Icons Supported living Accommodation

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation Icons Supported Living Accommodation

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service is operated by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 4 children in shared or group living premises that are specifically for looked-after children and care leavers. At the time of the visit, no children were accommodated.

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provider

The service manager and nominated individual roles are held by the same person. They registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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provider

This visit was announced approximately 2 hours in advance.

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provider

The inspector spoke to the nominated individual/registered service manager and reviewed documents.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was completed in June 2026. This identified serious and widespread weaknesses in leadership and management and the protection of children. The findings raised significant concerns about the provider’s ability to meet regulatory requirements and safeguard children effectively. As a result, two compliance notices were issued alongside a suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was completed on 27 July 2026 to monitor the registered person’s compliance with the steps set out in the compliance notices. The visit considered the extent to which the provider had taken effective action to address the identified weaknesses and ensure compliance with regulations. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation The inspector found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to address regulatory breaches within the service. As a result, the service was not yet able to demonstrate that it could provide support to children in compliance with regulatory requirements. Significant shortfalls remained in relation to safer recruitment practices and the supervision of staff. Furthermore, the provider had not demonstrated how they had assured themselves that staff had appropriately reflected on and learned from safeguarding incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The provider does not yet have sufficiently robust systems in place to ensure that safer recruitment checks are completed in accordance with regulatory requirements. For one member of staff, a gap in employment history had neither been identified nor explored, and there was no evidence that a right to work check had been completed. As a result, the provider could not demonstrate that all staff are safe and suitable to be working with children. The provider had not adequately reviewed recruitment records to assure themselves that all information required under Schedule 1 of the regulations was present and appropriately verified.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to provide effective supervision for staff, and they have not ensured proper oversight of employees as they start their roles. A member of staff was appointed to a deputy manager role. They started this role on 23 June 2026. Despite this, they have not had any supervision since 1 June 2026. This meant the provider could not demonstrate that appropriate oversight and support arrangements were in place for staff undertaking management responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

In addition, the inspector found no evidence that staff records had been reviewed. The provider was unable to demonstrate that effective systems were in place to monitor and verify the completeness and accuracy of staff records. There was insufficient evidence that the provider had undertaken a thorough review of all staff files to ensure compliance.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed safeguarding training. However, the provider was unable to demonstrate how they had assured themselves that staff had reflected on safeguarding incidents and embedded any learning into their practice. As a result, there was insufficient evidence to show that lessons learned from safeguarding concerns had been effectively understood, retained and used to train and improve practice and promote the safety and welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed and updated the statement of purpose. This now more accurately reflects the operation of the service and aligns with regulatory expectations for supported accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The accommodation is now prepared for use in accordance with its conditions of registration. However, at the time of the monitoring visit, the property was still being advertised for rental purposes. This raised concerns about whether all arrangements necessary to ensure that the accommodation was available solely for its registered use had been fully implemented. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation The provider has developed a referral and admissions process to assess whether referrals for children are suitable and can be safely met within the service. This process sets out the steps to be taken to obtain sufficient and relevant information before admission, enabling informed decisions to be made about the suitability of the supported accommodation for individual children. The provider retrospectively applied these processes to children previously accommodated at the service to

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This monitoring visit

reflect on the needs of the children who were supported and why these children were not yet ready to live in supported accommodation. The provider has revised the risk assessment template. This provides a clearer framework for identifying and assessing risks, vulnerabilities and support needs, and sets out clearer strategies to help children manage risk. The provider applied the template retrospectively to children who were previously accommodated at the service.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has developed a flowchart to support staff in understanding their responsibilities when identifying, responding to and escalating safeguarding concerns. The flowchart provides a process for decision-making and reporting, with the aim of promoting a consistent and timely response to incidents involving children’s safety and welfare. However, this flowchart has not been formally discussed with staff, and the provider has not determined their understanding of updated processes. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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 well-being 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

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm (1); and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(e)(g)) 23 August 2026

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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

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; 23 August 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation 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; and

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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)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi))

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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; and

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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)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 26 July 2026

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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

its purpose, including its ethos, core aims and function;

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Requirement Due date

the category or categories of supported accommodation it offers;

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Requirement Due date

the services it provides for children it accommodates and supports;

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Requirement Due date

the characteristics of the children for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation and support, including the age range, number and sex of the children; 26 July 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation the facilities it provides to the children it accommodates;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the accommodation it provides, including how the accommodation meets the accommodation standard (see regulation 6), how the accommodation might be adapted to meet the individual needs of children it accommodates and the security arrangements in place;

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Requirement Due date

the address of the registered provider’s principal office, except where this is the same address as where the children are accommodated;

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Requirement Due date

the organisational structure, including management structure and staffing arrangements;

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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 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation 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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)(o)(p)(q)(r))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any other individuals or organisations who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and 26 July 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who 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. (Regulation 31 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a clear and transparent process is in place for managing complaints made against them, with independent oversight both internally and externally, and that this is clearly set out in relevant policies and procedures for children, staff and other stakeholders.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 26 July 2026

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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. 26 July 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation 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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 the young person’s guide is child friendly, contains accurate information about the service, includes details of available advocacy services and explains how children can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, pages 42 and 43)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Office S4, Red House Rd, Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton NN3 6AQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Secret Muchawa

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Inspector

Amanda Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Icons Supported Living Accommodation 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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