YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey YMCA DLG – West Sussex and Surrey

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Registered provider: YMCA Downslink Group

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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 charitable organisation. The service provides five shared premises that are not limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers and 10 individual flats.

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provider

At the time of this visit, this service provided support and accommodation for 37 children aged 16 and 17 years old. The service also provided accommodation for young adults aged between 18 and 25. The service manager, nominated individual and director were in position prior to the service registering with Ofsted in September 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out due to Ofsted receiving information that a young adult supported by the provider had died. The provider was not given notice of the visit. The visit took place at three of the provider’s premises. Two children were spoken with during the visit and they were positive about their experiences. Shortfalls in practice were identified relating to the support the young adult received at the time of the incident.

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This monitoring visit

Guidance provided to staff in response to incidents that require medical assistance is inconsistent. When children and young people misused illicit substances or alcohol, staff are not always directed to seek appropriate medical advice and support. The provider has since amended guidance to on-call managers and instructed all staff to seek medical advice in any such future circumstances. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey The provider failed to notify Ofsted of some serious incidents, as required by legislation. This has prevented Ofsted from carrying out its regulatory functions and from having an accurate understanding of how the service keeps children safe. Systems for managing incidents are ineffective, and some serious events have not been shared with the registered manager or other relevant professionals supporting the children. This means that they are not aware of some children’s risks and

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This monitoring visit

therefore have not put measures in place to reduce these.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not identify appropriate measures to reduce potential harm, and support plans lack sufficient detail regarding how children should be supported. Risk assessments and support plans are not updated promptly following incidents. Known risks are not consistently carried across into support plans, resulting in staff having incomplete and potentially unsafe guidance. Although current staff demonstrated that they know and understand children’s needs, there is a risk that new staff will not have sufficient guidance to support children safely.

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This monitoring visit

There is insufficient management oversight to identify shortfalls and improve practice. The registered manager has taken action since the visit to address the concerns raised. However, these improvements have not yet been embedded into practice. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(f)) 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the manager maintains effective oversight of the service. 5 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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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; (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(f)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that responses to serious incidents involving children are managed and reported in line with children’s risk assessments, support plans and best practice guidelines. 5 January 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

(2) 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. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that risk assessments and support plans contain mitigation measures for known hazards, and that they give staff sufficient direction on how to keep children safe. 5 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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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: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: YMCA Downslink Group

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Sharon Rawcliffe

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Inspectors

Stephen Challis, Social Care Inspector Amanda Cooper, Social Care Inspector Helen Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey 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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