Next Step Independence

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 1 Next Step Independence Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

The service is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 16 looked-after children and care leavers in 7 shared or group living homes.

p.1

provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing supported accommodation for 15 children.

p.1

provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted at the same time as the provider in May 2024.

p.1

Inspection dates:

The inspection was announced on 16 March 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site on 18 and 19 March 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.

p.1

Outcome

The next inspection will be within approximately 3 years.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff supporting children know them well. Most children are in education and report that staff have supported them effectively in accessing opportunities. Staff have the skills to support children and enable them to navigate towards independence.

p.1

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children. Staff speak highly of their leaders, and they enjoy working for the organisation. They say that they feel valued and that their views are heard. Staff Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 2 receive training, which enables them to support children well. This means that children feel confident that adults know how to support them and respond to their needs.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children, staff and external professionals speak highly of the service and the positive impact it has on children’s progress and development. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children say they enjoy living in their homes. They report receiving support to develop the skills they need to live independently. One child said, ‘The best thing is the way they treat you. They teach you to be able to live by yourself.’ Children report receiving assistance with practical tasks, such as learning how to pay bills and operate a vehicle. One child described their extensive cooking skills and said, ‘I had zero cooking skills before I came here.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in homes that are welcoming and homely. The homes are decorated and furnished to a high standard, and there is space for children to socialise and relax indoors and outdoors. Children are proud of their homes. Their photos and belongings are in the shared areas of the homes, showing that they live there and can make them their own. As a result, children feel valued and comfortable in their home and have a safe and secure environment from which they can progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are making good progress; most are in education or training. For children who have faced challenges with their education, there is evidence of appropriate support and advocacy by staff. For instance, staff have advocated for increased opportunities for children who access a limited timetable.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children

Children receive support from staff who know them well. They are encouraged to discuss their worries and concerns with staff and establish trusting relationships, instilling confidence that they will receive the necessary support. Children are supported to move on to independence in a positive manner. They say they are encouraged by staff to take advantage of opportunities to learn and develop their skills and confidence.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children are supported by staff who have been recruited safely and undergone the necessary background checks. Leaders and managers have overhauled their processes since the last inspection to ensure that they are fully satisfied with their employees’ histories, skills and suitability.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

When children go missing, leaders and staff act promptly to ensure their safe return. Children at risk of exploitation are supported safely by staff who understand their needs and how to keep them safe. There is good evidence of collaborative working with other agencies, and plans to reduce possible harm are being managed well.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children who contributed to the inspection reported positive relationships with staff. Children feel safe and happy in their homes, a sentiment echoed by the professionals involved with them. Feedback from professionals is overwhelmingly positive. They say the service’s support and communication are excellent. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 4 There are few complaints from children. When complaints are raised, they are managed effectively. Children are kept informed throughout and advised of the outcome in line with the provider’s policy.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Homes are comfortable and homely, meaning children feel valued and safe. However, the service has a blanket approach to locking away hazardous items, such as kitchen knives, which is not always reflective of children’s individual needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers demonstrate a genuine passion and commitment to improving outcomes for children. Since the previous inspection, they have implemented significant improvements to their referral and matching processes and strengthened their management structure. This enables them to have confidence that they support children who are able to thrive in the service. They are also confident that staff are well supported by a strong management team. Children get along well with staff and the other children living with them. This demonstrates that the matching processes carried out by leaders are strong.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

During a period of change, leaders worked hard to ensure that staff felt supported, and they have invested in therapeutic training and consultation to enable staff to be confident in their skills and support for children. They have strengthened their oversight of the service and ensured that it is well managed by a skilled team that is able to support staff in meeting children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, and they work closely with other professionals to keep children safe. Notifications of safeguarding incidents to the regulator and follow-up communication with the regulator are excellent. Leaders have effective systems in place to ensure that they have full oversight of all incidents of a safeguarding nature and that they respond appropriately.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers ensure that children can contribute to plans and decisions that affect them by offering creative communication methods that are meaningful to children and incorporating child-friendly techniques for recording information in plans. This means that children engage in and actively contribute to their support plans, making them meaningful and relevant for their future. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the design of the accommodation and the use of hazard-avoidance practices are consistent with the needs of the individuals who are living in the specific setting. In particular, ensure that when hazardous items are locked away, the approach is in line with children’s individual needs and is reflected in their plans. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 24)

p.5

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: Next Step Independence 6

p.5

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Wellington House, East Reach Court, Queen Street, Taunton TA1 3UF

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Bridget Drew-Spyer

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Melissa Taylor-Ware

p.6

Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: bridget.drew-spyer@nextstepindependence.co.uk

p.6

Inspector

Karen O’Neill, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Next Step Independence 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.

p.6

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7