Silver Birch Care South & East Region

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 1 Silver Birch Care South & East Region

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Registered provider: Silver Birch Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides seven shared living premises that are not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the visit, the service provided accommodation for 14 children aged 16 and 17 years old. The service manager registered with Ofsted when the service was registered in October 2024. The nominated individual has resigned, and a new applicant has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out due to Ofsted receiving information that a child supported by the provider had died in the community. The provider was not given notice of the visit. The visit took place at the provider’s head office and three locations operated by the provider where children were living. Two children were spoken with during the visit. The provider responded appropriately to the death of the child and no shortfalls in practice relating to the death were found.

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This monitoring visit

The provider failed to notify Ofsted of some incidents that were serious events, as required by legislation. This has prevented Ofsted from having an accurate understanding of how the service keeps children safe and from carrying out its regulatory functions. Other incidents have been reported to Ofsted. Managers report incidents involving safeguarding concerns to local safeguarding teams and work closely with partner agencies, such as the police. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 2 Management of risks to children is inconsistent. Support plans and risk assessments do not always contain clear or individualised strategies to manage identified risks. Some documents include generic or copied information rather than assessments that are specific to each child. As a result, some staff are unclear about the actions they should take to manage risk safely.

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This monitoring visit

When children go missing from home, staff responses are in line with the child’s support and safety plans. Staff report children missing to social services and the police. When children return home, staff engage with them to understand the reasons why they were missing from home and try to prevent future incidents. However, these incidents are not consistently being recorded, meaning that managers cannot reliably identify trends in behaviour. Senior managers have identified this vulnerability and have an improvement plan in place.

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This monitoring visit

Children say that they feel well cared for and are happy with the support they receive. Staff say that they are supported effectively by their managers and the wider organisation. Following the death of a child, the provider implemented additional support for staff. Staff describe communication following this incident as ‘good, respectful and well managed’. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 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 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

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that Ofsted is notified of any serious incidents involving children without delay. 9 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to—

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure support plans and risk assessments focus on specific risks to children and be personalised to each child. 9 December 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 4

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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: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Silver Birch Care Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Suzette St Marie

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Inspectors

Rachel McIntyre, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Silver Birch Care South & East Region 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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