Youth Support Solutions

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 1 Youth Support Solutions Registered provider: Youth Support Solutions Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service. The service can accommodate up to 10 children living in three shared premises that are limited to looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 or 17. The provider operates in the East Midlands.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, five looked-after children or care leavers aged 16 or 17 were being accommodated.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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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

Staff understand children’s needs well and use plans to guide their work. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated.

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Summary of findings

Children are making progress and staff work with children at a pace that suits their needs. Staff work well with the professional networks around the children.

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Summary of findings

Ofsted has not been notified of all serious incidents.

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Summary of findings

Some children who have moved into the premises are not suitable for supported accommodation. Therefore, staff are unable to keep them safe, and not all children are protected from harm. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are included in developing the support they receive. Their plans reflect information known at the point of referral and are actively reviewed. This enables staff to understand children’s needs. Children feel that they are listened to and are able to make decisions about their support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are supported to develop relationships with staff, at their own pace. Staff encourage children to take part in activities in and out of the home, which strengthens children’s relationships with staff. One child is having regular ‘jamming’ sessions with a member of staff, where they play guitars. This demonstrates to the child that staff want to share their interests and build relationships. In addition, staff provide children with a photo book when they leave, ensuring that they have lasting memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children say that they feel comfortable to raise any concerns they may have, and the children’s guide details the complaints procedure. Children feel that they are listened to and that managers are present in the accommodation. They have access to advocacy support if needed, and staff encourage children to access this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff have high aspirations for children, and education is prioritised. Staff recognise that for some children education can be a challenge. Staff explore children’s interests and find alternative opportunities local to the accommodation. This strengthens community engagement and gives children a sense of achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Not all children make progress or have positive experiences. Some children are not in education or employment and do not want to engage in social activities with staff. However, staff persevere, providing a consistent approach, and recognise the small achievements that children make.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff use key-work sessions to support children in managing their behaviour and feelings safely. Children are referred to specialist services, such as mental health support, when required. They are supported to manage their medication safely, and house meetings take place exploring current topics such as online safety. Staff work with children after any incidents to encourage reflection and to support in managing any known risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children’s accommodation is safe, but not all accommodation is homely or well maintained. Some aspects of the decor, such as CCTV signage in the homes, makes it feel less welcoming, and improvements are required to ensure that the standard of all accommodation is suitable for children. Leaders and managers recognise where improvements need to be made and are taking steps to do so.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are not always exposed to appropriate risks in the home. For example, they need to request sharp knives from staff, and children do not have keys to their Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 3 home. This does not support children to learn and develop safe practices in the home or prepare them for independence.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers have clear recruitment processes. However, the registered person does not always seek assurances that those employed are safe to work with children. For example, one member of staff had worked with children, but no dates were recorded nor was the nature of the role. The registered person did not explore this and, consequently, cannot be assured that all staff are safe to work with children.

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How well children are helped and protected

Not all children are protected from harm. Despite appropriate plans now being in place for children, these have not always been effective in managing risk. The service has been unable to meet the complex needs of some children, meaning that they have been harmed. Although the registered person continues to work with other agencies, some risks are not safely managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leadership and management team of the setting has remained stable since registration. The staff team has also been consistent, and agency staff are not used. This enables children to develop positive, trusting relationships with staff. Staff receive a thorough induction to the role as well as continuous training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers prioritise training and use supervision as a tool to reflect on learning. All staff attend training to help them communicate with children effectively. Staff recognise children’s experiences and trauma and can explore this through key- work sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision, which is of a good quality and focuses on the role as well as their well-being. Leaders and managers respond when staff do not meet the required expectations, and prioritise the impact on children. Staff say they feel well supported by leaders and managers and can raise any worries they have, knowing they will be considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person has taken a more thorough approach to managing referrals to the service. Discussions have taken place with different agencies to ensure that the needs of children can be met. Children are now assessed to live with children who are already in the accommodation to ensure that risks are safely managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Ofsted has not been notified of all serious incidents, which prevents oversight of the service. When serious incidents occur, the registered person does not maintain effective records to demonstrate their oversight to track progress and outcomes. This makes incidents difficult to monitor and also means that children do not have accurate records to access, should they wish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person continues to operate an unregistered children’s home in one property. The service is working with agencies to deliver a bespoke package of care Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 4 that is needed to minimise risk. However, the registered person has not sufficiently challenged local authorities to ensure that the service is operating in line with the regulations and its statement of purpose. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 5

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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 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 suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(b)(iv)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all properties offer a good standard of accommodation, that it is homely and that repairs are completed without delay. 10 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the following matters in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

the services it provides for children it accommodates and supports;

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Requirement Due date

the characteristics of the children for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation and support, including the age range, number and sex of the children;

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Requirement Due date

the facilities it provides to the children it accommodates; 10 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 6 the registered person must ensure that the supported accommodation undertaking is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 9 (1)(c)(d)(e) (4))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose reflects the services they can deliver and that the supported accommodation services delivered are in line with this document.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (4), the registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual for the purposes of the provision of supported accommodation, or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work for the supported accommodation undertaking in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work for the supported accommodation undertaking, if the registered person is satisfied that the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character,

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that the individual is to perform,

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform, and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they complete sufficient checks in relation to Schedule 1. 10 January 2026

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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 10 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 7 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. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clearly recorded information. Records should be factual and recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 58)

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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: Youth Support Solutions 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Youth Support Solutions Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Clarissa John

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: bookings@youthsupportsolutions.co.uk

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Inspector

Helen Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Youth Support Solutions 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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