Safe Hands Care & Support Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services Safe Hands Care & Support Services

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Registered provider: Safe Hands Care & Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service was registered on 16 December 2024 and is operated by a private provider in the northwest of England. It can accommodate up to 22 individuals in five shared or group living premises that are limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers and seven single occupancy premises.

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provider

At the time of the monitoring visit, the service was providing support and accommodation to nine looked-after children and care leavers.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection between 29 September and 3 October 2025 and found serious concerns in leadership and management and safeguarding. A notice restricting the accommodation was issued and two compliance notices. Following a monitoring visit on 28 October 2025, the restriction notice was lifted. Leaders and managers now have sufficient plans in place to safely admit children.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this latest monitoring visit was to consider the progress made in meeting the shortfalls identified in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors visited one single occupancy flat and one shared group living home. The inspectors spoke to one child, three members of staff and the service manager. Inspectors visited two premises. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services Leaders and managers gather information about needs and vulnerabilities to consider whether children are suitable for supported accommodation. Leaders and managers consult the local authority, previous carers and health and education agencies who know the child. This informs the manager’s decision-making. A child who has recently moved in has increasing levels of independence. Their needs can be met within the service.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers consider whether children can live together safely. Assessments include each child’s vulnerabilities and how these may impact on others in the household.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers devise support plans which detail children’s needs. One child is with a member of staff in a single occupancy flat all day. Staff take the child to see their family and to all appointments in a car. Staff sleep in the flat downstairs if the child needs help during the night. This limits the opportunities for the child to develop their independence.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers use a video doorbell camera inside one of the premises. The purpose of this is to monitor children’s visitors in the house at the times when staff are not present. However, children’s consent for this surveillance is not recorded. This type of support is not as described in the provider’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not give sufficient detail about what staff need to do for the children to be safe. For example, one child has had contact with the police due to concerns about unsafe internet practices. The child continues to speak with unknown individuals when they play online video games. Leaders and managers feel that this is not a current risk and that staff cannot monitor this.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not demonstrate that they have the skills to keep children safe. Staff complete the provider’s online mandatory training. However, leaders and managers cannot be assured that staff have the knowledge to respond to children effectively, for example if there are concerns with mental health or risk of criminality.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented a new system for recruiting staff. Staff are required to have experience of working with children prior to working with the provider. Leaders and managers recognise the importance of safer recruitment practices. This ensures staff have integrity, good character and are safe to work with children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers consistently inform Ofsted of serious incidents that occur. This gives the regulator confidence that there is effective communication, and they have oversight of the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made some progress with addressing the shortfalls in leadership and management and safeguarding. However, they have not made sufficient progress to meet all the steps in the two compliance notices. Ofsted will continue to monitor this service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2) (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 February 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services *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

lead and manage the supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 February 2026

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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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

engage and work with the accommodating authority if the registered person has concerns or if the child’s support needs to be changed, including where that change may mean that the child requires more intensive support;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(k)) 1 February 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and 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: Safe Hands Care & Support Services

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Safe Hands Care & Support Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Carmen Nosegbe

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Inspectors

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Safe Hands Care & Support Services 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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