Sanctuary Supported Living

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 1 Sanctuary Supported Living 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 accommodation for up to 58 children and young people in self-contained units designated for individual use, as well as in shared or group living situations in premises that are solely used to accommodate looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, the service was providing supported accommodation for 34 looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

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provider

The nominated individual has been in post since the service registered with Ofsted in March 2025. A new service manager has been recruited and is applying to Ofsted for registration.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 6 October 2025 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 8 to 10 October 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.

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Outcome

The next inspection will be in approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Children are supported by a friendly and committed team of staff who warmly welcome them into the homes and help them settle in from the outset.

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Summary of findings

The homes are clean; however, they are not consistently well decorated. Excessive signage displaying rules and instructions detracts from the homely atmosphere.

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Summary of findings

Some children engage in education, but others struggle to attend or participate in education or employment. These children often spend their time in their bedrooms or in the community, engaging in criminal or high-risk behaviours. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 2 A monitoring visit was carried out on 21 August 2025. All the requirements raised during the visit have been met. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are supported by friendly and committed project workers. Staff provide welcome packs containing essential items to help children while they await financial support from placing authorities. Staff ensure that children are welcomed and helped to settle in and begin building positive relationships from the outset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Generally, children live in clean and well-maintained homes. Some are housed in well-decorated, self-contained flats, which offer privacy and allow them to personalise their spaces as they wish. Homes also include communal areas, such as gyms and art and craft rooms, which are used both individually and in groups. However, the presentation of some communal areas lacks consistency. This includes excessive signage displaying rules and instructions, which detracts from a homely atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff have well-planned and relevant discussions with children. They support them in choosing appropriate topics to explore. Reflective conversations about safety, health, education, employment, and the prevention and impact of crime help children develop strategies that support them into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children engage in education, employment or training. Although staff encourage college attendance and job placements, some children continue to struggle with attendance and engagement. As a result, these children spend excessive lengths of time in bed or in the community engaging in high-risk behaviours.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff use comprehensive risk assessments to help children identify strategies to stay safe. They engage in reflective discussions to support safer decision-making and educate children about personal safety at home and in the community. However, some assessments fail to consider the heightened risks associated with drug and alcohol misuse, particularly for children with mental health needs, and they do not outline appropriate monitoring strategies. This oversight increases the risk of harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are informed about house rules when they move in. Staff explain tenancy agreements, helping children understand landlord–tenant responsibilities in preparation for adult life. However, some children struggle to adhere to these agreements, leading to peer conflict and incidents. Staff de-escalate these situations effectively and support the restoration of relationships.

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How well children are helped and protected

Some actions taken by staff, such as locking away cleaning products, hinder children’s development of adult skills, such as their ability to make safer day-to-day choices and self-regulate their emotions.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff record incidents clearly and descriptively. Reports detail the circumstances and staff’s responses, highlighting how children are supported in self-regulating their Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 4 emotions. Managers oversee these records to ensure that they accurately reflect actions taken and evaluate ways to prevent future incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A new service manager has recently been appointed. He has worked closely with other leaders and staff to introduce systems aimed at improving practice and outcomes for children. Managers have fostered a supportive culture and implemented a new approach that promotes children’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers use various digital systems to record and review children’s daily experiences and progress. A well-organised, child-friendly online platform enables staff to document activities from any location. This system also allows children to access their records, supporting them in tracking their progress and achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Structured supervision is regularly provided to staff. Well-being checks create a space for staff to discuss personal challenges, and support strategies are explored. These sessions also include reflection on the support needed to meet children’s needs, ensuring consistent progress. Conflicts and concerns between staff are addressed during supervision, and collaborative approaches are encouraged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some staff members have not yet completed their mandatory training. However, the new manager, working with the development team, has implemented a robust action plan to ensure that all staff with expired training are booked onto courses. Training sessions are scheduled to commence in October and November 2025, and staff have received notifications for their bookings. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 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 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

prepare and implement child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the effectiveness of child protection policies is kept under review and ensure that, where appropriate, those policies are revised;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(b)(c)(f)(i)(iii)) 28 November

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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

enable children to have consistent and continuous access to local services, including education and healthcare. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(ii)) 28 November Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 6 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

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. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)) 28 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children and young people receive the necessary support to enable them to access their education, training and/or employment. Staff should work in partnership with relevant professionals, such as headteachers of virtual schools, to promote children’s educational achievements and enable their access to a suitable range of high-quality education options. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, pages 39 and 40)

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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: Sanctuary Supported Living 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Sanctuary Housing Association

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: rachel.polhill@sanctuary.co.uk

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Sanctuary Supported Living 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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