Oyster Supported Living ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 1 Oyster Supported Living Ltd Registered provider: Oyster Supported Living & Domiciliary Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

provider

Oyster Supported Living Ltd is owned and managed by a private provider. This service was registered with Ofsted on 22 May 2024. The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual, also registered with Ofsted on 22 May 2024.

p.1

provider

This service is registered to provide non-ring-fenced shared accommodation and can accommodate up to 6 children in one property.

p.1

provider

At the time of the inspection, 4 children aged 16 or 17 were receiving support.

p.1

Inspection dates: 20 to 24 July 2026

The inspection was announced on 20 July 2026 and started on the same day. The inspector was on site from 22 to 24 July 2026.

p.1

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.

p.1

Summary of findings

Children feel safe where they live, their voices are promoted, and their feedback is utilised to inform and shape the running of the service.

p.1

Summary of findings

Leaders' and managers' oversight of the service is inconsistent, and there are times when the service cannot meet the needs of children. The registered manager does not routinely have supervision.

p.1

Summary of findings

Staff are well supported by leaders and managers. Staff receive regular supervision and training. However, not all training reflects the breadth of needs of the children living within the service. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 2 Some staff do not feel confident to meet the needs of the children. Support plans and risk assessments are not targeted or implemented consistently and do not aid staff practice.

p.1

Summary of findings

The managers are aware of the strengths and areas of development and are taking action to ensure improvement.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children enjoy where they live and feel supported by most staff. Children like the home and their bedrooms and are encouraged to personalise them to make them their own. Leaders and managers regularly seek feedback from the children about where they live and seek their views about how the service runs. Children can attend a house meeting and use this time to provide feedback to managers to create change and experience their voices being heard.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

When appropriate, children are supported to maintain relationships with their family and the people who are important to them. There is good communication between staff and the network of people involved with each of the children. One parent described the service as being 'invaluable' and felt the support they too have received has resulted in them 'not feeling alone’ and feeling ‘respected and included in decisions'.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff know children well and understand their needs. However, not all staff are confident in their role. Individual support sessions with the children happen inconsistently and are not always suitably planned or purposeful to support independence or explore areas of risk. All children have an allocated named worker, although not all children are aware of this. Most children feel they are making progress in developing their independent living skills. For example, children describe now being able to confidently cook an array of meals and know how to do their laundry.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Some children are in education. They are making good progress and have clear aspirations for their futures. Staff work to support children to access education or explore alternative employment and training options that reflect the children's interests. The manager is proactive to ensure that children are provided with resources to support their goals. For example, one child now has a fitness watch to help track their movement.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children

Overall, children maintain good health and are registered with health professionals, including GPs and dentists. Children learn how to take increasing responsibility for their health and wellbeing, though if a child requires additional health support, staff liaise with the relevant agencies to ensure that they get what they need. However, not all staff hold sufficient understanding of children's holistic health needs. For example, one child is prompted by staff to take their prescribed medication, but not all staff know what this medication is prescribed for, missing the opportunity to offer targeted health support. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 3

p.2

How well children are helped and protected

All children say they feel safe. However, feedback regarding the support they receive from staff is mixed. There is a small and consistent staff team, and this enables some staff to build good relationships with some children. Children feel confident to approach staff and the manager, and the children actively seek support from the staff they have strong relationships with. This enhances most children's sense of security and ensures that they can reach out for help when needed.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Support plans are individualised, and staff attempt to encapsulate the voice of the child. However, plans are not regularly updated. They do not always reflect the full knowledge staff have about children and how to approach managing any risk. Risk assessments are inefficient and incomplete. They reflect the known risks to children, but they do not include strategies to direct staff in how to mitigate or manage risks. This means staff do not have all the information they need to help them to consistently safeguard every child.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Children feel confident to complain but do not understand how the outcome is reached. Managers respond appropriately when investigating complaints. However, details of the investigation and the outcome are not always clearly recorded and do not fully adhere to the provider's complaints policy.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

Staff respond appropriately when a child goes missing from home. They follow the procedures agreed with the placing authority and notify partner agencies promptly. However, staff do not have a unified approach to recording this information and do not always update records to accurately reflect when a child returns. Return home interviews are not routinely requested, and staff do not consistently display curiosity in exploring underlying reasons for children going missing or being absent. This prevents staff from being able to identify emerging risks or worrying patterns of behaviour and does not help to reduce repeat episodes of children going missing.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

When a serious incident occurs, managers and staff respond to ensure that children are safe. The actions they take include sharing information with other agencies, such as the police and social care professionals. Ofsted is usually informed of all significant events, which aids oversight of the actions taken by the provider to protect children from harm.

p.3

How well children are helped and protected

The registered manager understands the principles of safer recruitment and their responsibilities. However, they do not consistently apply the principles for every situation. For example, some previous employer references are not verified. Disclosure and Barring Service updates and overseas checks are not routinely revised to reflect changes.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager and nominated individual are the same person. They are actively involved in the running of the service, completing shift work. They are in the service regularly, and the staff and children know them well. However, management Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 4 oversight of the service has been inconsistent. A new service manager has very recently been appointed to strengthen oversight, drive service performance and enhance staff performance.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff welcome the additional management support. They speak positively about the guidance they receive from leaders and managers and describe having a close team network. Team meetings and supervision sessions take place regularly, and staff find this helpful. As staff are lone working, this is an important aspect for team building and establishing cohesive practice. However, the registered service manager has not had regular supervision, limiting opportunities for ongoing reflection and objective challenge.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has not consistently determined how appropriate the service is for some children. Before children move in, managers do not regularly consider the compatibility of children's differing needs. Prior to children coming to live at the service, information from the placing authority can be omitted. Managers are not in the habit of requesting the most relevant updates, leading to the service being unable to meet some children's needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular training. However, training does not always focus on equipping staff with the skills they need to meet the specific needs of the children. For example, staff have not received training on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder despite supporting children with this condition. This limits staff's ability to provide personalised support. Positively, leaders and the manager do have future arrangements to provide staff with more specialist training to best support children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The recording system is poor, and this contributes to the gaps in the registered service manager's oversight. A new system is being introduced to support staff practice. Managers are committed to ensuring that this transition is completed to best ensure consistent support to children and enable sufficient oversight into staff practice and children's progress. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

p.5

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;

p.5

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. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

p.5

Requirement Due date

Obtain all the key information relating to children's needs and risks before admission to ensure that they can meet the child's needs and keep this under review;

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that a thorough risk assessment is completed prior to admission considering the impact on other children within the undertaking; 30 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 6 Ensure that standardised recording processes are in place and routinely updated when incidents occur and when a child goes missing;

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that children's support plans and risk assessments are accurate, dynamic and up to date and reflect staff's knowledge of children; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have completed the relevant training in order to appropriately assess and manage emerging risks to children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates;

p.6

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;

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that every child has an individual support plan that it is kept up to date and that children are consulted and encouraged to contribute to their support plans. 30 October 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; and 30 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 7 are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 18 (4) (b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular ensure the registered service manager receives supervision. 30 October 2026

p.7

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: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 8

p.7

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Oyster Supported Living & Domiciliary Care Ltd

p.8

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 20-22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU

p.8

Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Nicole Nganga

p.8

Inspector

Rachel McIntyre, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Oyster Supported Living Ltd 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9