Journey To Independence Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 1 Journey To Independence Limited Registered provider: Journey to Independence Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider operates this service.

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provider

The service offers ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 13 children in three premises. These properties are in northwest London, with the head office centrally located in Stanmore.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, the service was providing supported accommodation for six children aged 16 or 17 who were looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

The nominated individual is also the service manager, who registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 24 November 2025 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 26 to 28 November 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. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Children enjoy living in their homes and like the support they receive from staff.

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Summary of findings

Properties are in safe neighbourhoods, with good facilities and transport links nearby.

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Summary of findings

Staff try to engage with children, but this is not consistent across the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 2 Support plans and risk assessments do not always accurately reflect known risks.

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Summary of findings

Most children are in education, training or employment. When children are not, staff keep the local authority and virtual school professionals updated with any progress.

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Summary of findings

Staff liaise with managers and key professionals when serious incidents occur. Staff’s knowledge of safeguarding protocols is consistent; however, management oversight and actions taken are not accurately recorded.

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Summary of findings

The provider does not translate key documents for children seeking asylum and staff do not attend training specific to this cohort.

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Summary of findings

The provider was unable to demonstrate that safer recruitment practices are routinely followed and monitored.

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Summary of findings

Staff supervision and team meeting minutes are not recorded accurately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The provider supports children from diverse backgrounds, including those seeking asylum and those involved with youth justice services. Most staff are committed to meeting children’s individual needs, including those relating to gender, culture and religion. However, feedback about the quality of staff was mixed, and children were unsure who their allocated worker was.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children described their homes as calm and said that incidents are managed promptly and effectively. This helps children to focus on their own progress without unnecessary disruption. Professionals confirm that some children make some progress, for example one youth justice professional said that their client had experienced no significant incidents since moving to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Professionals value the provider’s communication and say that staff keep them well informed through regular updates and monthly reports. In emergency situations, staff work proactively to support transition planning and build trusting relationships early. Records show that health registrations are often completed before children arrive, helping continuity of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in homes located in safe neighbourhoods, close to shops and transport links. Bedrooms are generally spacious and well equipped, with double beds, desks and fridges. Outdoor areas are enclosed and provide additional space for socialising. Homes are maintained to a sufficient standard and include homely touches. However, some properties require modernisation and repairs, and one home is currently closed for major renovation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 3 Children receive a welcome guide tailored to each property, which helps children to settle and integrate into the community. Staff encourage children to join local clubs and gyms to promote their well-being. House meetings and group activities are arranged, although these are irregular due to staffing rotas. Staff recognise that more structured recreational time would strengthen relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff have some knowledge of the additional vulnerabilities faced by children seeking asylum and provide practical support, including attending solicitor and Home Office appointments. However, they have not ensured that the children’s guide is accessible for those who speak English as an additional language, which limits its effectiveness. In addition, staff have not received training in respect of working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. This increases the potential for staff to have gaps in their knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are supported to pursue education or employment goals. Where mainstream education is not possible, alternative provision is explored. Staff liaise effectively with the virtual school and attend multi-agency meetings to contribute to safety planning. Children are encouraged to engage with specialist services when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Independence skills are promoted, although this work is often informal. The provider does not consistently identify linked workers for children. This contributes to a lack of ownership of oversight and progress from sessions not always being tracked or actioned.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider commissions an independent service to oversee training and safer recruitment. Despite this, gaps were identified in staff files, including incomplete visa and permit checks and delays in updating Disclosure and Barring Service records. This does not sufficiently reduce the risk of unsafe people working for the provider.

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How well children are helped and protected

Risk assessments and support plans are present in children’s files but are inconsistent in quality. Key information about how staff should manage and reduce risks is frequently missing. For one child, there was a significant number of room checks taking place despite no apparent linked risk, whereas another child, whose history may have prompted some curiosity, had not had any room checks. The quality of these records has the potential to reduce the effectiveness of risk management strategies.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of how to respond when children go missing. Records show that they liaise promptly with managers, the police and local authorities. Children are supported to address incidents and complaints quickly, which promotes stability within the homes. However, managers have not notified Ofsted of significant incidents, such as significant police involvement, including an incident when a child was arrested. This limits external oversight of safeguarding practice. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 4 Children report feeling safe and supported. They know that staff are available for advice and emergencies. An on-call manager and sleep-in staff are available outside of usual office hours, which provides reassurance and promotes safety. CCTV is installed in communal areas across all homes. This helps staff to monitor incidents

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How well children are helped and protected

and respond promptly to any disturbances or absconding behaviour.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are introduced to house rules at the start of their placement. These include guidance on visitors, curfews, fire safety and emergency procedures. Key-work sessions reinforce this information, helping children to understand expectations and keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders are committed to improving systems and processes within the organisation. They acknowledge past shortfalls and demonstrate learning from these, which has contributed to greater stability in the homes. All children currently placed are within remit and appropriate for supported accommodation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider recognises its small size and has commissioned external support to strengthen recruitment, training and supervision processes. The provider’s records do not demonstrate that this ensures staff receive supervision from a person with appropriate social care experience. Supervision records lack depth and do not meet the provider’s policy of providing sessions every six to eight weeks. Records show that staff receive a maximum of three supervisions per year. This does not ensure that staff receive the support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A training matrix is in place but is unclear and does not accurately track staff’s progress or development needs. The poor quality of this record means it is unclear who has completed what training and when. Some training linked to the needs of the children has not been provided. Leaders and managers have not considered this and have relied on the prior knowledge of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The approach to record-keeping does not help leaders and managers to monitor the quality of the service. Records frequently lack clarity and detail. The poor quality of records has not been identified by leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff describe leaders as approachable and knowledgeable. Managers encourage staff to work towards a level 3 diploma, which staff value. Team meetings take place regularly and staff find these helpful, although records of these meetings are not consistently maintained, meaning that any staff who do not attend these may miss out.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Properties are located close to one another, with a centrally based head office. This enables managers to respond quickly to emergencies. Leaders have strong local knowledge and maintain positive relationships with partner agencies. Professionals describe the service as child focused and say they would prioritise referrals if capacity allowed. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 5 The workforce is stable, and staff demonstrate loyalty to managers and compassion towards children. One staff member said that their own care experience motivates them to help children achieve better outcomes. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 6

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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 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

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(e)) 9 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

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)) 9 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— 9 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 7 undertake appropriate continuing professional development,

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 18 (4)(a)(b))

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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);

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any other individuals or organisations who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 9 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they have effective systems in place that enable them to scrutinise the setting and make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 53)

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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: Journey To Independence Limited 9

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Journey to Independence Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Janet Thompson

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@journeytoindependence.co.uk

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Inspector

Chris Jay, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Journey To Independence Limited 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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