iAspire Care Services Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 1 iAspire Care Services Limited Registered provider: iAspire Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service registered with Ofsted in February 2025 and is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 26 looked-after children and care leavers in 3 shared premises.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, 10 children were being supported.

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provider

Since the provider’s first inspection, there have been changes to the leadership and management team. The proposed nominated individual has resigned, and a new proposed nominated individual is in post. The service manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Inspection dates: 14 to 16 January 2026

The inspection was announced on 12 January and started the same day. The inspectors were on site from 14 January to 16 January 2026.

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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

Since the last inspection the provider has been ‘streamlining’ the service. A total of 12 premises have closed, and a combination of head office staff and support workers have left.

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Summary of findings

Children say they are happy with their accommodation and support.

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Summary of findings

Social workers say that children make progress and that there is regular staff communication. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 2 Significant incidents are not well managed.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not follow the provider’s safeguarding policy.

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Summary of findings

The registered service manager acknowledged the concerns identified during this inspection and agreed that further improvement is required. They have a plan in place to address the service shortfalls. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children spoken with said they enjoy where they live and feel safe. Children say they know who to talk to if they have any concerns. There have been no complaints from children since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in homes that have had a recent interior upgrade, including new carpets and redecoration. This helps to provide children with comfortable accommodation. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. However, the provider’s use of numbering children’s bedroom doors gives an institutional feel to the homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children have positive relationships with their house staff team. The staff take the time to speak with the children, so they know the children’s needs and the progress that they make. A social worker said, ‘A key strength of the placement is the quality of staff–child relationships.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff listen to what children say. Children have requested gym memberships, new computer equipment and a change of bedroom. Staff have actioned these requests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

All the children are in education or seeking employment, as they are supported well by the staff. Staff encourage the children to continue their learning and development, thereby preparing them for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some of the children’s individual needs are prioritised. Staff provide appropriate support for children with personal dietary or religious needs. The staff’s use of digital translation aids and interpreters is inconsistent. Not all children can access the young people’s guide, as this is not translated into all children’s first languages. This hinders some children from understanding what the service offers so they can use this information to contribute to their individual support plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Since the last inspection, the provider has created a ‘transition to adulthood preparation for independence’ workbook. This workbook helps staff to provide targeted support for the children. Staff help children with independence aspects, such as how to hold a conversation, immigration and asylum matters and money management, alongside managing basic household tasks. A child said, ‘Staff have helped me with cooking, ironing and my budgets.’ While children are engaged with this targeted independence support, the provider has yet to develop a system to help them understand what progress individual children are making.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders’ and managers’ oversight of serious incidents is inconsistent.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are supported by staff who have been recruited using safer recruitment practices. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 4 Children receive adequate support from staff who have now received additional training. All staff have now completed the provider’s comprehensive mandatory training. This includes safeguarding training and supporting children who may be at risk of child criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation. Staff have received training to help them understand how they can support children who may struggle to manage their behaviours when they are in crisis. However, the techniques employed by some staff members to assist in the management of children's behaviour are ineffective. As a result, staff often resort to calling the police to manage challenging behaviour in the homes. This risks the criminalisation of children in the homes.

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How well children are helped and protected

The management of children who go missing from their home is adequate. While not all incidents of this behaviour are recorded, staff make efforts to contact the children and follow the missing-from-home protocols when children go missing. Staff inform all relevant parties.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children have returned home after being missing, leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the child’s local authority carries out a return home interview. This prevents the provider from gathering useful information to understand why the child may have gone missing and where they have been, to inform the children’s support plans. When children’s risks increase and leaders and managers identify that they cannot be assured of the children’s safety, they have failed to escalate these concerns to the children’s placing social workers.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider has failed to ensure that the managers and staff follow their safeguarding policy when allegations are made by children against staff or other adults. Additionally, leaders and managers have not followed up on or implemented the decisions made during professional meetings. As a result, staff have failed to complete personal safety plans, and children have not received targeted one-to-one sessions. This prevents children from learning about the potential risks associated with their behaviours, so they can consider different choices to help keep themselves safer.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children’s records are not kept up to date to reflect their changing risks and needs. Shortfalls in the written content of children’s risk assessments and support plans limit the staff’s understanding of children’s dynamic needs and hinder their ability to help keep children safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff do not always display professional curiosity when exploring children’s emerging risks or behavioural changes. This inhibits leaders and managers from identifying suitable safeguards that can be added to children’s risk assessments.

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How well children are helped and protected

Ofsted cannot be assured that significant events involving children are managed effectively to ensure that children are kept safe. Leaders and managers take action to address any safeguarding issues and notify safeguarding agencies and the children’s placing social workers. However, they have failed to notify Ofsted of every incident. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The service manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025, and the newly appointed nominated individual has applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the provider has restructured the service so it can better support children. The provider has closed 12 premises, and 37 staff have been made redundant or moved on. The quality of support for children has improved as a result of these changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Professional feedback highlights some of the positive changes that children have made. Professionals feel engaged in the child’s journey as staff keep them up to date on the children’s progress. A professional said, ‘Staff members are approachable, responsive and easy to communicate with.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The changes in the service have led to a positive change in staff morale. Staff receive good support and participate in regular supervision sessions. Staff meetings show clear discussions about the children in their care, such as their upcoming appointments or arrangements for their finances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

While managers report positive changes since the last inspection, they do not feel involved in the decision-making for new children. Referral information is not always obtained and shared with managers before new children move in. Therefore, managers do not fully understand the children’s needs and risks. This hinders the managers’ ability to consider whether the new child’s needs can be met by the staff team and whether the new child can live harmoniously with those children who already live in the premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The quality of care report has not been provided to Ofsted. The poor monitoring and review systems have hindered the leaders’ and managers’ ability to identify the shortfalls in the operation of the service. The current system has not identified the regulatory breaches that have been raised in this inspection or that the statement of purpose does not reflect the current service offer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The new leadership team is focused on improving the service. Leaders and managers say that they are ‘halfway there’ in relation to the service improvement. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services 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 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 requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vi)) 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 7 In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

obtain all the key information relating to children’s needs and risks before admission to ensure that they can meet the child’s needs and keep this under review;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is effective oversight of children’s placements to ensure that the supported accommodation remains suitable to meet their needs and consult the accommodating authority where children’s needs are not being met;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children’s risk assessments are accurate and up to date.

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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. 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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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must have a process in place so that Ofsted is notified of all serious events and other 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 8 notifiable events, and the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers inform Ofsted, without delay, about all serious events involving children who are accommodated at any of their premises.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

engage and work with the accommodating authority if the registered person has concerns or if the child’s support needs to be changed, including where that change may mean that the child requires more intensive support;

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Requirement Due date

before a child arrives or upon a child’s arrival, ensure that the child is given a written guide, in an accessible format, containing information about—

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Requirement Due date

the support and accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(j)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that every child has an individual support plan that it is kept up to date and that children are consulted and encouraged to contribute to their support plans.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the young person’s guide is accessible in the preferred language of the child. 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 9 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children from abuse or neglect, and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and cooperation with any local authority which is, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the accommodating authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the premises in which the child is accommodated are located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the accommodating authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the provider’s safeguarding policy is followed by all staff following any allegations made by children against staff or other adults.

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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 well-being and development. 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 10 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 staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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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)(b)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s referral information is comprehensive, meaningful and shared with the staff team.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a behaviour management policy setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the approach to supporting children to maintain a reasonable standard of behaviour that reduces the risk of harm to, and supports the welfare and protection of, children and other individuals;

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Requirement Due date

the expectations of children in relation to their behaviour, what will happen if those expectations are not met, and how the registered person will ensure that children know what those behaviour expectations are;

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the premises providing supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

how the registered person will deal with challenging behaviour, including—

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Requirement Due date

taking a proportionate approach to involving other authorities;

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Requirement Due date

how the registered person will promote the development of positive and respectful relationships between children who are accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking and staff. (Regulation 22 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 11 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff apply the provider’s preferred method of challenging behaviour de-escalation techniques to minimise the use of police intervention and the criminalisation of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 30 June 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

how it ensures that the child’s rights and views are at the centre of the support, service delivery and planning;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to ensure a child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

the positive outcomes the service seeks to achieve for children and its approach to achieving those outcomes;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to support the development of children’s independent living skills, in line with their identified individual needs;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to promote children’s involvement and progress in education, training or employment;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements for and policies on protecting and promoting the mental and physical health needs of children, including medication handling, recording and safekeeping;

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Requirement Due date

anti-discriminatory practices in respect of children and their families;

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Requirement Due date

how it supports the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children; 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 12 details of who to contact if a person has a complaint and how that person can access the complaints procedure (see regulation 31); and

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Requirement Due date

details of how a person involved in the support or protection of a child can access the supported accommodation undertaking’s child protection policies. (Regulation 9 (1)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)(o)(p)(q)(r))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose accurately reflects the supported accommodation categories that they provide.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review (“a quality of support review”) at least once every six months, which must take into account—

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Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child’s life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from each child’s accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons;

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Requirement Due date

any relevant research and developments in relation to the way in which the needs of children are best met.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of support review, the registered person must produce a written report setting out the actions the registered person intends to take as a result of that quality of support review.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the review report to the CIECSS within 28 days beginning with the day on which the report is completed and make a copy of it available on request to each child’s accommodating authority. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2) (3)) 30 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 13

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Recommendation

 The registered person should consider the appropriateness of numbering children’s bedroom doors to maintain a welcoming and homely environment for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 1)

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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: iAspire Care Services Limited 14

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: iAspire Care Services Limited

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Nominated individual:

Registered service manager: Cheker Bhikoo

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Inspectors

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Rachel McIntyre, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: iAspire Care Services Limited 15 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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