AMJ Support Services LTD

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 1 AMJ Support Services LTD

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Registered provider: AMJ Support Services 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. The service can accommodate up to 7 children in shared group living homes which are not limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers. The provider also offers children support and accommodation in 12 self-contained units.

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provider

The service was registered with Ofsted in May 2024. The nominated individual at the time of registration has applied to be the service manager.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to concerns about the leadership and management of the setting. The day before the visit the nominated individual and acting service manager were unavailable and did not respond to contact from Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector met with the acting service manager and spoke to a member of the leadership team as part of the visit. Three children’s social workers gave feedback on their experiences of the service.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not inform Ofsted of the interim management arrangements in the absence of the registered person. This means that arrangements cannot be made to speak to children, ensure that they are safe or visit where they live.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers admit children whose needs cannot be safely met in supported accommodation. The registered person admitted one child who frequently went missing from home with a much younger child, increasing levels of risk to their friend and themselves. Leaders and managers could not keep this child safe. This Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 2 resulted with the child’s placement ending. Consequently, the child had further instability in their life.

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This monitoring visit

One child has required consistently high levels of staffing since moving into their home 4 months ago. Staff search the child’s room daily for signs of drug use and weapons. Staff are awake throughout the night to keep the child safe. Staff deliver care which is not in line with the provider’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not always inform Ofsted when they open a premises and a child moves in. There was a serious incident involving a child who lived in accommodation that was not included in the provider’s registration. The registered person did not notify Ofsted of this incident. This hinders oversight of safeguarding practice across the service.

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This monitoring visit

Some children are making progress with their independence. Social workers are positive about the support offered to children who have the skills needed for adult life. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 3

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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 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)(f)) 27 September

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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— 27 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 4 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)) A nominated individual must—

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, appropriate experience and skills to represent the organisation in its dealings with the CIECSS,

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the category or categories of supported accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking in respect of which they are the nominated individual. (Regulation 11 (7)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, in the absence of the nominated individual they must notify Ofsted of the interim management arrangements and their contact details. 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

Where additional premises are acquired, commissioned or arranged, or the supported accommodation undertaking intends to acquire, commission or arrange additional premises, and the supported accommodation undertaking intends to provide supported accommodation at those premises, the registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, of the following—

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Requirement Due date

the characteristics of the children for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation at the premises, including the age range, number and sex of the children; 27 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 5 the category or categories of supported accommodation to be provided at the premises.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS within 72 hours of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

accommodating a child in premises for the first time after the premises are brought back into use, after the undertaking temporarily ceased to use the premises as supported accommodation. (Regulation 34 (1) (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and 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: AMJ Support Services LTD 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: AMJ Support Services LTD

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 300 St. Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: AMJ Support Services LTD 7 and inspects 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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