Vera Chilly Social Care

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 1 Vera Chilly Social Care

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Registered provider: Vera Chilly Consultancy Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

Vera Chilly Consultancy Services Limited registered with Ofsted on 27 March 2024 to provide ring-fenced accommodation.

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provider

The same person holds the roles of registered service manager and nominated individual.

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provider

At the time of registration, the provider had one property offering supported accommodation for up to six children. The provider has increased their property portfolio to include a further four premises, totalling five ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 17 children.

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provider

This monitoring visit was announced approximately one hour in advance. On the day of this visit, the provider had two properties offering supported accommodation for two children who were placed from the same local authority.

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provider

The inspectors did not visit any premises. They spoke to the nominated individual/registered manager, social workers and support staff.

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This monitoring visit

Since registration, Ofsted has completed four monitoring visits in response to concerns around the effectiveness of leadership and management in the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

A restriction of accommodation notice was imposed following a monitoring visit in September 2024. This notice prevented the provider from accepting any new children into its premises. Three compliance notices, relating to the leadership and Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 2 management arrangements, safe recruitment and tailored support to children, were also issued.

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This monitoring visit

A second monitoring visit took place in October 2024. The provider had complied with the restriction of accommodation notice. However, it had failed to improve the leadership and management arrangements, safe recruitment practice and support plans for children.

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This monitoring visit

The third monitoring visit in December 2024 found improvements in the leadership and management arrangements. The compliance notices were met, and the restriction of accommodation notice was lifted.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was completed in August 2025. That inspection identified serious and widespread weaknesses in relation to leadership and management and support for children. A restriction of accommodation notice was served. Two compliance notices, relating to the leadership and management arrangements and tailored support to children, were also issued.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the registered person’s compliance with meeting the steps identified in the compliance notices and to establish if the restriction of accommodation notice had been adhered to.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the provider has submitted an action plan, setting out the measures intended to address the compliance notices. As part of this response, the provider has engaged a social care consultant to assist with developing policies, procedures and children’s support plans. There are plans in place for the same consultant to deliver staff training; however, this training has not yet been delivered, and therefore its relevance, quality and impact on staff practice and outcomes for children cannot be currently evaluated.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has maintained weekly multi-agency meetings with the local authority, police and child and adolescent mental health services. These meetings offer a platform for reviewing the support children receive, their engagement and progress. While this reflects a willingness to work collaboratively, the outcomes of these meetings are not yet consistently embedded in practice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken sufficient action to meet the requirements set under Regulation 4. They have reviewed and updated both the statement of purpose and young person’s guide. These now reflect the operation of the service in line with regulatory expectations for supported accommodation. They clearly state that the service will provide support only, not care. The young person’s guide has also been revised to be more accessible, supported with visual aids that are child friendly.

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This monitoring visit

For the two children who remain accommodated in the provision, the level of support has been reduced. They are now receiving support consistent with the expectations of supported accommodation. This reflects a positive step towards promoting their increasing independence and self-reliance. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 3 The provider has developed a new admissions policy that outlines the steps it intends to take to ensure that it has sufficient and relevant information to make informed decisions about the suitability of children for supported accommodation before admission. This includes a clear definition of the needs and characteristics of children the provider can and cannot accept. This document has been shared with the local authority and staff to support implementation. Due to the current restriction of accommodation notice, the provider has not yet had the opportunity to

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This monitoring visit

apply these revised documents and procedures in respect of new admissions. This means their effectiveness remains untested.

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This monitoring visit

During the monitoring visit, the provider was able to produce most of the documents requested. However, it experienced ongoing difficulties accessing and downloading some of the information. The provider confirmed this has been an ongoing issue, and as a result, it has commissioned a new electronic recording system. All staff will receive training to use this system, and the existing documentation will be transferred over. These changes are intended to improve management oversight and accessibility of records.

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This monitoring visit

There are still notable gaps in strategic oversight and in the systems needed to monitor and evaluate the quality of care and leadership. The content of support plans lacks clarity and includes repeated references to historic information, much of which is not relevant to the child’s current presenting needs. The information lacks factual accuracy and does not reflect up-to-date assessments. Furthermore, the plans are not aspirational and fail to set out clear goals for progress. Additionally, the absence of measurable targets limits the plans’ effectiveness as tools for planning, monitoring and review.

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This monitoring visit

Social workers and support staff confirmed that restrictive practices have reduced in day-to-day support. These changes are not reflected in children’s support plans or risk assessments. While there are some contributions from children, these are insufficient and do not provide a meaningful understanding of their current risks or needs.

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This monitoring visit

The children have made progress and are settled. Overall, the progress the provider has made means that the restriction of accommodation has been lifted. The areas monitored at this inspection where improvements remain necessary are reflected in requirements. Other requirements that were not monitored at this inspection have been restated. These will all be monitored at the upcoming full inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 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 support standard that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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 children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated 21 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review (“a quality of support review”) at least once every six months, which must take into account—

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Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received; 21 November 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 5 feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child’s life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from each child’s accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons;

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Requirement Due date

any relevant research and developments in relation to the way in which the needs of children are best met.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of support review, the registered person must produce a written report setting out the actions the registered person intends to take as a result of that quality of support review.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the review report to the CIECSS within 28 days beginning with the day on which the report is completed, and make a copy of it available on request to each child’s accommodating authority. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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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); 11 November 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 6 there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated

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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

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated 21 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep records of other information relating to the supported accommodation undertaking set out in Schedule 3.

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Requirement Due date

maintain the records in Schedule 3, which may be kept in electronic form;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are accessible to children, the CIECSS and each accommodating authority. (Regulation 25 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain a register of all children who have resided in their supported accommodation provision. 21 November 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 7 This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been restated

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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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: Vera Chilly Social Care 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Vera Chilly Consultancy Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Suite 41 Wentworth House, High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1JJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Vera Nnadozie

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Inspectors

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Vera Chilly Social Care 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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