Help Plus

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 1 Help Plus Registered provider: Ziche Limited T/A Help Plus

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service was registered on 6 November 2024 and is operated by a private provider in the North-East, Yorkshire and Humber region. The provider's registration to operate supported accommodation is currently suspended. Prior to suspension, the provider could accommodate up to 4 individuals in one shared or group-living premise that is not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, no children aged 16 or 17 were being accommodated.

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provider

The service does not currently have a manager registered with Ofsted. The current service manager applied to become the registered service manager on 26 March 2026, and this application is being considered.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection between 17 and 20 November 2025. Significant concerns were identified in relation to leadership and management arrangements and the safeguarding of children. Compliance notices were issued under regulations 4 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 5 (the protection standard) to address the shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

On 20 January 2026, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit. Significant concerns remained in relation to leadership and management arrangements and the safeguarding of children. Therefore, Ofsted issued further compliance notices under regulation 4 and regulation 5.

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This monitoring visit

On 24 February 2026, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit. Significant concerns remained in relation to leadership and management arrangements. Therefore, Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 2 Ofsted issued a further compliance notice under regulation 4. The compliance notice in relation to regulation 5 was found to be met.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the service between 23 and 27 March 2026. The inspection found serious or widespread weaknesses which gave significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. The compliance notice issued under regulation 4 was found to be not met. Following the full inspection, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the home. This notice had immediate effect from 26 March 2026 until 17 June 2026 inclusive.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted held a case review on 30 March 2026. A decision was taken to issue a Notice of proposal to cancel registration under section 14 of the Care Standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

The provider submitted written representations in response to the notice of proposal to cancel registration. This monitoring visit was held to ascertain the provider's compliance with the suspension notice and to consider the representations received.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the suspension notice and has not admitted any children into the home since the suspension notice was put in place. Two young people continue to live there, both aged over 18. They are not accommodated under the supported accommodation regulations.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has undertaken several repairs to the home to repair property damage. The property is now more homely.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have developed several new checklists, templates and processes with the aim of helping them to improve their management of the service. The revised documents and processes have been developed to provide further structure to operational processes relating to the admission of children, children's plans, sharing of information and managerial oversight. However, they remain unimplemented and untested. For example, the provider has not yet taken the opportunity to implement a revised monthly audit procedure.

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This monitoring visit

Where new processes have been implemented, they have not helped the provider to meet the regulatory requirements. For example, the provider has used a new template to help them complete a 'quality of support' review. However, it does not comply with regulation 32. The provider has failed to submit a regulatory compliant 'quality of support' review since their registration in 2024.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has refreshed their staff training programme. This includes a clear training programme for leaders and managers as well as for support staff. Leaders and managers engage with several external forums and groups to help with their professional development.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers were asked what their learning and reflections were from the most recent full inspection. One senior leader said that they knew that Ofsted had not been informed of all serious events relating to the protection of children. They Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 3 recognised that they had not acted as they should have done to ensure that notifications were made, without delay. Consequently, serious events affecting children in their care went unreported to both Ofsted and children's social workers. Further, they identified weaknesses in internal communication processes.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has put forward a member of staff as the proposed registered service manager. Ofsted is in the process of considering the application. It is unclear how the provider has assured themselves that the postholder meets the regulatory requirements, as they could not evidence suitable recruitment records. The provider stated that the postholder was actively performing the role of service manager. However, they were not present during the monitoring visit, having worked a night shift.

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This monitoring visit

Following the visit, Ofsted held a case review on 8 May 2026 and decided that the suspension notice would remain in place.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements from the full inspection have not been fully considered at this visit. These will be reviewed at the next full inspection of the home. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 4

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(f)) 17 June 2026

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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

have their individual needs met; 17 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 5 have 24-hour access to help in a crisis or emergency situation;

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Requirement Due date

prepare and implement child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is a suitable person representing the supported accommodation undertaking available to attend any meeting the accommodating authority may hold about a child;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(e)(f)(iv)(vi))

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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

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

keep the child's support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child's needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe;

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Requirement Due date

engage and work with the accommodating authority if the registered person has concerns or if the child's support needs to be changed, including where that change may mean that the child requires more intensive support;

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Requirement Due date

before a child arrives or upon a child's arrival, ensure that the child is given a written guide, in an accessible format, containing information about—

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Requirement Due date

the support and accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking; 17 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 6 what advocacy support or services are available, how the child may access that support or those services, and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy;

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representation in relation to the support and accommodation provided and how any such complaint or representation will be dealt with;

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Requirement Due date

what services and facilities are available that take account of children's needs arising as a result of cultural differences or disability;

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Requirement Due date

and which the registered person must keep under review, seeking children's comments before revising the written guide. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(f)(j)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint an individual to manage the supported accommodation undertaking if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered service manager in respect of the undertaking, and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the supported accommodation undertaking. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 17 June 2026

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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; 17 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 7 a child protection enquiry— (i) is instigated, or (ii) 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. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 8 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: Help Plus 9

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Ziche Limited T/A Help Plus

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 17 Brook Street, Wakefield WF1 1QW

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Inspector

Steve James, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Help Plus 1 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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