Fusion Matrix Limited

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 1 Fusion Matrix Limited

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Registered provider: Fusion Matrix Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides 3 shared-living premises that are limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

The nominated individual and director were in position before the service registered with Ofsted in January 2025. The service manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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provider

At the time of this visit, the service was providing support and accommodation for 11 children aged 16 and 17.

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provider

The provider was not given notice of the visit. Three of the provider’s premises were visited, and 2 children were spoken with.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out after Ofsted received information about the standard of the accommodation, and that children supported by this provider may be at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Significant shortfalls in the accommodation provided, the support the children receive, management of safeguarding incidents and leadership and management were identified at this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Poor management arrangements mean that children do not receive consistent support and services outlined in the statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that children receive good safe care, in safe and nurturing home environments. Children’s accommodation is not welcoming and Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 2 homely. One house was very dirty and had damage to walls and furniture. There was writing on the walls, and an old mattress was in the garden. Furthermore, part of a worktop stuck out across the back of a sofa. This had caused a head injury to one child, and another child told us they frequently hit this when using the seating. This does not provide a nurturing or homely environment for children.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of the service is poor. Leaders and managers do not know what serious incidents they must notify to Ofsted. The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of several serious events involving children, as required by legislation. This has prevented Ofsted from understanding how the service keeps children safe and from carrying out its regulatory functions.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that they, and staff, know, understand and follow the policies and processes to protect and safeguard children. The manager has failed to notify safeguarding agencies, including Ofsted, when two children made an allegation against a staff member. The manager, who was involved in the incident, investigated the allegation. This practice prevents independent oversight to ensure that thorough investigations are completed impartially and hinders partner agencies from being made aware of potential abuse.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments, support plans and other documents do not reflect children’s actual risks. A lack of professional curiosity from leaders and managers means that some of the documents did not contain all the children’s relevant information. This prevents staff from having the necessary information about children so staff can support children effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that children receive the support that is identified in their support plans and risk assessments. Some risk mitigation measures were not in place, and managers and staff could not evidence how they would be used.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that staff support children to manage and understand the consequences of their behaviour more appropriately. When children are involved in criminal activity, the action taken to support children to become safer is not effective. While staff do complete some key-work sessions with children, these do not focus on the behaviours that the child has been involved in. When children do not participate in these support sessions, there is no consequence for this.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that staff have the experience and skills to support children to become more independent. Staff complete basic tasks for children such as cooking and doing the laundry.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors were unable to verify the children’s experiences and progress, as leaders and managers failed to provide some of the children records. Inspectors and staff were not able to view records relating to the support, risk management and referral process of children. This prevented the inspectors from having a clear and accurate understanding of children’s experiences in these areas. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

 ensure that management arrangements provide effective oversight of the supported accommodation undertaking, so the service operates in line with the statement of purpose;  implement an effective auditing system so that they can be assured that that all staff, know, understand and follow the policies and processes to protect and safeguard children  ensure that children’s support documents are up to date, reflect children’s current risk and needs, and that staff have the skills and resources to provide the support to children identified in these documents; 29 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 4  ensure that effective monitoring systems identify when the accommodation standard falls short and then have an effective strategy to improve this quickly;  ensure that staff have the experience and skills to support children with a positive behaviour approach, so

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Requirement Due date

children are given meaningful consequences when they refuse to engage with their support or take responsibility for their home;  ensure that staff complete full, accurate records of all children’s experiences.

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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

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies. (Regulation 5 (2)(a)(i)(f)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers:

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Requirement Due date

 are aware of safeguarding protocols and that this is reflected in practice;  have an effective system in place so leaders, managers and staff know how to report safeguarding concerns to partner agencies in a timely fashion;  ensure that they and staff follow the safeguarding policies and processes, so children are protected and safeguarded;  ensure that any allegations made by a child are investigated fully and impartially and that no person involved in an incident or allegation will complete the investigation. 29 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

* The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment. 29 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 5 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

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;

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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 (2)(b)(v)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

 there is an effective auditing system to ensure that all premises are well maintained and provide comfortable and positive nurturing environments for children;  any avoidable hazards inside and outside are identified and rectified immediately, preventing children from being exposed to risks;  staff understand the expectations about the standards of accommodation required and that they are accountable for maintaining appropriate standards.

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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; 29 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 6 a child protection enquiry—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

ensure that the records are accessible to children, the CIECSS and each accommodating authority. (Regulation 25 (1)(2)(c)) 29 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Fusion Matrix Limited 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Fusion Matrix Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Flat 15, Ensign Court, Waterside, Gravesend DA11 9FB

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Modupe Osoba

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Inspectors

Stephen Challis, Social Care Inspector Phyllis Dyer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Fusion Matrix Limited 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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