YMCA DLG - West Sussex and SurreyOfsted inspection, 19 Aug 2026

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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Registered provider: YMCA Downslink Group

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

At the time of this visit, this service was providing support and accommodation for 29 children aged 16 and 17 years old.

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provider

The service also provides accommodation for young adults aged between 18 and 25.

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provider

The service manager is registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out following information received from a local authority commissioner in relation to a safeguarding notification submitted by the provider regarding a serious incident. The visit was announced and took place at the provider’s head office and one of its premises.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors identified shortfalls in the leadership and management of the service and in the safeguarding of children.

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This monitoring visit

A member of staff failed to recognise a medical emergency and seek medical assistance for children who were unresponsive and required an urgent response. In addition, they did not follow organisational processes, including contacting the on- call manager to seek advice when the kitchen became filled with smoke.

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This monitoring visit

The recording of this serious incident was not fully accurate and was not completed by the person involved. This was not challenged by managers. Furthermore, Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey information shared with Ofsted was inaccurate and did not reflect the seriousness of the incident.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not supported children effectively during medical emergencies. When emergency services have been called, arrangements have not been made to accompany children to hospital and provide support. In addition, the children have not been spoken to about their experience to help them understand what happened. This does not demonstrate a safe, supportive or nurturing approach.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose clearly outlines the category of children for whom the service is intended. Despite identifying that a child was not suitably matched for supported accommodation and recognising a need to review referral and matching processes, this review has not been completed. As a result, staff did not have the skills or experience to support the child.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff are not suitably skilled or trained to support children. A member of staff was permitted to work alone despite not having the training or skills to equip them for the role. An internal investigation highlighted this as an organisational failure and identified gaps in staff induction processes and training. Not all staff have received training in areas specific to the risks children may face while living in supported accommodation, including the impact of substance misuse. These failures have not been fully addressed.

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This monitoring visit

A staff member was not recruited safely. Concerns in relation to previous employment were not explored, and no risk assessment was in place to mitigate the associated risks.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that effective monitoring systems are in place. As a result, regulatory shortfalls have not been recognised and promptly addressed. Leaders and managers have identified some of the areas requiring development and are in the process of addressing these.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of support review was not considered at this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, a compliance notice has been issued. Ofsted will continue to monitor compliance with this notice. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

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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;

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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)(c)(e)(g)) 8 November 2026

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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

ensure that staff— 8 November 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(f)(i)(ii)(vi))

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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. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 8 November 2026

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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/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: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: YMCA Downslink Group

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Sharon Rawcliffe

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Inspectors

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: YMCA DLG - West Sussex and Surrey 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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