Avantis Living

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 1 Avantis Living Registered provider: Avantis living Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns this supported accommodation service. It offers accommodation in 16 properties registered to deliver supported accommodation in a shared or group living situation in premises used to accommodate looked-after children or care leavers. The registration also includes premises that are not limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, 10 looked-after children or care leavers were using this service.

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provider

The organisation and the service manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025. The same person holds the nominated individual and registered service manager roles.

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provider

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

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Outcome

Serious or widespread weaknesses lead to significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. Leaders and managers must take urgent action to address failings. The next inspection will be within approximately 6 months.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not ensure that only children who are ready to live in supported accommodation are admitted to the service. This places them, and children already living in the service, at risk of serious harm.

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Summary of findings

Most children's support plans do not consistently reflect their current needs and are not kept up to date. These do not provide staff with sufficient information to support children or keep them safe. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 2 Not all children's accommodation is homely or well maintained. Leaders and managers do not monitor children's accommodation to ensure that this is safe and that any repairs are quickly actioned.

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Summary of findings

Ofsted is not notified of all serious incidents as required, preventing oversight of how leaders and managers respond to safeguarding matters.

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Summary of findings

Staff help children to access health services and encourage and support them to access education, employment and voluntary work. This helps children to work towards their future goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children's experiences of this service are mixed. While some children said that they feel settled and supported, others reported that they do not feel safe and that they have experienced harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The registered service manager does not ensure that only children who are ready to live in supported accommodation are admitted to the service. Children have been moved into this service in an emergency when their needs cannot be met, placing them and children already living in the service at risk of serious harm. This is detrimental to the progress of all the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children's placements have ended abruptly as their placing authorities raised concerns about their poor experiences and lack of progress, and poor staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

While some children learn skills such as budgeting, cooking and good housekeeping that will benefit them in the future, most children's support plans do not consistently reflect their current needs. These plans are not up to date and do not provide staff with sufficient information and guidance to know how to support children or keep them safe. For example, for one child, no daily records or plans were completed or updated between October and December 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Although most children said that they liked their homes, not all children's accommodation is homely or well maintained throughout. Furthermore, the latch locks on kitchen doors at one property restrict children's access to their accommodation. Additionally, not all the premises have been ready for children when they have moved in. Leaders and managers do not regularly check that children's homes are well maintained and suitably furnished. Staff do not consistently support children to keep their homes clean and tidy. This poor practice does not show children that they are valued, or help them to thrive and feel settled in their homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are helped to access health services and staff support them to access education, employment and voluntary work. This helps children to work towards their future goals as they move towards adulthood. Staff also encourage children to participate in a range of fun and interesting activities personally or with peers. This Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 3 helps them to stay in touch with family and friends and develop new friendships, which maintain their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children separated from their home country benefit from living with other children who share the same ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This helps children to feel a sense of 'family' and bond with each other. Staff understand and support children's faith and religious needs and they support children to attend places of worship.

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How well children are helped and protected

Poor compatibility decisions for children and some poor risk management practices have led to some children feeling intimidated and suffering emotional harm. One child also experienced physical harm from a child living with them. Consequently, the children were temporarily moved to alternative accommodation for their own safety.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager does not ensure that children's risk management plans identify and reflect their current risks. These plans minimise some significant and known risks for children, and they are not always updated when further concerns emerge. These inconsistencies mean that children's risk assessments do not provide staff with the information they need to keep children safe. Leaders and managers rely on direction from children's social workers on how to protect them from harm. This dependency, especially when staff need to act quickly to manage and reduce risks, does not promote children's safety or welfare.

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How well children are helped and protected

Although children rarely go missing from their homes, staff do not ensure that records of these incidents are always sufficiently detailed or accurate. This failure is a missed opportunity to ensure that risks to children's safety and wellbeing, including criminal exploitation risks, are fully considered, explored and included in children's risk assessments and support plans.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager does not notify Ofsted of all serious incidents as required. This significantly undermines Ofsted's ability to monitor how leaders and managers respond to incidents and how they carry out their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff responses to these incidents, and the records of these, are poor. Staff do not discuss these with children to prevent further incidents.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children said that they know how to make a complaint. Although these are recorded, these documents do not include information on what actions were taken or if children were informed of the outcome. This does not assure children that their concerns are taken seriously.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers were unable to demonstrate how they have responded to the defects identified by gas professionals at some of the properties. This does not provide sufficient assurances that children live in consistently safe environments. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not ensure that only children who have the relevant skills and are ready to live in supported accommodation, are admitted to the service. Specifically, the provider agreed a placement contract with a local authority that is not in line with the regulations or the statement of purpose, and is not in children's best interests. Consequently, some children have been exposed to physical harm and placement disruption.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Internal monitoring systems do not support leaders and managers to identify service shortfalls and regulatory breaches. This means that managers are too slow to take effective action to protect children from harm or to improve the quality of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not ensure that their policies and documents are accurate or up to date. For example, the children's guide for at least one premises provides inaccurate information stating that staff are available at the property 24 hours a day, when they are not. This is misleading for placing authorities and for children. Additionally, the required children's register is not up to date and does not include the details of all children admitted to the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Children said that they know the registered service manager and that they can contact him directly if they want to. There is a consistent staff team, and this helps to promote stability for children. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager and that they receive regular supervision. The quality and substance of these sessions is inconsistent and lack detailed discussions and reflections about children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager holds regular team meetings that include visits from the local police team and advocacy service. These help to broaden staff's understanding of topics that are relevant to the children. Staff also undertake relevant training, although poor management oversight means that it is not clear when staff completed their training. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 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 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)) 1 March 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 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

a child protection enquiry— 1 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 6 is instigated, or

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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; is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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 adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(viii)(ix)) 1 March 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— 01 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 7 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

in the event that the registered person or a member of staff considers that an accommodating authority or a relevant person is failing to provide the support set out in a child's relevant plans, make representations, or, as the case may be, enable staff to make representations, to the accommodating authority or relevant person with a view to ensuring that the child's needs are met. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(h))

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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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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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

ensure that staff understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (2)(f)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children who go missing and may be exposed to exploitation, receive appropriate support and guidance to keep safe. 1 March 2026

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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, 1 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 8 are kept up to date. (Regulation 24 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep records of other information relating to the supported accommodation undertaking set out in Schedule 3.

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Requirement Due date

maintain the records in Schedule 3, which may be kept in electronic form;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are accessible to children, the CIECSS and each accommodating authority;

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry.

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Requirement Due date

A record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child—

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the child ceased to be accommodated in the premises;

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Requirement Due date

the child's address immediately before being accommodated in the premises;

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Requirement Due date

the child's address on leaving the premises. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)(c) and Schedule 3 (1)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain a suitable register of children who live or have lived at the supported accommodation service and ensure that records are up to date and readily available. 1 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 31 (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must provide a clear account of the action taken in response to complaints, the outcome and record of any reconciliation work when children complain about each other. 1 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (2)(g)) 1 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 9 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff supervision provides depth in the discussions and reflections about children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 10

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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: Avantis Living 11

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Avantis living Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Knightsbridge House, Rooley Lane, Bradford BD4 7SQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Alhassan Osmann

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Inspectors

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Chris Jay, Social Care Inspector Leah Stannard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Avantis Living 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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