Ease Assist

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 1 Ease Assist Registered provider: Ease Assist Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider operates this supported accommodation service. The service can accommodate up to 7 children in 3 shared or group-living premises that are limited to accommodating only looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, one looked-after child or care leaver was using this service.

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provider

The service was registered with Ofsted in February 2024. The service manager also registered at that time.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 10 August and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 12 to 13 August 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 who are not yet ready to live in supported accommodation. This, and a failure to consider the needs and vulnerabilities of children already living in the service, places children at risk of harm.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not have systems in place for ensuring that staff have the skills and knowledge they need to protect children from harm or provide nurturing support.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not have a full understanding of the inspection framework or the associated regulations and guidance. This impacts on the quality and effectiveness of support that children receive. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s overall experiences and progress are often poor. This is because leaders and managers do not ensure that only children who are ready to live in supported accommodation are admitted to the service. The admissions process does not align with the statement of purpose and does not take account of children’s needs and vulnerabilities at the point of referral. This places children at risk of harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Although staff receive some training for their roles, this has not equipped them with the skills they need to promote children’s engagement or to build meaningful relationships. When children have made progress, this has often been instigated by the children themselves or by other agencies and services, rather than through support available from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are not always supported to access health services. Where a need for specialist resources has been identified and the resources accessed, this has been through the work of the children’s placing authority and not the work of the provider. This is a missed opportunity to effectively support children as they move forward to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff do not fully understand their role. This means that opportunities to help and encourage children are often missed. An example of this is the approach to supporting children to work through their independence exercise books. Despite a willingness by children to do this, and to develop new skills as they move into adulthood, the lack of interest by staff resulted in children feeling let down and misunderstood. Equally, the language that staff use with children is not nurturing. Children said that they feel that staff ‘do not care’ about them and are ‘just there to do a job’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff do not understand children’s emotional needs or how to support these. For example, when a child expressed their mental health concerns, staff did not take the time to read these or respond to the child. Consequently, the child was left feeling deflated and demoralised, further impacting on their mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some areas of the accommodation are well presented, although there are shortfalls in repairs and general maintenance. Furthermore, managers and staff do not understand that the premises are ‘homes’ for children and not purely buildings where staff work. This failure impacts on children’s sense of belonging and self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Outside spaces are neither tidy nor welcoming. Additionally, because staff are a constant presence in their home, children are not afforded adequate privacy and they do not live in a nurturing, relaxing environment. As a result, they choose to spend time elsewhere. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 3

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not have an effective system for considering whether a child is ready to live in supported accommodation or how their needs and vulnerabilities may impact on other children. This has resulted in unplanned endings and conflict between children.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff do not have enough knowledge about the use of illicit substances. There has not been enough awareness or curiosity around the substances, including cannabis, that some children have brought into their homes. Consequently, there have been occasions where children have been at significant risk of harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

Although staff have received training in how to support children and manage difficult situations, this has not been effective. Boundaries, such as children spending time in each other’s rooms, are not understood by children and staff. There have been incidents of conflict where staff have not been able to de-escalate situations, which resulted in a physical altercation between children.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children’s risk assessments do not identify the level of risk. Where these have been updated, the rationale for this is not clear. Staff do not fully understand risks associated with children’s family members. This affects their ability to identify and promote safe relationships between children and their families.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff understand the concept of whistleblowing, the need to report concerns to their managers and the steps to take if they are not satisfied with the organisation’s response. Concerns about children are shared with the local authority. However, leaders and managers do not ensure that notifiable incidents are routinely reported to Ofsted. This shows a lack of understanding of the regulations as well as Ofsted’s role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of the service. Shortfalls in recording and the lack of effective systems mean that areas of strength and areas for development are not identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager does not ensure that children’s plans identify what support they need, their goals and how staff will help them to achieve these. This lack of detail means that staff are unclear what their role is.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers communicate with children’s social workers; however, this does not result in effective care planning. Children’s support plans are not progressive, and children are not consistently able to move confidently towards full independence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not make sure that staff supervision sessions drive performance. Furthermore, staff are not aware of or knowledgeable about the Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 4 benefits of their annual appraisal. As a result, these structures fail to connect staff to their practice and fail to identify areas that require professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The reports on the quality of service do not meet regulatory requirements. This is a missed opportunity to evaluate the impact that the service has on children’s development and progress. It is only through the inspection process that leaders and managers have begun to identify areas that require urgent improvement. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 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)) 1 October 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

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;

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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;

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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 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 6 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 a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(k)(n))

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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. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)) 1 October 2026

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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 premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

provide stability and consistency of accommodation for children;

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Requirement Due date

promote children’s positive self-esteem and sense of belonging within the local community, and discourage stigmatisation of children;

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Requirement Due date

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively; 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 7 are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

If a child dies, the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

the local authority in whose area the premises used as supported accommodation are located (if that local authority is not the accommodating authority);

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Requirement Due date

the integrated care board (established under Chapter A3 of Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006(19)) for the area in which the premises used as supported accommodation are located;

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Requirement Due date

any relevant person not included in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e).

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working for the supported accommodation undertaking pursuant to section 35 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(20), the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

any relevant person not included in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b). 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 8 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;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (1) (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)(c) (d)(i)(ii)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 9 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))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Ease Assist 10

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Nicole Nyaguse

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: essie@easehealthcare.co.uk

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Inspectors

Laura Grundy, Social Care Inspector Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Ease Assist 11 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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