Transitions, Supported Accommodation

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 1 Transitions, Supported Accommodation Registered provider: PCL (Support Services) Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

A private provider owns this supported accommodation service. It offers accommodation for children in self-contained units for the sole use of one person. The provider is also registered to deliver supported accommodation in a shared or group-living situation in premises used to accommodate only looked-after children or care leavers.

p.1

provider

At the time of this inspection, 8 children who were 16 or 17 years old, looked after or care leavers were living at this service. The service can accommodate 28 children or care leavers overall.

p.1

provider

The nominated individual has been in post since August 2024. The service manager position has recently become vacant.

p.1

provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 12 January 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 14 to 16 January 2026.

p.1

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.

p.1

Summary of findings

The nominated individual is aware of the strengths of this service and the areas that need to be developed. They are taking action to address the identified shortfalls and improve the service for the children.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children said that they like where they live. They benefit from good-quality accommodation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 2 Most children said that they are happy with the support they receive from staff and that this helps them to prepare to live on their own.

p.1

Summary of findings

Staff receive training that helps them to understand how to keep the children safe. Staff are confident to follow the procedures in place to report any concerns. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children's experiences and progress while living in this service are mixed. When staff have a good understanding of children's needs, it helps them to build relationships. The connections between staff and children support children to communicate their wishes and feelings. When staff do not fully understand children's needs, they are less able to build positive relationships. This affects children's confidence and their sense of value and respect.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

The procedures in place to assess children's needs at the time of admission are not always effective. Some children have been admitted to the service when their needs are beyond the scope of supported accommodation. Consequently, children have been moved to alternative placements. For other children, leaders and managers do not seek all relevant information during the admission process to ensure that the service can meet children's needs from the beginning. A new admissions process is now in place, which includes direction from a specialist professional. The effectiveness of this cannot be tested at this inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children's engagement in education varies. Some children are doing well on full-time college courses or completing online education. These children have positive career aspirations for the future. Some children remain out of education or employment. For these children, staff promote different opportunities. For example, they support children to look at local job prospects, and they attend careers events with children to help them explore their options.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff help children to understand the importance of staying physically healthy. They support children to attend local gyms and help them to learn how to plan healthy meals. Children's support plans lack any focus on emotional wellbeing. For children with additional emotional health needs, there is a delay in linking them with specialist support, such as access to therapists. Staff carry out limited work to try and support children emotionally.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff arrange a range of activities and communal events. These provide social opportunities where children can make new friends. Activities include local walks and visits to local attractions, weekly communal meals, such as Saturday breakfast and Sunday lunch, music sessions and pottery making. The social opportunities help children to build a sense of belonging and provide positive and new experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children learn a range of skills that will help them to be independent in the next stage of their lives. To become tenancy ready, they learn general housekeeping skills, such as cooking, laundry, shopping and budgeting. In addition, some children access additional external support from a local agency, which reinforces their life skills and improves their self-confidence. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 4

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children's risk assessments are updated after significant incidents. Where needed, safety plans are also in place that complement these risk assessments. These plans and assessments inform staff of what to do if children are at risk of harm. Staff feel confident to follow risk assessments and they act in times of crisis to make sure that the children are safe.

p.4

How well children are helped and protected

The response to children going missing from home varies. On some occasions, staff follow the protocols in place and take action to locate children. On other occasions, staff have failed to follow these protocols. Leaders and managers have identified the need to revisit staff expectations around children going missing. On some occasions, children do not receive independent return home interviews after they have been missing. This is a missed opportunity to gain information to reduce future risks.

p.4

How well children are helped and protected

Children do some work with staff to learn how to keep themselves safe. The quality and frequency of this work is varied. For some children, this inconsistency does not help them to understand how to recognise and manage risk themselves.

p.4

How well children are helped and protected

Children know how to contact staff at any time if they need help or support. They know that they can go to see staff in person or contact them by telephone or text message to make sure they get the help they need. When children contact staff, they respond appropriately to make sure that the children are safe. One child commented, 'The staff are always there to help me if I need them. I can contact them any time.'

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual recognises that there are shortfalls in the management oversight of this service and in the consistency of the quality of care for children. Following a recent internal review of the service, the nominated individual is working with the assistant director to improve the service. The new manager is now covering a recent vacancy in the registered service manager's position.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted of all significant events. This hinders the regulator's oversight of safeguarding practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff receive regular or effective supervision sessions that focus on children's needs, wishes, plans and feedback. The nominated individual and assistant director acknowledged that this is a missed development opportunity for staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular training that gives them the basic skills to carry out their role. Some specialist training courses, such as trauma-informed practice, are also completed. Other specific learning to support individual children's needs is not yet included in the training package, such as training to aid staff's understanding of their role in supporting children who are parents. This results in gaps in staff knowledge. Systems in place to monitor staff training are ineffective in helping Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 5 leaders and managers to identify where more specialist learning and training is needed to help staff to better support children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose is not fully reflective of the operation of this service. Some key information is not included, such as details of the services it provides for children, particularly in relation to children who are also parents.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leaders and managers work with a range of professionals and services, such as social workers and staying close services, to make sure that children have the help they need. One professional commented, 'I have found communication brilliant, and they [staff] are flexible to attend meetings. They present as a committed team who genuinely care about our children and want them to succeed.' Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and training to meet children's specific needs, including understanding their role in supporting children who are also parents. 20 March 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

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)) 20 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that children's support plans cover all of their needs, including their emotional health and wellbeing needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

p.7

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. (Regulation 5 (2)(f)(i)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and follow the missing-from-home policy and procedure, including ensuring that return home interviews are completed. 20 March 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan (“the workforce plan”) which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation, and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the process and timescales for supervision and monitoring of staff.

p.7

Requirement Due date

keep the workforce plan under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and 20 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 8 make a copy of the workforce plan available on request to the CIECSS. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) (2)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

If a child dies, the registered person must without delay notify—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the local authority in whose area the premises used as supported accommodation are located (if that local authority is not the accommodating authority);

p.8

Requirement Due date

the integrated care board (established under Chapter A3 of Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006(1)) for the area in which the premises used as supported accommodation are located;

p.8

Requirement Due date

any relevant person not included in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e).

p.8

Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working for the supported accommodation undertaking pursuant to section 35 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(2), the registered person must without delay notify—

p.8

Requirement Due date

any relevant person not included in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious; 20 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 9 there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

p.8

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 18 (4)(b)) 20 March 2026

p.9

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

its purpose, including its ethos, core aims and function;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the services it provides for children it accommodates and supports. (Regulation 9 (1)(a)(c)) 20 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 10

p.9

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: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 11

p.10

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: PCL (Support Services) Limited

p.11

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 51 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 2AE

p.11

Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@progressivecare.co.uk

p.11

Inspectors

Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector (lead) Amanda Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Transitions, Supported Accommodation 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12