Signature Aftercare Ltd.

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 1 Signature Aftercare Ltd Registered provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider. The provider can accommodate up to 12 individuals in 3 shared or group living homes that are not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers. The provider operates across the north-west of England.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, 5 looked-after children aged 16 or 17 were accommodated in the provision.

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provider

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the organisation was registered in May 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection began on 9 March 2026 when we announced the inspection. The inspectors were on site on 11 and 12 March 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 approximately 3 years.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers demonstrate a commitment to continual improvement of the service. They understand legislation related to looked-after children and care leavers and are open to implementing change.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have a robust system for considering referrals for supported accommodation. Children living in the service are appropriately placed and making progress with independence skills.

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Summary of findings

Children’s vulnerabilities in the community are known by staff. Staff form trusting relationships and give children strategies to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 2 There is excellent inter-agency working between the provider and the youth offending service, substance misuse agencies, and contextual safeguarding organisations in the local area. This support network helps keep children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff welcome children into the homes and they settle in quickly. One child said, ‘It’s better than other places I have lived before; it feels safer.’ Staff help children to understand what help is offered, and they build trusting relationships that children rely on. A small team of consistent staff provides support in each of the premises.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children enjoy living in homely and generally well-presented accommodation. They have private bedrooms with plenty of space for their possessions. Leaders and managers have made changes to communal areas to encourage children to spend time with each other and staff. At children’s request there are bigger televisions, and blankets and cushions on the sofas. However, in one of the service’s kitchens, there are locks on food cupboards, following a dispute between some children who used to live in the accommodation. These have not been removed and give the kitchen an institutional appearance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children get on well with each other in the shared accommodation. They are consulted before new children move into their homes. Leaders and managers consider the risks and needs of children before admission. As a result, children have formed friendships due to having similar experiences of being in care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are ready for a greater level of independence when they move into the accommodation. Staff assess where children have gaps in their skills. Staff deliver learning sessions for children on skills needed for adulthood. Children take on more responsibility for themselves as they mature. For example, children are given front door keys to the shared homes. They have time alone in the premises to replicate the experience of other children their age.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff hold regular key-work sessions with children depending on their needs. All documents show children’s views on what they have learned and what they would like and need to learn next. All children know their plans and express hope for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to explore their interests and apply for related training or employment. Children are motivated to complete short courses and then progress to more structured education, employment, or training. Staff have good links with careers services and local training providers.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers complete risk assessments for each child. They use these to help children understand their individual vulnerabilities. This helps children to Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 3 develop skills in personal safety and healthy relationships. Children also go out in the community regularly, and there are no restrictions on their activities. This means that children become confident in identifying risks and taking steps to become safer.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff receive training on the specific vulnerabilities of children and on multi-agency safeguarding procedures. Leaders and managers identify new or emerging risks and offer additional training to increase staff skills.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children know how to complain but rarely do so. Children’s concerns are taken very seriously. Staff follow an appropriate procedure for dealing with allegations. When concerns arise, they liaise with the local authority designated officer and other agencies to ensure that children are safeguarded while the concern is being investigated.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children do not return home as planned, staff try to locate them before reporting them as being missing from home. Staff understand the risks in the community for individual children and follow local authority and police protocols. Staff prioritise children’s wellbeing when they return home. Children feel nurtured and cared about by staff. Incidents of children going missing from home are rare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The service is led by a strong senior leadership team. The nominated individual and service manager have effective oversight of the service and staff team. They know the children and staff well. Staff say that managers are approachable, helpful and prioritise their wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have implemented a robust system to consider whether referrals are appropriate for the service. They are curious about children’s risks, needs, and past experiences. Leaders and managers challenge social workers if they do not have sufficient information to make decisions about admitting children. There is a thorough evaluation of whether staff can provide support for children that will meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision. Staff express their views on the support provided and how children make progress with their living skills. Leaders and managers respectfully challenge staff when needed. Actions are completed and reviewed at each supervision session. Staff know what is expected of them in their work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have access to a variety of training courses relevant to supporting children, and they are encouraged to obtain residential care qualifications. Staff do not have a yearly appraisal of their performance that informs their continuous professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers complete regular reviews of the quality of support they provide. However, feedback from children, staff and partner agencies is not included. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 4 This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate how these views are used to develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Social workers are overwhelmingly positive about the support offered to children. They report that children are safe and make excellent progress. There is excellent communication between staff and services involved in children’s plans. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that accommodation is homely and welcoming when children move in, and it should not have an institutional appearance. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards,’ page 29)  The registered person should ensure that staff have their performance reviewed in an appraisal at least once annually. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards,’ page 51)  The registered person should ensure that they consider feedback from children, staff, and other stakeholders in completing a review of the quality of support. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards,’ page 61)

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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: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 1st Floor, Cloister House Riverside, New Bailey Street, Manchester M3 5FS

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Anne-Marie Jacobson

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Emma-Louise Porcu

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: aftercare@signature-aftercare.org

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Signature Aftercare Ltd. 7 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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