Bear Care Services

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

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider in the northwest of England. The provider can accommodate up to 10 children in four shared or group living premises for looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, five individuals were being accommodated. Three of them were looked-after children aged 16 or 17.

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provider

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the provider was registered on 9 January 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 have positive relationships with staff, and they feel that the staff support them to prepare them for independent living.

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Summary of findings

The provider accommodates children outside the scope of the regulations, which has meant that some children’s placements have ended as their needs are too high for supported accommodation. This means that some children’s progress has been limited.

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Summary of findings

Accommodation is of an exceptionally high standard, which means that children take pride of their environment and respect their surroundings.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers advocate on behalf of children, which means that all children currently placed have plans to start education or training. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Bear Care Services 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are positive about the support that they receive. Children who live in shared accommodation form positive relationships with each other, and this is encouraged by staff. Children said that they were happy and had staff that they could talk with. One child said, ‘I am happy living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to keep in contact with family and friends. One relative stated, ‘Staff communicate well; I cannot fault them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children have access to technology in their homes, such as wi-fi, phones and tablets. The manager has recently improved internet access, which enables children to maintain relationships and feel connected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children are making progress in line with their support plans. However, leaders and managers accept other children placed outside of the scope of regulations. This has meant an immediate end to those children’s placements, and this limits their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop their life skills, so they are prepared for adulthood. However, some children’s support plans are basic and do not include their views on their plans. They are neither dated nor signed by the author.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage and motivate children to access education, employment or training. However, children have previously not been accessing education for a significant time. Staff are now proactive in helping children to find suitable college placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Leadership and management work hard as part of a multi-agency team. They communicate well with external services, which means that information is shared with services involved in children’s support. Social workers and other agencies have been positive about the communication. One social worker said, ‘[name of staff] is great. She has open communication with us and knows [name of child] well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children move into the home in a sensitive and planned way. This means that the children feel reassured of the environment and surrounding area before moving in. Staff ensure that children live alongside each other safely.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children feel safe and settled in their homes. They access support when required, including an on-call service. Children have positive relationships with staff and can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any concerns. Children know how to make a complaint.

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How well children are helped and protected

The quality of children’s accommodation is of a high standard and is homely and welcoming. Children share their views with staff on their home and any Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Bear Care Services 3 improvements they would like to make. Children in one of the homes have requested a games room, which has been actioned by leaders and managers.

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How well children are helped and protected

When allegations are made against staff, leaders and managers take timely action and notify the local authority designated officer and Ofsted. They also complete internal investigations. This promotes children’s safety and well-being and sense of security.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff manage incidents within the homes. They apply clear and consistent boundaries that contribute to children feeling safe. Staff complete reports when incidents occur, which include a full debrief with children. However, some reports are inconsistent and lack detail.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers use robust safer recruitment processes to ensure that adults can work safely with children. The provider does not use agency staff, which means that children have a consistent support team.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff access and complete mandatory training. Leaders and managers also actively source additional training for staff to help them to understand and effectively support children. This also helps staff to develop and learn, which means that they feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers admit children into the service that are outside the scope of the supported accommodation regulations. Children are placed with high levels of need. Managers subsequently challenge the local authority. However, this has meant an immediate end for some children’s placements. Managers have identified the need to develop a more robust referral process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the service. They undertake regular audits to monitor practice, but these are ineffective as they do not identify issues such as the lack of recording in support plans. Managers acknowledge this shortfall and identify it as an area for future development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff said that they receive regular supervision, and that these sessions include discussions about the children. This allows them to reflect on the challenges of their role. It also gives staff the opportunity to discuss their progression and any training needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have a detailed workforce development plan. However, this does not include how staff support children when there is on-site or floating support and how staff promote continuity of support. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Bear Care Services 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

(Regulation 4 (1) (2)(f)) 2 October 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s records are kept up to date, include all known risks and are signed and dated by the author. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including quality standards’, page 58)  The registered person should ensure that they make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement and consistency. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including quality standards’, page 53)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce development plan includes the current staffing structure and the managerial arrangements for oversight of the premises. The plan should also include how staff support children when there is on-site or floating support and how staff promote continuity of support. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including quality standards’, page 47) Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Bear Care Services 5

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: Bear Care Services 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Bear Care Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Bear Care Services Ltd, Suite 3c, Blackthorn House, Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan WN6 9DB

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Amanda Hesketh

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: admin@bearcareservices.co.uk

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Inspector

Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Bear Care Services 7 regulates and inspects 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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