YMCA Trinity Group East

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 1 YMCA Trinity Group East Registered provider: YMCA Trinity Group

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is operated by a private provider in the East of England. The service can accommodate up to 42 children in ring-fenced shared accommodation.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, 29 children aged between 16 and 17 years were being supported by the provider.

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provider

The service registered in February 2025. The registered manager also registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Inspection dates: 26 to 28 August 2026

The inspection was announced and started on 24 August 2026. The inspectors were on site from 26 to 27 August 2026.

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Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action.

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Summary of findings

Children's moves into the homes are well planned at a pace that is suitable for them. When endings are unplanned, the staff prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing.

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Summary of findings

The service has a strong safeguarding culture. Ofsted is consistently informed of serious incidents.

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Summary of findings

Children can identify trusted adults who they can talk to. Children and staff have relationships that are warm and empathic.

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from a wide variety of activities run by an engagement team. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 2 Following a restructure of the service and job roles, there is some low morale among the staff.

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Summary of findings

Children's support plans lack their views and the input in determining their support needs. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children enjoy living at the home and feel supported by staff. Staff prioritise building positive and empathic relationships. This helps children to feel valued, understood and empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Leaders and managers work alongside the local authority to determine children's suitability to move in. When leaders and managers are asked to take children who may not be suitable for supported accommodation, they challenge this. The referral processes have been strengthened to ensure that full information is known about children before they arrive. Children rarely move in at very short notice. A small number of unplanned endings are reviewed and the decisions made ensure the safeguarding of all children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The service includes different projects that offer accommodation and various levels of support to children and young people. All children benefit from an engagement team who run activities and workshops. These help children to feel that they belong and develop enduring relationships with each other. Recent funding has been obtained for the refurbishment of the sports hall. The children are consistently encouraged to join community clubs and activities. One child was part of a cycling club, cycling many miles a week, and another child plays for a local cricket team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children's social workers and other professionals are very positive about the quality of communication, the support provided and the progress that children make. One child's social worker said, 'Staff are kind, children are happy with the levels of support and communication is good.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Generally, children receive effective and timely help to prepare them for their futures. They are supported to develop life skills and independence skills in line with their individual needs. The staff are thoughtful and creative in their approach. A recognised vocational system is used extensively so children can evidence their learning. For children who are turning 18 years old and need more intensive support, a 'staying close' service is in place and run by the provider with the local authority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The registered service manager has reviewed the records to evidence the team's good, child-focused practices. This is still a work in progress. The voice of the child is not evident enough in support plans and therefore it is unclear what input children have in determining the support they receive.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff understand the vulnerabilities of children. They recognise the signs of increased risks to children who are vulnerable to being groomed or exploited. Staff share concerns appropriately and work closely together with other professionals to safeguard children. Staff contribute to strategy meetings and follow safety plans. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 4 The working relationships with safeguarding partners are strong and well developed. The police said, 'The team is excellent at keeping me informed of any information that may be relevant to a young person's welfare. Communication is consistently strong, and I regard them as a trusted and valued partner in safeguarding vulnerable young people.'

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How well children are helped and protected

Safeguarding notifications are of a consistently good standard. These are reported within timescales and followed up when required. Actions identified are undertaken within timescales and investigations carried out when required.

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How well children are helped and protected

There have been several missing-from-home incidents and unauthorised absences. The staff have worked to understand the reasons for these and to educate children on the dangers of being out late at night. Social workers have worked with staff to encourage children to consider alternatives to being out late at night and to take part in activities during the day. When a child returns home, they are offered support from staff wo also complete direct work with them. However, the missing- from-home policy does not specify how children in lower-support homes are monitored and reported missing within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have consistent oversight of the service. There is a permanent and suitably experienced registered service manager. The manager has driven improvements and positive changes to the service. The nominated individual has developed a strong safeguarding culture in line with her responsibilities as safeguarding lead. The registered service manager is supported by other managers and leaders in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Quality of support reviews are sent to Ofsted within timescales. These are comprehensive and support improvements. Alongside these, regular audits are undertaken that are of good quality and identify strengths and areas for improvement across the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A training and development manager helps to organise and track training. Additional oversight from the registered service manager allows any training gaps to be identified. Training includes topics that are relevant to supported accommodation, such as gender identity and expression, psychological first aid, radicalisation, extremism and lone-worker safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff supervision sessions are undertaken regularly. The staff are encouraged to seek any wellbeing support they require and are signposted to appropriate persons and agencies. Training and development are regularly discussed. Some staff's supervision has not been undertaken by the registered service manager. The supervisions have inconsistencies and gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to the organisation and the children they support. The restructuring of the service and job roles has impacted on some staff's wellbeing. This caused some confusion over job roles and responsibilities. Leaders Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 5 and managers are working to strengthen this understanding through team meetings and staff training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose has been regularly reviewed and sent to Ofsted. However, it lacks clarity and fails to fully demonstrate the service, including the processes for accepting children in an emergency of the referring local authority. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 6

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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 staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(b)) 1 November 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. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 1 November 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose gives a clear overview of the service and act as a reference point for local authorities, young people and other relevant organisations. ('Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards', page 46)  The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a young person is missing from the service. ('Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards', page 55)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was announced on 24 August 2026 and the inspectors were on site from 26 August 2026 to 28 August 2026. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Elijah Owusu-Ansah

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Inspectors

Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: YMCA Trinity Group East 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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