Starlight Support Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Starlight Support Services Registered provider: Starlight Support Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service is owned by a private provider. It offers up to five non-ring-fenced group living services.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing supported accommodation for 6 children aged 17.

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provider

The organisation and the service manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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provider

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

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Summary of findings

Overall, the children’s experiences and progress have been variable, resulting in mixed outcomes.

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Summary of findings

Not all children have full autonomy over their finances. Similarly, the arrangements for administering medication for one child align with care practices.

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Summary of findings

When children return home after being missing, they are not always offered the opportunity to speak to an independent person. Leaders and managers have not escalated this concern to local authorities.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers work collaboratively with multi-agency professionals to promote children’s safety and welfare. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Summary of findings

Management monitoring systems help leaders and managers make continuous improvements. Leaders and managers have been receptive to the learning points raised during the inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Since the service registered, 25 children have received accommodation and support from the provider. Three children have experienced unplanned endings due to changes in their needs and risks. Overall, the children’s experiences and progress have been variable, resulting in mixed outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children enjoy living in the accommodation. One child said, ‘This is the best place I have ever been.’ The children’s accommodation seen was welcoming and homely; one child’s bedroom was not seen in line with their wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Although children have and are developing independence skills with staff support, not all children have full autonomy over their finances. For example, children are or have received their allowances in instalments or vouchers. Similarly, the arrangements for administering medication for one child aligns with care practices. The review of these practices is not effective. They fail to adequately prepare children for adulthood, and it slows down their potential to progress effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Leaders, managers and staff know the children well. They speak about past and current children with genuine fondness. The relationship-based approach has helped children feel accepted and supported. It also provides children with trusted adults with whom they can discuss a broad range of issues. Children’s participation in meetings, including team meetings, enables staff to listen to and respond to their wishes and feelings. Children’s complaints are acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The children are not in education or employment. Some children attend vocational training. The outcomes for children in this area are inconsistent. However, one person who has left the service said that this form of training helped them get the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. They have also secured employment in the organisation. Leaders and managers help children apply for a driver’s licence, which enhances their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Leaders, managers and staff celebrate children’s achievements and significant milestones with rewards and events that value children. Some children who live independently remain in touch with the service. One person who has left the service said they appreciated the opportunities staff offered them and spoke about how the advice from staff now makes sense to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s hobbies and interests are explored with them and turned into reality. For example, recording studio sessions, playing football and participating in social events bring children and staff together and create a sense of belonging. The photos of children’s involvement in activities and events in memory books capture the enjoyable times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children receive the health support they need, and staff encourage them to attend missed health appointments with variable amounts of success. Furthermore, staff support children in staying in touch with their families and friends, where appropriate. This helps children stay connected with their culture and identity. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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How well children are helped and protected

Safer recruitment practices are not consistently followed. Leaders and managers did not follow up a reference that failed to address a safeguarding related question. Not all previous employment roles with children and vulnerable adults have been checked to confirm the reason the employment or position ended. Furthermore, not all applicants’ interviews consistently include a safeguarding question. This does not provide assurances that prospective staff have an adequate understanding of safeguarding children in advance of being appointed. The lack of due diligence has the potential to expose children to risks from adults who are in a position of trust.

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How well children are helped and protected

The staff team has revisited the missing-from-home policy and has received further training to ensure a shared understanding of the missing-from-home procedures. This has been effective. However, when children return, they do not always have the offer of speaking to an independent person. Leaders and managers have not escalated this concern to local authorities. These are missed opportunities to gain insight that could help keep children safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff benefit from training to support children’s complex needs and risks in the community, such as exploitation, alcohol and drugs misuse. The safeguarding culture that is promoted by leaders, managers and staff motivates them to be professionally curious and work collaboratively with other agencies. Consequently, when incidents occur, staff keep all relevant agencies informed. Leaders, managers and staff attend multi-agency meetings, sharing intelligence that shows how well the staff know the children. This helps inform multi-agency decision-making and the next steps in response, specifically in relation to one child’s rapidly increasing risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff understand the children’s individual risks, and they are guided by written risk assessments. Staff talk to children about their risks so they can protect themselves in the community, which has variable levels of success. Discussions with children following any unwanted behaviour reinforce acceptable boundaries and expectations. It also helps children reflect on their behaviour. Physical interventions are rare. Staff have physically held one child to protect them from significant harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Changes in organisational practices have taken place since the monitoring visit in August 2025. The service manager has devised a new system to ensure that only children are admitted whose assessed needs can be met by the service. Staff have benefited from updated training that is tailored to the needs of the children who are using the service. Furthermore, leaders and managers notify Ofsted about significant incidents. These improvements adequately address the requirements raised at the monitoring visit.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have not provided an admissions and discharge register that consistently includes the details of children’s addresses before arriving at and leaving Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

the accommodation. This prevents leaders and managers from monitoring and keeping a precise record of children’s past and current information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are visible and approachable, modelling high aspirations for children that they know very well. This builds a culture in which children are provided with opportunities to make positive choices and reach their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers, and they receive regular supervision. Staff value the regular check-ins from leaders and managers. The communication systems have improved. Information-sharing through mechanisms such as newly launched safeguarding newsletters and existing team meetings keeps everyone up to date. It also supports a reflective learning culture and promotes best practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers value staff progression. This has resulted in staff promotions to trainee management positions, the offer of the relevant management training and recognition for their work. These approaches demonstrate that leaders and managers value staff, which also promotes staff retention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management monitoring systems are effective in helping leaders and managers make continuous improvements. Professionals and children, past and present, rate the service delivery favourably. They highlight leaders’, managers’ and staff’s non- judgemental, patient and caring approach, as well as their commitment to the children. A former young adult who left the service described how they contributed to staff recruitment and training. They also confirmed that they have since recommended the service to support their friend. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm (1). (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must review the financial and medication management support to children so that it aligns with supported accommodation. 1 May 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—

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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)(h)) 1 May 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c)(d) and Schedule 3 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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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 readily available and retained within the required timescales. 1 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (4), the registered person may only— employ an individual for the purposes of the provision of supported accommodation, or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work for the supported accommodation undertaking in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work for the supported accommodation undertaking,

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person is satisfied that the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character,

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that the individual is to perform, 1 May 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform, and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1 (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must consistently follow safer recruitment practices, ensuring that sufficient safeguarding checks are carried out.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure there is a policy on staff entering children’s bedrooms and that this is communicated from the outset to all children in relation to their rooms being seen to inform Ofsted inspections. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 30)

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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: Starlight Support Services 9 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Starlight Support Services

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@starlightsupportservices.co.uk

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Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Starlight Support Services 10 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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