OpenMinds Young Persons Project

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 1 l OpenMinds Young Persons Project Registered provider: OpenMinds Social Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

OpenMinds Young Persons Project registered as a supported accommodation provider with Ofsted on 24 May 2024. The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual, also registered with Ofsted on 24 May 2024.

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provider

This service provides ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 10 children. At the time of the inspection, 2 children aged 16 and 17 were living in one of the ring- fenced shared premises.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 6 July 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site from 8 to 10 July 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 do not have effective oversight of the service, resulting in weak safeguarding practices and failure to notify Ofsted of significant events. Leaders have failed to regularly send accurate quality review reports to Ofsted.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have accepted children whose needs are not suitable for supported accommodation.

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Summary of findings

Leaders, managers and staff have not completed relevant training to enable them to adequately safeguard and support children.

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Summary of findings

Staff build good relationships with children and celebrate their achievements. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 2 Children are in education and making progress.

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Summary of findings

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The registered service manager does not have sufficient oversight of the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

When children move in, they are supported to settle in and feel welcomed. They receive a guide to let them know what to expect from the service. Children’s rooms are large and are appropriately furnished for their comfort. The home does not have a communal space, which means that children’s recreational space is limited to their bedroom, the communal kitchen and the garden. Children are encouraged to personalise their rooms according to their preferences, for example by choosing paint colours. CCTV is used appropriately in communal areas for monitoring and safety purposes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children and staff build respectful relationships and interact together well. Staff know the children and understand the progress they make, such as in food preparation, laundry and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to develop and maintain positive relationships with their families and those who are important to them. Staff communicate with children’s families to enhance the support individual children receive. The staff are inclusive and take the time to involve the children’s families when celebrating children’s milestones. This ensures that children have a wider support system when they reach independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff champion education for children and support them to access educational opportunities. One child received effective support that enabled them to complete their final GCSE exam, despite being reluctant to attend. The staff also actively explore alternatives to education, such as apprenticeships, to encourage children to explore their interests and aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Leaders and managers actively encourage children to explore their religious beliefs and develop their cultural awareness. For example, staff helped one child to explore a religion that was new to them. Staff often take appropriate measures to ensure effective communication with children, including translating documents into children’s languages and using tools to ensure that children who speak English as an additional language feel heard. Staff celebrate religious and cultural events, helping to promote children’s identity. However, staff are less confident in promoting awareness of children’s sexuality. As a result, opportunities are missed to support children in understanding this aspect of their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children say they feel supported and listened to by staff. However, they do not know how to make a complaint, which means that staff may be missing opportunities to improve the quality of the support they provide. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 3

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How well children are helped and protected

Since registration, the registered service manager has accepted children whose needs are not suitable for supported accommodation. This includes children with significant mental health needs, children who self-harm, and children at high risk of criminal and sexual exploitation. One child required constant supervision in the community due to the level of risk they presented. As a result, most children have experienced unplanned moves due to the increasing risk of harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

The reasons for decisions being taken for children moving into the service are not clear and do not take into consideration the impact on the other children already in the home. Staff do not accurately record information when children go missing, which affects the registered service manager’s ability to consistently oversee the service and adequately safeguard children.

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How well children are helped and protected

When vetting the suitability of staff, the registered service manager does not seek up-to-date information for returning employees, verify references or undertake international criminal record checks where required. This approach increases the risk of children receiving support from individuals who may not be suitable for the role.

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How well children are helped and protected

Written information is poor and disorganised. The provider has not implemented an appropriate system for children’s records to be saved and accessed. Staff do not create or regularly update risk assessments and support plans for children.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager and staff do not demonstrate a thorough understanding of safeguarding processes. One child with known self-harm concerns does not have a safety plan or access to mental health support. In addition, items that could be used for self-harm were found in the child’s room.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and the registered service manager roles are held by the same person. They are committed to supporting children to develop their skills towards independence and achieve better outcomes in life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager is actively involved in the service. They carry out direct-work sessions with children. They know each child well and work closely with the staff. The registered service manager actively creates memories with children and captures moments for their life stories.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider does not have an appropriate contingency plan ready to implement in the event of an allegation or complaint against the registered service manager. This increases the likelihood of disruption for children and staff in the event of an allegation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say they feel supported by the registered service manager. One member of staff said that the support they received from the registered service manager had Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 4 encouraged them to pursue their ambition. Staff speak highly of the relational work they carry out with children and of the compassion demonstrated by the registered service manager. However, the registered service manager and staff do not receive regular supervision or annual appraisals. As a result, opportunities for reflection and learning from practice are limited. In addition, appraisals do not assess staff’s strengths or areas for development and do not help staff to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff do not know how to raise a complaint if they have concerns about the registered service manager and are unfamiliar with the organisation’s whistleblowing policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager and staff have not completed all the mandatory training identified by the provider to help adequately equip them to support children with specific needs. This includes training in relation to safeguarding, self-harm and criminal exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The quality of support review does not provide the regulator with all the required information. The registered service manager has failed to address the recommendations from the fire risk assessment and notify Ofsted of significant events that have occurred in the service in a timely manner. Ofsted cannot be assured that swift and appropriate actions are consistently taken to safeguard children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 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. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers carefully consider the information in children’s referral documents to determine whether they can be safely accommodated together. 30 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

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

a child protection enquiry— 30 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 6 is instigated, or

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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

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

ensure that the effectiveness of child protection policies is kept under review and ensure that, where appropriate, those policies are revised;

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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

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must: 30 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 7 ensure that the staff receive appropriate training so that they have the skills and knowledge to identify and respond to children’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

obtain all the key information relating to children’s needs and risks before any emergency admission, to ensure that the service can meet the child’s needs, and keep this under review;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is effective oversight of children’s placements to confirm that the supported accommodation remains suitable and continues to meet their needs;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children’s risk assessments are up to date.

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Requirement Due date

The registered must ensure 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

comply with all relevant statutory provisions dealing with health and safety or fire safety matters. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all the recommendations arising from the fire risk assessment are addressed in a timely manner. 30 August 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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)) 30 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who 30 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 8 is the subject of a complaint or representation takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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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. (Regulation 31 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review (“a quality of support review”) at least once every six months, which must take into account—

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Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child’s life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from each child’s accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons;

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Requirement Due date

any relevant research and developments in relation to the way in which the needs of children are best met.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of support review, the registered person must produce a written report setting out the actions the registered person intends to take as a result of that quality of support review.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the review report to the CIECSS within 28 days beginning with the day on which the report is completed, and make a copy of it available on request to each child’s accommodating authority. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2) (3)) 30 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 9 *These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 10

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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: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 11

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: OpenMinds Social Care Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Southbridge House, Southbridge Place, Croydon CR0 4HA

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: info@openmindssocialcare.co.uk

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Inspector

Josephine Onwubiko, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: OpenMinds Young Persons Project 12 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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