Hayshousing

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 1 Hayshousing

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider. The service offers accommodation for up to 16 looked-after children and care leavers over 3 shared group-living homes.

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provider

At the time of this monitoring visit, this service was providing supported accommodation for 9 children aged 16 and 17 years.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted when the service was registered in July 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this monitoring visit in response to concerns raised regarding a failure to operate the service in line with the statement of purpose, a failure to appropriately manage referrals and admissions to the service, potentially placing children at risk of harm, and a failure to provide children with suitable accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

Referral and admission processes do not support the registered service manager’s decision on the suitability of children to move into the service. Consequently, children are not always suitably placed or ready to live in supported accommodation, and the service is unable to meet their needs. Decisions on the suitability of placements are based on compatibility rather than considering if children’s needs can be met.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments at admission are generally suitable, although the content of these is not consistently reflected in children’s support plans. This limits staff’s Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 2 understanding of the actions they should take to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Staff devise support plans for children following their admission. However, managers and staff rarely review or update these. Some plans have not been reviewed for several months or after serious incidents; any reviews that are completed do not include consultation with children.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management arrangements are unclear. The nominated individual consistently completes tasks more relevant to the role of the registered service manager as defined by the regulations. The registered service manager expressed uncertainty about his role and responsibilities. This lack of leadership is confusing for children and staff, and does not promote a stable or effective service for children.

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This monitoring visit

Management monitoring systems are ineffective. These do not help leaders and managers to identify shortfalls in staff practice, or in the quality of care for children. This hinders the development of the service and the registered manager’s ability to ensure that the service operates in accordance with the regulations.

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This monitoring visit

The nominated individual manages staff recruitment and training. The registered service manager was unable to access information relating to staff training during this inspection, preventing the regulator assessing its suitability.

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This monitoring visit

Significant incidents, including police interventions, do not promote the review of children’s risk assessments, and leaders and managers do not always notify Ofsted of these events. This prevents the regulator from reviewing the suitability of staff actions to keep children safe. Furthermore, staff often inform children’s social workers of incidents before discussing them with leaders and managers. This prevents the registered service manager from taking immediate action to reduce risks for children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff administer children’s medication. This is a universal approach regardless of a child’s capacity or understanding This restrictive practice is not in line with the regulations and does not support children to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s accommodation is not welcoming or homely. For example, one child’s bedroom had an unpleasant odour and was dirty and unkempt. Repairs are required across the premises, and institutional features, such as large padlocks on kitchen cabinets and window restrictors throughout, do not ensure that children live in a comfortable environment. Although the registered services manager took some action during the inspection to address some shortfalls with the accommodation, further work is required. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 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 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 arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(f)) 22 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 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; 22 February 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 4 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

ensure that children are supported to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(n))

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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. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)) 22 February 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— 22 February 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 5 ensure that staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(b)(c)(g))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must actively review the service and use internal monitoring data to drive continuous improvement. The registered service manager should anticipate potential difficulties, analyse incidents, such as disruptions and placement breakdowns, and implement lessons learned to maintain good practice. Staff must be supported through guidance, knowledge and training to address gaps in practice, strengthen behaviour management strategies, safeguard children effectively and meet their individual needs.

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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 designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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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

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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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; 22 February 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 6 are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the service has policies and appropriate arrangements in place for managing, administering and disposing of medication, including processes for record-keeping. Where the registered person or staff have questions or concerns about a young person’s medication, or their ability to administer this themselves, they should discuss these with the young person, taking necessary safeguarding actions. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 39)

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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: Hayshousing 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Chisa Wobodo

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Inspector

Shelley Chowdhury, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Hayshousing 8 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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