Limetrees Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 1 Limetrees Services

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Registered provider: Limetrees Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

Limetrees Services Ltd registered with Ofsted 9 January 2024 to provide ring-fenced supported accommodation.

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provider

At the time of the monitoring visit the provider had one premises offering supported accommodation for up to 2 children.

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provider

The visit was unannounced. On the day of the visit, 2 children were placed with this provider.

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provider

The inspector visited the one premises. During the visit, the inspector spoke to one child, one member of staff, and the registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 to 10 July 2026, Ofsted completed an inspection of the provider’s service. Serious and widespread weakness were identified, resulting in 3 compliance notices being issued under regulation 4 (the leadership and management standard), regulation 7 (the support standard) and regulation 27 (notification of a serious event).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit is to evaluate the provider’s progress in meeting the steps identified in the compliance notices. The provider implemented an action plan to address the areas identified in the compliance notices and shared this with Ofsted. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 2 The registered service manager has taken proactive steps to address and demonstrate progress towards meeting all aspects of the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved management oversight through the development of systems to enhance management monitoring of the supported accommodation. This is monitored through the registered service manager’s monthly supervision provided by an independent consultant.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager is providing monthly supervision for all staff. Through regular supervision, personal development plans will be used to identify development needs and will inform annual appraisals.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has developed a matching risk assessment tool to assist in decision- making, when considering referrals and admissions. This provides managers with oversight and ensures they meet the scope of the supported accommodation conditions of registration.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team have received a range of training, and a training matrix is in place to monitor training completed by all staff. The registered service manager has put in place a specific training to meet the needs of children, this allows staff to provide individualised support.

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This monitoring visit

Safer recruitment processes are in place, and staff files have been updated with all relevant documents, ensuring that staff are suitable to work with children. A checklist has been established and placed on files to reflect recruitment activity.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has an information system that provides a structured and accessible section for children’s files. Updated and individualised support plans, risk assessments and key-work sessions are available for staff.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager is responding promptly to serious incidents. There is now a system in place to inform multi-agency safeguarding professionals and notify Ofsted where appropriate.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, when a child was asked what it is like living in the accommodation they said, ‘it’s chill’ and is involved with staff in their support and future planning.

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This monitoring visit

The registered service manager has been involved in fortnightly meetings with the local authority quality assurance team to monitor the implementation of the action plan.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken steps to address the compliance notices and will continue to work on embedding systems that have been established, as a result the compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements made at the previous inspection were out of the scope of this inspection. They are restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 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 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

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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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

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

support children to maintain appropriate and safe relationships with family, friends and other people who are important to them.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff understand and review the services’ safeguarding policies and expected response to safeguarding matters. 12 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 4 ensure a thorough risk assessment is completed, regularly updated and considers the known and emerging risks to children.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children receive targeted support from staff, which aids their awareness and mitigation strategies to risk of harm and informs their risk assessments.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have a sound knowledge and information of professional, familial and the important relationships that children have, to aid communication of risk and management of possible harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 5 (1) (2)(f)(i)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a supported accommodation undertaking if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

undertake, from time to time, such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have the experience and skills necessary to represent the supported accommodation undertaking in its dealings with the CIECSS.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must complete ongoing and relevant training and engage in developmental opportunities. (Regulation 11 (1) (7)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 October 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. 12 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 5 (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or 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: Limetrees Services 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Limetrees Services Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: James Wilmot

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Inspector

Phyllis Dyer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Limetrees Services 8 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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