Hyland Support Services Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 1 Hyland Support Services Ltd Registered provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service. The service can accommodate up to 29 children living in 9 shared premises that are limited to looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 or 17. One of the premises is used exclusively for mothers and babies. The provider operates in the West Midlands.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 18 children who were looked after or care leavers aged 16 or 17 were being accommodated.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 23 February 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 25 to 27 February 2026.

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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 within 3 years.

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Summary of findings

Children’s individual needs are identified and understood by the staff. Staff are ambitious for children.

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Summary of findings

Children can identify staff that they can talk to, and they feel listened to. If children make a complaint, procedures are in place to ensure their voice is heard.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the service. They are reflective and value feedback from stakeholders, and have made some changes to the service.

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Summary of findings

Children have opportunities to take part in new experiences.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers advocate for children to ensure that they understand and receive what they are entitled to. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 2 One child with high needs moved into the supported accommodation and received care rather than support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff prepare children for independence, using individualised support plans and key- work sessions. Plans are shared with children, and their views can be seen in the plans. Progress is regularly reviewed to highlight achievements and areas for support. Key-work sessions are recorded and written to the child. If a child is unable to attend a meeting, staff ensure that records are kept. These are then shared with the child in a way they will understand. Leaders and managers want records to be sensitively written, considering that children may view these in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children sometimes move between properties within the service. Moves are well planned and consider the needs of other children. All house managers are consulted before children move in, to ensure that they are suitably placed. Some children recognise that they will not always get along with the children they live with. They feel that staff support them in managing any conflict and find ways to resolve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children feel encouraged by the staff to do well. One child reflected how they have had ‘ups and downs’ since living with the provider but feels the team never gave up. The child now has an apprenticeship, is taking driving lessons and can see the progress they have made. When they moved into the accommodation they thought ‘it would ruin everything’ but now describes themselves as ‘lucky’ to be able to live there. Leaders and managers are keen for children with such experiences to support other children as they move into the service. This empowers children and provides support to others when they move into new accommodation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff ensure that individualised support is in place for children with specific needs. Leaders and managers ensure that any need is identified from the point of referral and that staff are trained to understand this. One child has a specific health need. Staff understand this need and provide support and guidance for the child when needed. The child now manages this independently, with key-work sessions carried out to ensure that they are on track. This enables children to take responsibility for their own needs in a safe way.

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How well children are helped and protected

On occasions, staff have used physical restraint with children to prevent serious injury. Staff are suitably trained and use other methods to support children before using physical restraint. The registered person has had oversight of these incidents, but not all information is recorded. This shortfall prevents the registered person from being able to review progress and ensure they meet regulatory requirements.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers ensure that any allegations made by children are shared with local partners. Thorough investigations take place to ensure that children’s voices are heard by staff. The registered person has taken appropriate action as well as Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 3 accepting any learning. However, on one occasion, concerns were not promptly shared with managers, which delayed action being taken. Staff and managers have now received additional training in this area. Changes have also been made to staffing rotas, to increase management oversight in the homes.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children and staff receive a debrief after any incident. This enables the management team to identify any areas for learning or next steps. Staff review risk management plans after incidents, to ensure that they are aware of children’s vulnerabilities. However, some incident records are very lengthy, which detracts from the key points. Leaders and managers have identified this and are working to ensure that there is a consistent approach.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers understand safer recruitment. All managers receive training and quality assurance processes are in place. The registered person is reflective and can identify learning from past staffing challenges. As a result, the recruitment, induction and probationary process are now more in-depth. Leaders and managers have a clear ethos for the service, which is a key factor in the new process. This supports leaders and managers in recruiting staff who are suitable for the role.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff carry out work with children to help them to understand risk. When concerns are identified, staff speak to children and share concerns with agencies. Staff support children to access specialist services such as drug and alcohol support. Leaders and managers are proactive and want children to be safe. If any concerns escalate, they review safety plans and seek external guidance. This enables children to access individualised support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person has provided care for a child. They carried out a thorough assessment which identified that the child was not ready for supported accommodation. The registered person did not fully consider how known risks would be safely managed in supported accommodation. The child found this experience very difficult and required a high level of care and support during this time. Despite this, they have now moved to a more independent placement within the service with a more suitable level of support. Staff from agencies working with the child describe his progress as ‘amazing’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leadership and management of the setting have remained stable since registration. Leaders and managers are appropriately qualified and experienced. Changes have been made to the management team to increase oversight of the service. Leaders and managers are reflective and take learning when things are not effective. They demonstrate a commitment to drive forward improvements for the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the provider was registered, the service has grown considerably. The registered person has made changes to the staffing structure to support this. They recognise the challenges in having oversight of a larger service and have a plan in place to upskill and support the management team. An independent consultant is Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 4 now delivering bespoke training and supervision. This has been a beneficial change for leaders and managers and provides a greater degree of oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers regularly monitor the quality of support provided. They consult with children, staff and external agencies. Feedback is important to them, and they use this to make changes to the service. A staff drop-in day is now in place. This gives staff the opportunity to speak with leaders and managers away from the accommodation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are strong advocates for children. They recognise how the transition to and from the service can be difficult for children. When it has been hard to source post-18 accommodation, the registered person has challenged local authorities. Leaders and managers want children to have a positive move. Children can take their furniture with them and any new accommodation is decorated for them by the provider. This enables children to feel valued and supported at what can be a worrying time. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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 ensure that at the point of admission, children do not require a care setting. Leaders and managers must also have a consistent approach to incident recording and reporting. 19 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

Where there is use of a measure of restraint ("the measure") of a child in premises used for supported accommodation, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of the measure, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child ‘s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; 19 April 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 6 a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure, and of any other individual present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment(1) administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered service manager, or a person who is authorised by the registered service manager to do so ("the authorised person"), has—

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Requirement Due date

signed the record, completed under sub-paragraph (a), to confirm it is accurate;

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Requirement Due date

within five days of the use of the measure, the registered service manager or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure to agree the accuracy of the report. (Regulation 22 (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that if the use of restraint is required, this is recorded in line with regulation, that all information is accurately recorded and an independent debrief is completed with the child.

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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: Hyland Support Services Ltd 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Emily-Jane Powell

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Inspectors

Helen Wallis, Social Care Inspector Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Hyland Support Services Ltd 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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