Dunfield & Mead Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 1 Dunfield & Mead Ltd Registered provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service registered with Ofsted in March 2024 and is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 6 looked-after children and care leavers in 2 shared premises.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were being supported.

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provider

The registered service manager has notified Ofsted of their long-term absence. The nominated individual has assumed responsibility for the role of registered service manager and the day-to-day management of the service.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 1 June 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site on 3 and 4 June 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. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Since registration, the provider has reduced the number of supported accommodation premises. The nominated individual reported that this reflects the supported accommodation market dynamics and said that it is necessary to maintain financial viability.

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Summary of findings

Leaders, managers and staff do not demonstrate sufficient professional curiosity in relation to potential safeguarding concerns.

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Summary of findings

The provider has failed to report all significant incidents to Ofsted. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 2 Children’s records are not kept up to date or are missing. This includes key documents, such as risk assessments, safety plans and support plans. In addition, children’s important contact details are missing or inaccurate.

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Summary of findings

Children say they are happy with their accommodation and the support they receive.

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Summary of findings

Professionals report that children make progress and that there is regular communication from staff.

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Summary of findings

The nominated individual acknowledges the concerns identified during this inspection and agrees that improvement is required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children enjoy a range of positive experiences. For example, they attend local gyms and participate in community football. Staff provide support that is sensitive to children’s individual diversity, helping to ensure that their religious and dietary needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff help children to choose their local school or college, and all children engage in education. They promote children’s involvement in personal decision-making, including supporting them to attend formal appointments, such as those relating to immigration matters.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff carry out assessments of children’s independent living skills. These are used to help identify and monitor progress. Children say they make progress in areas such as cooking, managing finances and travelling independently. They say that their emotional health has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff know the children well, listen to them and spend meaningful time with them. Children say that they trust staff and can talk to them about any concerns. Children develop a sense of permanence and belonging. They understand how to raise complaints and feel confident approaching staff for advice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children spoken with during the inspection said that they are happy in their homes and feel that they have everything they need. Children are in good health. They are encouraged to provide quarterly written feedback, which is mostly positive. However, one child raised a safeguarding concern in their feedback, and there is no recorded evidence that staff followed this up.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s transition plans are appropriate. However, one child was disappointed to move on to alternative supported accommodation after the provider closed a home due to uneconomical overheads at the property. This does not provide children with the stability they require as they prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Overall, children live in suitably furnished and comfortable homes, and bedrooms can be personalised. However, some shortfalls were identified. These include Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 3 unsuitable bedroom door locks, hazardous materials that are accessible to children, and a broken oven extractor fan in one home. In addition, a surveillance camera in a kitchen area is intrusive and inappropriate for a communal space, detracting from an otherwise homely environment.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children say that they feel safe and settled. They can identify a trusted adult with whom they can share any concerns. Children have regular one-to-one meetings with their named worker. These discussions cover areas such as developing basic living skills, keeping safe from harm, and managing emotional health. This support helps children to navigate their day-to-day lives safely.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are encouraged to establish and maintain supportive social relationships with their family and friends. They visit their family members safely, and friends visit them in their homes. Adult visitors are also welcomed. However, staff do not consistently adhere to the provider’s visitor policy. For example, visitors do not always sign in and out. This may leave vulnerable children exposed to unnecessary risk.

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How well children are helped and protected

A child told staff that another child was allowing visitors to enter the home overnight through a bedroom window. There is no record of this concern, and staff did not follow it up. This lack of professional curiosity may compromise children’s safety.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children’s support plans are not up to date and do not contain relevant information. Risk assessments and safety plans do not reflect children’s changing risks and needs following incidents of concern. This limits staff’s shared understanding of emerging risks and reduces their ability to keep children safe. In addition, leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted of all serious incidents, limiting regulatory oversight of children’s welfare.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children who go missing from home receive a timely response from staff. However, staff do not ensure that the child’s placing authority carries out statutory return home interviews. This prevents the provider from gathering important information about why children go missing and where they have been to inform their plans.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff recruitment checks are incomplete. Although the provider uses a checklist, full employment histories are not consistently obtained, and gaps in employment are not always recorded or explored during interview.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff receive comprehensive mandatory training, including on issues such as safeguarding and child sexual exploitation. However, some refresher training is overdue, and staff have not received specific training to meet the particular needs of the children living in the homes. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager is on long-term leave. During this period, the nominated individual has assumed responsibility for the service manager role and oversees the day-to-day running of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since registration, the provider has streamlined the service by reducing the number of homes from 5 to 2. The nominated individual advised that the service will consolidate and focus on the remaining 2 supported accommodation homes in the medium term. The provider has introduced cost-saving measures, such as a hot water timetable and monitoring the use of heating and has assured Ofsted of its continued financial viability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say that the culture of the service is centred on ‘caring for children as you would your own’. Staff work effectively with other relevant agencies and professionals, helping to ensure that children receive timely support and interventions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive good support and participate in regular supervision sessions. They say that they work well together as a team and that the registered service manager is greatly missed. Staff say that their employer is compassionate and offers a good work-life balance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Feedback from professionals highlights that staff respond to issues proactively, communicate effectively, and provide emotional warmth to children. Staff say that they enjoy their roles in supporting children to develop independence and take pride in seeing them progress into adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since registration, leaders and managers have introduced a new care management system. However, weaknesses in monitoring arrangements, including the absence of a children’s register, inaccuracies in staff rotas, and limited oversight of children’s records, have limited their ability to identify the shortfalls in the service that were identified at this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual acknowledges the shortfalls identified and has stated that more robust systems will be implemented. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead 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 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 requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm;

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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

support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them;

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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. 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 6 (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children’s risk assessments and safety plans are accurate and kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff follow up on all safeguarding concerns and complaints raised by children;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff and children consistently adhere to the provider’s visitor policy.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is an effective process in place to notify Ofsted of all serious incidents and other notifiable events; 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 7 ensure that leaders and managers notify Ofsted, without delay, of all serious incidents involving children accommodated at any of the provider’s premises.

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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

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. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that every child has an individual support plan that it is kept up to date. 31 December

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff training is up to date;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff receive training that is specific to children’s individual needs. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which— 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 8 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the following matters in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

how it ensures that the child’s rights and views are at the centre of the support, service delivery and planning;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to ensure a child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

the positive outcomes the service seeks to achieve for children and its approach to achieving those outcomes;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to support the development of children’s independent living skills, in line with their identified individual needs;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements in place to promote children’s involvement and progress in education, training or employment;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements for and policies on protecting and promoting the mental and physical health needs of children, including medication handling, recording and safekeeping;

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Requirement Due date

anti-discriminatory practices in respect of children and their families;

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Requirement Due date

how it supports the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children;

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Requirement Due date

details of who to contact if a person has a complaint and how that person can access the complaints procedure (see regulation 31); and

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Requirement Due date

details of how a person involved in the support or protection of a child can access the supported accommodation undertaking’s child protection policies. (Regulation 9 (1)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)(o)(p)(q)(r)) 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 9 In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the statement of purpose is accurate and consistently reflects any changes to the service.

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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

The registered person may permit an individual to start work for the purposes of providing supported accommodation or, as the case may be, for the supported accommodation undertaking, despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 1 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of that Schedule are incomplete,

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (4)(a)(b)) 31 December

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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 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working for the supported accommodation undertaking, in relation to a child who is, or has previously been, missing. 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 10 Before implementing, or making an amendment to, the missing child policy, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person, and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 21 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are offered a statutory return home interview following any episode of going missing.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must carry on the supported accommodation undertaking in a manner which is likely to ensure that it will be financially viable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that adequate financial records are maintained and kept up to date in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking, and

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Requirement Due date

provide a copy of the financial records and most recent accounts to the CIECSS upon request.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide the CIECSS with such information as the CIECSS may reasonably require for the purpose of considering the financial viability of the supported accommodation undertaking, including—

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Requirement Due date

the annual accounts of the supported accommodation undertaking certified by an accountant;

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Requirement Due date

information as to the financing and financial resources of the supported accommodation undertaking and the registered provider. (Regulation 35 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that Ofsted is informed without delay of any concerns regarding the provider’s financial viability; 31 December Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 11 ensure that, in the event of any future premises closures, children are appropriately prepared for transition and placing authorities are given sufficient notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any use of CCTV is no more intrusive than necessary and respects children’s privacy. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 30)  The registered person should ensure that the design of the accommodation, as well as the use of hazard-avoidance practices, reflect the needs and characteristics of the children living in the setting. This specifically relates to the safe storage of hazardous products. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 24)  The registered person should consider that, in shared accommodation, bedrooms may be lockable; however, they should remain accessible to staff in an emergency. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 30)  The registered person should ensure that accommodation settings are welcoming,

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Recommendations

homely, nurturing and supportive environments that meet children’s needs. This specifically relates to ensuring that regular maintenance checks are carried out. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 29)

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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: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 12

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Square Root Business Centre, 102 to 116 Windmill Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 2XQ

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Dunfield & Mead Ltd 13 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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