevant authorities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leaders and managers of the supported accommodation service aim for a culture of high expectations and aspiration for all children and want to learn to develop their service. They have identified a plan of action to improve, including listening to feedback from other professionals. Staff have received recent refresher training in safeguarding and maintaining professional boundaries, to enhance their practice and the support provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The managers encourage collaborative staff practice. Staff across different homes work together to encourage cooperation, peer support and shared learning among children. This inclusive approach accelerates the development of children’s independence skills. This is particularly beneficial for children who share similar cultural backgrounds, helping them feel less isolated, especially when they have no local support network. Feedback from professionals is predominantly positive, highlighting noticeable progress in the children’s development. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 4 The statement of purpose is not an accurate reflection of the service on offer. The manager’s approach to deciding which children will come to live in the supported accommodation is weak Emergency placements mean some children arrive with limited or no written background information. This leads to a poor understanding of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

their potential risks or further knowledge about the child. The managers accept children whose needs and risks are not suitable for supported accommodation. This can impact on the quality of support and safety in homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal. However, when staff raise concerns, there is not sufficient follow-up or defined timescales for action. This approach to overseeing staff compromises the safety and protection of children because identified issues are not addressed promptly and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager has completed a quality of support review which includes some feedback from children and staff. However, the review lacks evaluation of the views of children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 5

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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

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 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. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(f)) 10 October 2025

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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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 10 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 6 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

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(f) (ii)(vi))

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any other individuals or organisations who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 10 October 2025

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Recommendation

 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 should include feedback from Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 7 children about how the support provided helps with the transition process to independent living. The review should also include feedback from local authorities about how the support service helps children to progress. (‘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: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Community Hosting and Support Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 142-143 Parrock Street, Gravesend DA12 1EY

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Joseph Elsemait

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Inspector

Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Community Hosting and Support Ltd 9 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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