Beam Support Social Care Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 1 Beam Support Social Care Services Registered provider: Beam Inc 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.

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provider

The service can accommodate up to 17 children in 5 group-living homes which are limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers. The provider currently operates in London.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, this service was providing supported accommodation for 4 children aged 16 or 17 across 2 premises.

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provider

The provider and the service manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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Inspection dates: 15 to 19 June 2026

The inspection was announced on 15 June 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 17 June to 19 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

Children experience individualised support.

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Summary of findings

While most children are thriving, progressing and developing skills for independent living, some children have not had good experiences. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 2 Most children living in the home are within scope for supported accommodation. However, leaders and managers have accepted children who are not suitable for supported accommodation, and in some cases, placements have broken down.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in welcoming, spacious and well-maintained homes. They speak positively about their living environments, and they have opportunities to personalise where they live. This helps them to experience a sense of ownership and belonging. One child said they were glad that they can put their personal touch to their room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop and maintain positive relationships with their family and the people who are important to them. There is good communication and frequent interactions between the staff and the children’s parents and relatives. These positive relationships with family help to ensure that most individual children benefit from a good support system when they move on in a planned way to greater independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff promote education and most children are in education. Staff encourage children to prioritise their learning, and this leads to improved attendance and commitment, from most children, to engage in their development. When individual children are not engaging, staff attempt to encourage them to seek employment or education. However, this approach is not consistently successful for every child because some children are not ready to develop their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children develop and improve on life skills such as cooking and learning how to participate thoughtfully in a group. These experiences contribute to their personal development and readiness for living independently. Most children open bank accounts, learn how to budget and explore savings options. This proactive approach from staff helps most children to take increasing responsibility for their finances and prepares them for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

All children are registered with health professionals such as a GP and a dentist. Children know how to seek medical attention when they do not feel well, and staff offer the option of supporting them to attend appointments if they would like to have staff’s company. Most social workers say there is good communication with staff, and that the children are well supported in the homes. However, some social workers recognise that some children’s current needs are such that they are not ready to be living in supported accommodation.

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How well children are helped and protected

Most children feel safe and protected where they live. Children and staff tend to spend time together in the communal areas, which helps to build positive relationships. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 3 Most children can identify a trusted adult to talk to, and this contributes to their overall sense of safety and emotional security. One child said, ‘I am well supported by staff. They respect my wishes and encourage me to make decisions which makes me happy.’

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How well children are helped and protected

Children are confident to raise concerns and complaints. Leaders and managers take any matters raised by children seriously and respond appropriately. For example, one child raised a concern about the safety of the garden, which was immediately rectified. This ensures that children’s voices are heard and helps children to develop confidence in those around them to address matters.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff receive a wide range of relevant training, such as in safeguarding, de- escalation and health and safety. This helps them to support children, manage many challenges well and keep the children safe. Staff say that they receive comprehensive and good-quality training.

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How well children are helped and protected

Some children are at risk of criminal exploitation in the community. Staff are good at keeping in touch with children when they are out and supporting children to return home safely. The managers’ and staff’s response to children who go missing is well coordinated.

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How well children are helped and protected

Managers do not go far enough to gather relevant information about children when they move in, which impacts staff’s ability to minimise risk. However, despite this, staff work collaboratively with other professionals to understand and address risks once identified. This approach helps to manage immediate safety concerns effectively.

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How well children are helped and protected

All necessary pre-employment checks are carried out before staff begin working with children. This includes identity verification, enhanced police checks, references and employment histories. Recruitment records are well maintained, and only suitable individuals are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and the registered service manager are the same person. The registered service manager has established a stable workforce, which provides consistency for children. All the staff have worked for the provider since before the service was registered. The managers and staff have high expectations and aspirations for all children. Staff are compassionate and supportive, and ambitious for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers and staff receive regular supervision and benefit from a suitable induction programme that helps them to fulfil their roles. The registered service manager supports staff well to develop within the organisation by identifying their specific skills. Support workers who show leadership potential have access to further training to develop into supervisory roles. One member of staff spoke fondly of the support that they receive from managers in preparation for stepping up. Another member of Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 4 staff said it is rewarding to see children make progress and that they enjoy making a positive difference in the lives of the young people who live in supported accommodation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since registration, leaders and managers have accepted referrals for children who are not suitable for supported accommodation. This has led to placement breakdown for some children. The registered service manager is implementing changes to the referral process to ensure that only children who are ready to develop their independence in preparation for adult living move into the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager knows the strengths of the service and the areas for development. However, the workforce plan, the statement of purpose and the complaints policy require review and amendments to make clear the provider’s approach to supporting children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that a workforce plan (see regulation 10) for the supported accommodation undertaking is in place. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(f)(j))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children are only admitted when their needs can be met in supported accommodation. 30 September

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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; 30 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 6 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

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(k))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they receive sufficient information at the point of referral to make appropriate admissions decisions.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate. The registered person should ensure that a child is not subject to reprisals for making a complaint or representations. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 61)  The registered person should keep the statement of purpose under regular review to ensure it remains young person focused and indicates how the service provides individualised support that meets the Quality Standards and improves outcomes for the young people it accommodates. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 46)  The registered person should ensure there is a workforce plan that fulfils the requirements in the regulations concerning the recruitment and employment of

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Recommendations

staff. The workforce plan should set out the management and staffing structure, including any arrangements in place for day-to-day oversight and management of individual premises and the responsibilities staff have in this. This should set out how staff will support young people, including whether, for example, this is through on-site or floating support or a combination of both. This should include staffing levels and how staff respond flexibly to unexpected events to promote continuity of support. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 47) Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 7

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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: Beam Support Social Care Services 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Augustina Collins

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Inspector

Ann Adesoye, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Beam Support Social Care Services 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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