Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People's Home

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home Francis Homecare Semi- Independent Children & Young People’s Home Registered provider: Francis Homecare Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service and service manager registered with Ofsted on 23 October 2024.

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provider

The service provides ring-fenced shared accommodation for up to 4 children in one property.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were receiving support.

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provider

The director is the nominated individual and registered service manager.

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Inspection dates: 24 to 27 August 2026

The inspection was announced on 24 August 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site on 26 and 27 August 2026.

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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.

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Summary of findings

The experiences and outcomes for children are varied. Children do not always feel safe, listened to or supported. They do not consistently experience stability in their lives.

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Summary of findings

The registered service manager does not always provide clear written guidance to staff on supporting children in care and care leavers. There are weaknesses in Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home policies and key documents, including those relating to safeguarding and complaints, as well as the statement of purpose and children’s guide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff make efforts to develop positive and supportive relationships with children; however, these efforts are not always successful. Both children spoken to during the inspection had mixed feelings about their experiences and the support they receive from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff have had limited success in promoting stability in children’s lives. One child is looking forward to leaving and moving on to alternative supported accommodation. Another child said that they are unsure whether they want to remain living in the accommodation. A further child often stays away with friends, sometimes for several days at a time. Of 4 children who have left the service in the last 12 months, 2 did so after receiving unplanned notice to end their placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s views and feelings about their support are included in their individual support plans and support sessions. However, children said that they do not always feel listened to and respected because staff do not always keep their promises. Children also said that, when they have raised concerns or discussed areas they would like to see improved, they have not always experienced positive change as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in a homely environment that is furnished and well equipped for comfortable living. The enclosed garden has fruit trees, a seating area and a basketball hoop, providing additional space for the children. Children’s bedrooms are spacious, and 2 bedrooms have en-suite facilities. Each child has their own refrigerator and a desk with a chair in their bedroom. The staff are dealing with an insect infestation that one child has raised a complaint about.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to access and engage in education, training and employment. All 3 children currently using the service have secured places at local colleges. A structured plan is in place to support the development of children’s life skills and independence. Staff encourage children to budget appropriately, although having enough money for food is an issue for some children. At times, staff provide food for children so that they do not go hungry.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The children’s guide does not provide all the required information. The guide informs children how they can make complaints, but it does not describe how their complaints will be dealt with.

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How well children are helped and protected

The children do not always feel safe in their home. On one occasion, the approach used by staff to respond to a child’s feeling of hunger resulted in destructive behaviour, causing concern for the children living in the home. The police were called to manage the incident due to the child locking the staff and the registered Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home service manager out of the building and causing damage to the property. The provider failed to notify Ofsted of this incident.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager has completed safer recruitment training and has an appropriate recruitment procedure. However, robust vetting checks are not always completed before individuals start working with children. Overseas police checks are not consistently requested, and gaps in employment are not always explored. This increases the risk of unsuitable people supporting vulnerable children.

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How well children are helped and protected

The safeguarding policy is confusing for staff because it refers to regulations that are not relevant for supported accommodation. The policy does not recognise that there is only one person in the management role in the service. For example, staff are advised to report allegations against the home manager to the registered service manager, despite this being the same person. The policy does not help staff to safeguard children when concerns arise relating to the registered service manager. Nonetheless, the registered service manager collaborated with the local authority designated officer and the police when responding to an allegation against a staff member.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff understand the risks children face and follow comprehensive individual safety plans to safeguard children. However, identified control measures are not always implemented in a timely manner. For example, there has been a significant delay in ensuring that a child with hearing loss has access to appropriate equipment to alert them in the event of a fire.

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How well children are helped and protected

The registered service manager’s annual review of the suitability of the locality confirms that the premises continue to be in a suitable location. However, there was no consultation with relevant individuals. This includes children who live in the accommodation. The children are concerned about the location and have not had the opportunity to share these fully with the registered service manager.

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How well children are helped and protected

The staff are aware of the children’s vulnerabilities and work closely with other professionals to protect children from harm in the community. Staff follow agreed procedures for safeguarding children who go missing. Staff proactively advocate for children within the multi-agency team to ensure that any risks relating to exploitation are jointly assessed and addressed, helping to reduce external contextual risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The statement of purpose and the children’s guide do not meet all the specifications of the relevant regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Matching risk assessments provide a clear audit trail of why the registered service manager makes decisions to admit a child to the service. However, children’s readiness for supported accommodation is not always carefully considered, such as when a child moves in from other supported accommodation because the previous Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home provider could not meet the child’s needs. One child moved from this service to a children’s home, as they needed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered service manager does not notify Ofsted of significant safeguarding incidents. This hinders the regulator’s oversight of the provider’s actions to safeguard children when incidents occur, such as a child falling unconscious at home and a child being admitted to hospital after taking an illegal substance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The children’s register does not include all required information, such as the date a child ceased to be accommodated by the service. Ofsted receives the provider’s reports on the review of the quality of support every 6 months. However, these reports do not provide all required information. For example, children’s views, the information about complaints received and actions taken are not included. The registered service manager does not keep a log of complaints, limiting the information available. The complaints procedure does not provide clear guidance for staff on who to report complaints to or how to deal with complaints against the registered service manager. Although there is only one person who is in the management role, the procedure does not address the potential risk of a closed culture or conflict of interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision and feel supported by the registered service manager. They receive an induction and have access to a range of appropriate training to help them support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There are suitable arrangements for the registered service manager to receive supervision from an external professional. However, no records are kept of these meetings. The registered service manager has not been afforded the opportunity to have their performance formally appraised. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home

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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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

have 24-hour access to help in a crisis or emergency situation. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that any child who requires specialist fire safety equipment due to a disability has access to this equipment without delay. 4 September 2026

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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; 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home ensure that staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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Requirement Due date

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm(1);

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(e)(f)(g))

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(f)) 11 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character,

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (3)(a)(d)) 1 October 2026

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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 1 October 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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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

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)(d) (3))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children from abuse or neglect, and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)) 1 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints and representations made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint or representation takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 31 (1) (2) (3) 1 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience, and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 18 (4)(b)(c)) 1 November 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home The registered person must compile a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the following matters in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the accommodation it provides, including how the accommodation meets the accommodation standard (see regulation 6), how the accommodation might be adapted to meet the individual needs of children it accommodates and the security arrangements in place;

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Requirement Due date

the organisational structure, including management structure and staffing arrangements;

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements for and policies on protecting and promoting the mental and physical health needs of children, including medication handling, recording and safekeeping;

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Requirement Due date

details of who to contact if a person has a complaint and how that person can access the complaints procedure (see regulation 31)

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Requirement Due date

details of how a person involved in the support or protection of a child can access the supported accommodation undertaking’s child protection policies. (Regulation 9 (1)(f)(h)(n)(q)) 1 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

Before a child arrives or upon a child’s arrival, ensure that the child is given a written guide, in an accessible format, containing information about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representation in relation to the support and accommodation provided and how any such complaint or representation will be dealt with;

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Requirement Due date

what services and facilities are available that take account of children’s needs arising as a result of cultural differences or disability. (Regulation 7 (j)(iii)(iv)) 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 location of the premises used as supported accommodation is suitable for the category or categories of supported accommodation provided, by— 1 November 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home reviewing the appropriateness and suitability of the location of each of the premises used as supported accommodation (“a location assessment”), and in doing so, consulting and taking into account the views of each relevant person. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep records of other information relating to the supported accommodation undertaking set out in Schedule 3.

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Requirement Due date

maintain the records in Schedule 3, which may be kept in electronic form;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are accessible to children, the CIECSS and each accommodating authority;

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 25 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to maintaining the children’s register. 1 November 2026

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Francis Homecare Services Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Monica Maxwell

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: caremanager@francisservices.co.uk

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Inspector

Seka Graovac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Francis Homecare Semi-Independent Children & Young People’s Home 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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