Unity House

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 1 Unity House Registered provider: Golden Care Estate Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service registered with Ofsted on 6 March 2024. The service manager registered at the same time.

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provider

The same provider has a children’s home registered with Ofsted. Both services are managed by the same manager. The same director is the nominated individual for the supported accommodation service and the responsible individual for the children’s home.

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provider

The supported accommodation service provides ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 10 children across 3 properties.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in one of the properties. The other 2 properties were undergoing refurbishment.

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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

The leaders and managers do not consistently demonstrate that decisions are made in the best interests of children. Allowing staff to work with children without a thorough vetting process exposes children to unnecessary risk.

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Summary of findings

Referrals are not always carefully considered, and record-keeping is sometimes poor.

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Summary of findings

The experiences and outcomes for children are variable. The child currently receiving support has positive experiences and is making good progress. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The experiences, progress and outcomes for children vary. One child did not make significant progress in any area of their life. The child did not engage with staff and wanted to move. After approximately 9 months, the child moved to live with foster carers, as it was determined that they required a higher level of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Other children have more positive experiences and make progress. The child currently receiving support described the care provided by staff as ‘excellent’. Their parent said, ‘In my view, this placement has been extremely successful.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children do not receive sufficient information about the service on admission. For example, the child currently being supported received a children’s guide relating to premises at a different address.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The child currently receiving support said that the staff are good and do everything they can to support them. Staff provide a wide range of guidance, including support with health and substance misuse, safety at home and in the community, education, training and employment, relationships, emotional welfare, identity and faith. Children receive help to learn life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff understand the importance of maintaining relationships with family and friends and actively promote these connections. Children benefit from spending time with their families, for example during holidays such as Christmas and on family trips abroad.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff monitor children’s progress and share information with local authorities. Weekly reports are produced together with children and sent to their social workers. Professionals work together to promote children’s positive outcomes and address any barriers that may hinder progress. For example, home tuition was arranged for a child who was not in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The standard of accommodation is high. The premises are spacious and comfortably furnished. One of the premises has its own gym and a separate study room.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff recruitment practices do not sufficiently safeguard children. As a result, children may be supported by individuals who are not suitable for their roles. For example, some staff members have worked alone with children without a Disclosure and Barring Service check being carried out and without gaps in their employment history being explored.

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How well children are helped and protected

When allegations are made against staff, the leaders and managers follow appropriate procedures. They work closely with the local authority designated officer and make clear, relevant contributions towards the decisions and agreed actions. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 3 Staff understand the risks to children and know how to keep them safe. They work closely with other professionals to ensure children’s safety. Partnership working is particularly effective when children go missing and are at high risk of being involved in sexual or criminal exploitation. One child said that they have learned how to be more responsible when they are in the community.

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How well children are helped and protected

The physical environment is safely maintained. Staff carry out daily health and safety checks. Specialist contractors contribute their services to maintaining safety. This includes regular checks of the water in the swimming pool, which is not in use. Staff ensure that the pool is appropriately covered and not accessible to children. Fire safety consultants carry out annual reviews of the fire safety arrangements on the premises.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff have a good understanding of the local area. They maintain regular communication with safeguarding partners about current risks and strategies to minimise harm to children. Reviews of local risks take place annually and whenever a child moves into the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers are enthusiastic about supporting children to develop independence and improve their life chances. One parent commented that consistent staffing helped their child to build relationships and loyalties. This child transitioned from the provider’s children’s home to the supported accommodation service, with the same staff continuing to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not always make decisions in children’s best interests. They do not always carefully consider all the relevant information before agreeing to provide supported accommodation. Their approach to ensuring that the service operates in line with the supported accommodation regulations is still developing. For example, a children’s register was only created during this inspection. In addition, the manager amended the statement of purpose during the inspection by removing an inaccurate reference to the service providing temporary care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Children’s records show that they contribute to their support plans. However, they are not involved in reviewing or developing key service documents, such as the children’s guide. The children’s guide inaccurately refers to the service as a children’s home and includes information about pocket money, which is misleading and confusing for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some records are fragmented. On occasion, leaders and managers were unable to provide requested information, or the information provided was limited. For example, details about how one child is supported to manage the risk of criminal exploitation are spread across different documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager reported that no complaints have been raised by professionals; however, this is inaccurate. Two professionals raised complaints about the service, and these were appropriately investigated. The manager explained that they were Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 4 not recorded as formal complaints because they were not upheld. Failure to recognise and record complaints appropriately reduces the effectiveness of management oversight and monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff report feeling supported by the leaders and managers. They receive comprehensive training, regular supervision, and annual appraisals of their performance. Weekly reflective team meetings, which focus on children’s progress, help to mitigate some of the risks associated with poor record-keeping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Ofsted receives regular provider reports following 6-monthly reviews of the quality of support. These reports identify clear areas for learning and support the continued improvement and development of the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (4), the registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual for the purposes of the provision of supported accommodation, or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work for the supported accommodation undertaking in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work for the supported accommodation undertaking,

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person is satisfied that the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

of the work that the individual is to perform, and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d)) 31 July 2026

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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— 31 July 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 6 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

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm;

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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)(e)(f))

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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

ensure that each child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation, including—

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Requirement Due date

what they can expect from the provision of supported accommodation. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(h)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children receive correct information about the service in the children’s guide and contribute to its content. 31 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints and representations made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide to the CIECSS upon request a statement containing a summary of any complaints or representations made during the 12 months preceding the date of the request and the action that was taken in response to each complaint or representation. 31 July 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 7 (Regulation 31 (1) (3) (5))

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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: Unity House 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Golden Care Estate Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Broadway Chambers, 1 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4DU

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Cassida Morgan

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@goldencareestates.com

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Inspector

Seka Graovac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Unity House 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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