Impression Services Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 1 IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD Registered provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider in the East Midlands. They can accommodate up to 33 individuals in 8 shared or group-living settings that are limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 13 children were being accommodated. The provider has been registered with Ofsted since 21 February 2024. The registered service manager has been in post since February 2024. They also hold other responsibilities as the nominated individual and director.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 22 June 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 24 June to 26 June 2026.

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Outcome

Serious or widespread weaknesses lead to significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. Leaders and managers must take urgent action to address failings. The next inspection will be within approximately 6 months.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers admit children to live in the home whose needs are too high for the service to meet. This has resulted in some children making insufficient progress.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not effectively consider the matching of children in shared homes, which results in children being placed at risk.

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Summary of findings

Not all children are supported to form trusting relationships with the adults who support them, resulting in children not sharing their worries and concerns.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers operate the service outside of the scope of their registration and statement of purpose, and lack an understanding of the regulations. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff do not always establish positive, meaningful relationships with children. This results in children feeling unsupported and unable to express their worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff do not effectively support all children to manage their finances. This has resulted in some children accessing food banks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Recording on children's case records is not always meaningful or respectful. Records contain inappropriate language that is subjective. This does not convey a sense of respect for the children or help them to feel that they matter to the provider.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff's approach to supporting children to access services is inconsistent across the homes. This is particularly evident in relation to accessing mental health support and the extent to which staff recognise and respond to children's underlying needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to access some health services when they move in. This helps to ensure that children's health needs are met. However, one child's alcohol and substance use has not been addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff ensure that support plans for children are thorough and have clearly identified actions to address children's needs. Staff know and understand how to provide support for children's cultural needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support some children to consider their options for education and employment. Staff support some children to enjoy activities outside of the home.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider accepts children with needs that are too high for the service to meet. This has led to children's placements ending abruptly. This means that children have experienced further instability as a result of poor decision-making by the provider.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider does not appropriately match children. This has led to instances of children being exposed to significant risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider does not ensure that all risk assessments accurately reflect the known and emerging risks for children. Staff do not exercise professional curiosity when children share information that could add insight into any concerns or risks. Staff miss opportunities to undertake meaningful work with children around known risks, and do not always accurately record the level of concern for children.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff respond to children's behaviour in a calm manner. However, they do not consistently challenge behaviour of concern. This does not provide children with stability and predictability or help them to understand what is expected of them. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 3 Staff understand the process if a child is missing from home and respond appropriately. Children are offered appropriate support upon their return.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider ensures that staff are subject to appropriate recruitment checks. However, a high turnover of staff reduces consistency and children's chances to form meaningful relationships.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider ensures that children live in clean, welcoming homes. Most maintenance issues are addressed promptly. However, one child has visible damp in their bedroom.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider ensures that staff have regular supervision. However, records do not demonstrate reflective discussion around the individual needs and experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider lacks an understanding of the supported accommodation regulations. This has led to the service operating outside of their registration and their statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff communicate effectively with partner agencies. They ensure that those involved with children are kept generally well informed of progress and concerns. When incidents occur, leaders update relevant professionals. However, they do not always inform Ofsted of serious events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager knows the children well. They take prompt action when areas for improvement are identified by external agencies. However, these actions have not been sufficient to ensure the quality of the service has been appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has provided staff with individual and team meetings. However, these have not translated into effective practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has ensured that staff have access to a range of training and support. However, this has not resulted in children experiencing appropriate, consistent support. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 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)) 9 August 2026

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that processes are in place to enable children to access support from other organisations and community 9 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 5 services, such that they are encouraged and enabled to access a range of services, including those offered by advocacy organisations and training providers;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(c)(g)(n))

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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 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(f)(ii)) 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (5), the registered person must ensure that the supported accommodation undertaking is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Nothing in paragraph (4) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

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Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations, or

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Requirement Due date

any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 9 (4) (5)(a)(b)) 9 August 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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious; 9 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 6 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(b)(f))

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Requirement Due date

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 location of the premises used as supported accommodation is suitable for the category or categories of supported accommodation provided, by—

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Requirement Due date

reviewing the appropriateness and suitability of the location of each of the premises used as supported accommodation ("a location assessment"), and in doing so, consulting and taking into account the views of each relevant person. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

If premises are no longer used, or intended to be available for use, as supported accommodation by the supported accommodation undertaking, the registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS no later than 10 working days after the registered person becomes aware of the decision to cease use of the premises. (Regulation 34 (2)) 9 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a way that does not stigmatise and distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the children must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to them. ('Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards', page 58)

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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: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Olufunmilola Daodu

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Olufunmilola Daodu

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@impression-services.co.uk

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Inspectors

Amie Pearson, Social Care Inspector Helen Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: IMPRESSION SERVICES LTD 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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