Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 1 Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group Registered provider: Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group in North West England. It can accommodate up to 104 individuals in single occupancy premises, 30 individuals in shared premises and 8 individuals in shared premises that are limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers. Two of the larger premises are foyer-type services, specialising in supporting individuals who are committed to education and training.

p.1

provider

At the time of the inspection, 25 looked-after children aged 16 or 17 were being accommodated.

p.1

provider

The service was registered in February 2024.

p.1

provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 26 January 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 28 January to 29 January 2026.

p.1

Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be in approximately 3 years.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children feel safe where they live. They understand the roles of staff and how they can support them.

p.1

Summary of findings

Accommodation is welcoming, homely and of a good standard.

p.1

Summary of findings

Staff are ambitious for children and there is a focus on education and future goals. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 2 Children have opportunities to learn practical independence skills and on-site facilities enhance this experience.

p.1

Summary of findings

The staff team is consistent. Leaders and managers have remained in post since registration.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop independence skills. They plan sessions to support children to learn skills such as meal planning and cooking. Children enjoy these sessions and use the training kitchens in some of the premises.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children know where staff will be at set times to access support. Staff support children to understand post-18 accommodation options. This helps children to be ready for their next steps in a planned and informed way. One child commented that they did not think that staff knew ‘how much they help me.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff help children develop social relationships and provide them with regular activities. Activities are well advertised and staff ensure that they are accessible to all. The accommodation includes comfortable spaces for social interactions and activities. Staff take children on activities away from the accommodation. This allows children to have new experiences, feel more confident and achieve a sense of belonging.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff are ambitious for children and encourage engagement in education. In some of the accommodation, children must be in education at the point of referral. Children access study areas and staff support children with their studies. Staff understand the pressures children may face, such as examinations. Staff support children to manage this pressure to help children achieve their goals. This makes children feel supported and some children have moved on to university.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff ensure that children understand their rights and entitlements. They support children to understand important information such as housing and child in care rights. Staff ensure that children can access independent advocacy support. This ensures that children know where to find key information and that they feel listened to.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Leaders and managers provide written guides to welcome children to the service. Guides are tailored to the individual accommodation and provide children with information about the service and what to expect when they move in. However, some guides highlight that children can smoke in their private spaces. This approach does not support children to understand the dangers of smoking and the laws around this. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 3

p.2

How well children are helped and protected

Night staff know how to respond to children. They have access to up-to-date information about any concerns or risks. Leaders and managers provide on-call support should this be required and all actions are clearly recorded. Children know the staff and understand their role and how to contact them.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children know how to complain and know the staff that support them. There is a consistent staff team, including the night staff. Children’s views are responded to and there is a process in place to raise any ‘grumbles.’ Residents’ meetings enable children to raise any concerns, and these are held on a regular basis and planned.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children live in clean, comfortable accommodation. This is well designed to ensure that communal areas are accessible for all. The accommodation is well maintained with ongoing improvements, such as modernising bathrooms. However, fire safety reports do not always reflect the procedures for smoking in the accommodation. This means that leaders and managers are unable to ensure that such activities are safely managed.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Plans for children are updated regularly and include children’s needs. Information is transferred from referrals and plans are generally reviewed following incidents. Staff work well with other agencies to share information. A social worker said: ‘Information is shared promptly, updates are clear, and staff maintain consistent contact.’ However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to update information about children. For example, one child was assaulted in the community; this information was not shared with a manager despite being recorded.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Staff follow appropriate procedures when children are missing from home. Children have individualised plans that support staff in understanding any risks when they are away from home. Staff relay important information to the night staff, so they know how to respond during the night if a child does not return home. Missing protocols are in place across the service. However, these are not consistent and give conflicting information to staff. Despite this, staff do respond appropriately when children are missing from home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the service and can identify most shortfalls. There is a clear staffing structure, with managers overseeing the accommodation each day. The registered person makes regular visits and oversees any safeguarding concerns. Managers also meet on a weekly basis and have clear expectations of their role. Some managers have been with the organisation for many years.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision and including coaching conversations with their managers. These have a set agenda and actions to complete. Coaching conversations focus on staff development and achievements. Staff feel supported by Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 4 managers and want to progress. All managers have recently completed a leadership course to support their development. The registered person receives regular supervision as well as additional support from leaders in the organisation.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers follow clear processes when children are referred to the service. There are clear expectations that children must be ready for supported accommodation. Children are invited to view accommodation and meet staff to ensure that they have a good understanding of the service. This helps staff to gain children’s views and gather further information from other agencies. Leaders and managers have good working relationships with local authorities with whom they work to ensure that referrals are suitable. This means that children receive the right level of support that the provider can deliver.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive thorough inductions and training. Training is prioritised and enables staff to meet the needs of the children they support. Induction programmes are designed to ensure that new staff have the knowledge and skills to fulfil their role. This includes shadowing opportunities. One member of staff highlighted feeling very supported through their induction by staff, managers, and the wider organisation.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers want children to achieve and have positive experiences. Outcomes for children are a key focus. There are clear rules and boundaries for children to ensure that they know what to expect. Warning systems are in place, but children can use them to understand boundaries and positively move forward. Leaders and managers are reflective and have made changes to this system to ensure they are more child focused. The service has a ‘penthouse,’ which is reserved for children who have made good progress. Children aspire to live in the penthouse, and this has been an area of achievement for some children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 5

p.4

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.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that consistent processes are in place for safeguarding incidents, including when children are missing from home. They must also ensure that relevant plans for children are promptly updated when required. 15 March 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

p.5

Requirement Due date

comply with all relevant statutory provisions dealing with health and safety or fire safety matters.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (2)(b)(x)) 15 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that fire risk assessments are relevant to the accommodation, and any actions are adhered to.

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the young person’s guide contains information about the support and accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking. This should reflect how staff will create an environment that supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health, including how children who smoke will be supported. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards, page 38)

p.6

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: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 7

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group Ltd

p.7

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 7th Floor Trafford House, Old Trafford, Manchester M32 ORS

p.7

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Adele Travis

p.7

Inspectors

Helen Wallis, Social Care Inspector Amanda Cooper, Social Care Inspector Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Mosscare St Vincents Housing Group 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8