Pola Well Care Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 1 Pola Well Care Ltd Registered provider: Pola Well Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider. The service can accommodate up to 5 children and young people in one shared or group living house that is not limited to accommodating looked after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, this service was providing supported accommodation for 2 children.

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provider

The service manager has been registered with Ofsted since the provider was registered in January 2024.

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Inspection dates: 29 April to 1 May 2026

The inspection began on 27 April 2026 when we announced the inspection. The inspector was on site on 29 and 30 April 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

Improvements in the home environment in response to failings identified at the last inspection have not been embedded. The provider is not operating the service in line with their statement of purpose.

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Summary of findings

Some risks and restrictive practices are not assessed and reviewed to ensure that staff receive the necessary guidance as to how to respond, or work with children, to reduce the risk.

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Summary of findings

The processes for ensuring that children are suitable for supported accommodation and able to share the home with those already living there are thorough and effective. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The children's moves into the home are well planned and considered. The manager completes detailed assessments that consider the needs of the child and how this may affect, or be affected by, the children already living there. There have not been any reported incidents between the children placed. One child said that they felt well prepared for the move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff have focused and informative discussions with children to explore relevant topics to keep themselves safe. Managers gain children's views through children's meetings, individual discussions and surveys to develop the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

There have been some improvements since the last inspection, such as more activities available to children and pictures on the walls. However, the home is not a nurturing environment as described in the statement of purpose. The kitchen is not a homely, hygienic environment and has storage labelled with a child's name despite that child moving out of the premises a year ago. In addition, a kitchen cupboard is labelled 'staff only'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The focused use of mentors is effective in helping children to meet their goals. There is good staff practice in identifying and supporting the children's personal plans and working closely with external professionals to achieve this. However, staff have not been able to consistently engage all children in education or employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop their independence skills. The manager prepares detailed and informative reports to evidence some children's readiness for independence. However, not all children's progress is captured using the goal setting book described in the statement of purpose.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The manager advocates for children to ensure that they go to suitable accommodation after they leave the home. Children generally move in a planned way and have a positive move on from the home. The staff ease the move on by continuing to support the children while they settle into their new accommodation.

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How well children are helped and protected

The senior managers understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They report safeguarding concerns appropriately and work closely with other professionals. An external professional is employed to undertake any investigations against senior managers.

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How well children are helped and protected

During a recent incident, staff responded immediately to signs that a child might be at risk of harm. They sought medical help and worked with the wider network appropriately. However, an emerging risk relating to the child's health condition was not adequately addressed in a safety plan. This risk was not shared with all staff and Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 3 the child's records were not updated to give staff the necessary guidance to manage this risk.

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How well children are helped and protected

When children are missing from home, the staff record their attempts to contact the child and report them to external professionals and family as appropriate. They work closely with the professional network to reduce the risk to children and engage children in discussions to help them understand the dangers they may face in the community and how to keep themselves safe.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are aware of the provider's rules and boundaries. Staff use a strength- based approach to help children manage their emotions. Improvements have been made in the recording and oversight of incidents. The records are detailed. Follow up conversations with children are recorded and any additional actions are identified and completed. There was one incident when the registered service manager reviewed the incident despite being involved.

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How well children are helped and protected

Restrictive practices, such as turning off the Wi-Fi at night and locking sharp implements in the staff office, are used to protect the children. However, these practices are not clearly explained in documentation or subject to review to consider how the children can learn to manage these risks prior to moving on from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leadership team is not clearly defined. The registered service manager was absent during the inspection; he contributed remotely. The nominated individual has not been in post for a year, although she has not withdrawn from the registration. The identified new nominated individual has not applied to register with Ofsted. A senior staff member reported that they had not met the newly appointed nominated individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have completed a workforce plan. However, it does not include the management structure, knowledge of staff skills and experience or how to identify and address any gaps. The management of performance-related concerns is also not covered in this document.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers collaborate positively with professionals and demonstrate a good knowledge of the children and advocate strongly for them when necessary. They also encourage children to use external advocates themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular, meaningful supervision. They are given space to reflect on their practice. The registered manager uses these sessions to train and develop the staff's knowledge. However, staff spoken to were not aware of who to report to if allegations are made against the manager or other staff. The lack of discussion about safeguarding scenarios in supervisions is a missed opportunity to assess staff's knowledge and identify such gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes. They ensure that all required checks are completed before staff start work. Staff undertake mandatory Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 4 training in addition to responsive training to children's needs. Staff confirm that they do not work directly with children until they have been fully inducted into the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers reflected on the areas they need to develop and gave assurances that they would address these shortfalls. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 5

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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 (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, demonstrate how staff will achieve the outcomes in line with the statement of purpose, such as ensuring that children engage in meaningful activities and the use of goal-setting documents. 27 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 the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk. (Regulation 5 (2)(f)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are aware of any emerging risks, and restrictive practices are assessed and kept under review. 27 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 6 The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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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 the premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive, and nurturing environment, while respecting children's need for privacy. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that the environment is homely and nurturing in line with the statement of purpose. 27 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan ("the workforce plan") which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

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Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

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Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

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Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance; the process and timescales for supervision and monitoring of staff.(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 27 June 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards young people and minimises potential risks to them. (Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards, page 51)

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the review of incidents provide the opportunity for amending practice and policies to ensure they are lawful and meet Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 7 the needs of the young people. Where senior managers are involved in the incident, they should not evaluate the incident to ensure impartiality. (Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards, page 57)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was announced on 27 April 2026 and the inspectors were on site from 29 April 2026 to 1 May 2026. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: office@polawellcare.co.uk

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pola Well Care Ltd 9 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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