Sanctuary Supported Living

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Sanctuary Supported Living 1 Sanctuary Supported Living

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Registered provider: Sanctuary Housing Association

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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 charity. It provides support and accommodation for looked-after children, care leavers and young adults. At the time of the registration and inspection, the provider had 23 properties offering shared- living accommodation for up to 78 children.

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provider

This monitoring visit was unannounced. The inspector spoke with three children and visited one 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 and children’s welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Children were positive about the support they receive. One child talked proudly about her opportunity to be a house representative and her involvement in complaints resolutions. Another child has developed independence skills in readiness to his move on to his next accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The service manager, who has applied to be registered with Ofsted, has identified areas of improvement and devised a service plan for all the homes. This plan is in the process of being embedded.

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This monitoring visit

When concerns arise about staff practice, leader and managers’ report these to the local authority and commence an internal investigation. However, they did not inform the local authority designated officer (LADO) until the day of the inspection. This meant that any actions recommended by the LADO were not followed immediately. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Sanctuary Supported Living 2 They also failed to inform Ofsted. This compromises the regulator’s opportunity to assess how the provider is safeguarding children.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s support plans lack critical information to guide staff in response to children’s known and emerging risks. Information shared with the provider by professionals is not recorded in initial assessment and matching documents. A senior staff member was not fully aware of a child’s criminal history. Support plans were not consistently updated following incidents. This means that staff are not always able to manage risks effectively or support children in ways that meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not support children effectively during medical emergencies. On two occasions when children needed medical care, staff cover was not arranged so that they could be accompanied to hospital. This does not demonstrate a safe, supportive or nurturing approach. Advice was sought by medical online services instead of emergency services. This caused a delay in the children accessing medical help. While waiting for medical advice, staff did not follow a senior manager’s request to undertake regular checks on a child.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s accommodation is not maintained in a timely manner. One child’s bedroom window has not been repaired following an incident. The bedroom does not provide the child with a homely, secure environment.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are aware of some of the areas to develop in the home and are addressing these. However, the lack of decisive action and poor monitoring processes have led to the failures identified at this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, two compliance notices have been issued. Ofsted will continue to monitor the notices. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Sanctuary Supported Living 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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

(Regulation 4 (1) (2)(b)(f)) 08 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

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)) 08 October 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Sanctuary Supported Living 4 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 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 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

If there is a referral of a person working for the supported accommodation undertaking pursuant to section 35 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(2), the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

any relevant person not included in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 27 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 26 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

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

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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: Sanctuary Supported Living 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Sanctuary Housing Association

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Sanctuary Supported Living 6 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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