Place of Progress Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Place of Progress Ltd 1 Place of Progress Ltd Registered provider: Place of Progress Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

Place of Progress Ltd registered with Ofsted in August 2023 and is a private supported accommodation provider. The nominated individual is also the service manager and director, and they have been in post since registration.

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provider

The provider offers ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 27 children and care leavers across seven shared or group-living homes.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, this service was providing supported accommodation for 17 children across seven premises.

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Inspection dates: 17 to 19 September 2025

The inspection was announced on 15 September 2025 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 17 September to 19 September 2025.

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Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be in approximately three years.

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Summary of findings

The service helps children to develop independent living skills and healthy relationships.

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Summary of findings

The service provides accommodation for children from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

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Summary of findings

The provider supports children who have experienced multiple placement breakdowns, difficult family dynamics or displacement, and matches their needs with homes with a proportionate level of support and independence. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Place of Progress Ltd 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are happy and safe in their home. They say they feel respected by staff and like where they live. Staff know the children well and listen to what is important to them. Children say staff are available and prompt to respond to any questions and offer advice and guidance. This means that children share their concerns and worries in the knowledge that staff will respond with empathy and appropriate guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children learn to cook, clean and build on their independence skills with the support of staff when this is needed. Most children are in education. The few who are not are consistently encouraged to explore education and vocational options. The staff are ambitious for children, and this helps to ensure that children are prepared for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children receive good emotional support from staff. Children are encouraged to express their feelings and develop trusted relationships with staff. This helps them mitigate the impact of any adverse experiences and achieve a better future. Children are supported to re-establish connections with siblings and family members in the UK and abroad when possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children shape the environment where they live, such as by decorating communal areas. They take part in group activities, such as trips to London and shared meal preparation. This helps create a sense of community in the homes. Staff promote and respect children’s individual identities, religious needs and diversity.

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How well children are helped and protected

Before the children move in, the managers consider their likely needs and risks. They assess whether they have staff with relevant expertise to manage potential risks. Leaders and managers also consider the impact of new admissions on other children in the homes, particularly when children have pre-existing relationships with one another. This helps children feel safe in their homes.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff understand that children with complex social histories need time to build trusting relationships. When managers are confident that staff can provide effective support, they take managed risks to support children who have struggled to settle in other settings. In one instance, risks for a child became too high for supported accommodation, and managers took proportionate measures, worked constructively with neighbours to address and stop complaints, and improved their practices.

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How well children are helped and protected

Managers and staff involve the children in shaping their support plans and developing awareness about managing their behaviours, triggers, responses and coping strategies. A child said they have been in their home long enough to learn what others expect of them. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Place of Progress Ltd 3 Incidents of children going missing have reduced. Staff put effort into building relationships with children. They address any emerging vulnerabilities directly with the children to empower their decision-making and promote greater awareness of risk-taking and how to stay safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers make exceptional efforts to learn about children’s interests, assess them, and offer constructive advice about how they can develop their interests safely in the community.

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How well children are helped and protected

There is a consistent workforce. Leaders and managers have thorough recruitment practices to ensure that those directly supporting the children are suitable.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers maintain good communication with the children’s professional network. They challenge plans for the children to ensure that they are in their best interests and enable children to access advocacy services to access resources to which they are entitled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The service is led by a resilient and experienced registered service manager who is also the nominated individual. Managers and staff are empathetic, kind, motivated and committed to supporting children. This reflects the values described in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers and staff use professional curiosity to better understand children and work together to identify the best way to deliver support effectively, often using creative approaches to do so. For example, the managers and leaders have developed a comprehensive booklet to inform direct work with children and preparation for independent living. The workbook is engaging, child friendly and informative.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are encouraged to develop in the organisation, which contributes to an experienced and stable workforce. Staff receive additional training to meet the children’s individual needs, and this includes supporting children through bereavement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The fire risk assessment and noted recommendations for one home were not in place when it opened to offer supported accommodation. The fire risk assessment was carried out during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not use the quality of support review to fully assess the effectiveness of the service. The report provides a general overview of the service but lacks scrutiny that could help develop the provision further. The manager seeks feedback from children and professionals, but this is not systematically included in the report. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Place of Progress Ltd 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they consider all aspects of health and safety including fire safety requirements prior to opening new premises. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 31)  The registered person should complete a quality of support review every six months that include feedback received from children and professionals about the service. (‘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: Place of Progress Ltd 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Place of Progress Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Bianca Andrew

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: admin@placeofprogress.co.uk

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Inspector

Daniela Ferrario, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Place of Progress Ltd 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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Inspector

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