Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is an important document as it sets out what the Service offers and how it can meet needs of prospective young people who may be accommodated in the Service, and how it is set up and equipped to meet those needs.

The information set out in the Statement of Purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and accommodating authority in ensuring that a placement with the provider is the right one for that young person, and that the Service will be effective in responding to and meeting their needs.

If a provider delivers more than one category of supported accommodation, the provider’s Statement of Purpose must address each category. The Statement of Purpose should give a clear overview of the Service and act as a reference point for local authorities, young people and other relevant organisations.

The Statement of Purpose should outline the package of support the young person should expect to receive from the Service, including any floating support and/or support offered by external agencies. The registered person must ensure that young people understand how to make a complaint. The registered person must have practices in place for dealing with complaints, including recording them and notifying relevant authorities where necessary.

The registered person must provide a copy of the Statement of Purpose to Ofsted and make a copy of it available on request to:

• A member of staff of the Service;
• A young person for whom supported accommodation is being provided by the Service, or for whom it is being considered;
• A parent of such a young person;
• A young person’s accommodating authority.

The registered person must keep the Statement of Purpose under regular review and, where appropriate, revise it, to ensure it remains young person-focused and indicates how the Service provides individualised support that meets the Quality Standards and improves outcomes for the young people it accommodates. Reviews should take into consideration any feedback and complaints by young people in the Service so that any changes made have a positive impact on those affected by the change. Young people should be informed of, and given an explanation of any changes to the Statement.

The registered person must notify Ofsted of any revisions and send Ofsted a copy of the revised Statement within 28 days of the revision.

The registered person must ensure that the supported accommodation undertaking is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its Statement of Purpose.

Providers should not admit young people to their settings if their needs are such that they could not be met within the provider’s Statement of Purpose.

1. The Service’s purpose, including its ethos, core aims and function;
2. The category or categories of supported accommodation it offers;
3. The services it provides for young people it accommodates and supports;
4. The characteristics of the young people for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation and support, including the age range, number and sex of the young people;
5. The facilities it provides to the young people it accommodates;
6. 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 young people it accommodates and the security arrangements in place;
7. The address of the registered provider’s principal office, except where this is the same address as where the young people are accommodated;
8. The organisational structure, including management structure and staffing arrangements;
9. How it ensures that the young person’s rights and views are at the centre of the support, service delivery and planning;
10. The arrangements in place to ensure a young person is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation;
11. The positive outcomes the Service seeks to achieve for young people and its approach to achieving those outcomes;
12. The arrangements in place to support the development of young people’s independent living skills, in line with their identified individual needs;
13. The arrangements in place to promote young people’s involvement and progress in education, training or employment;
14. The arrangements for and policies on protecting and promoting the mental and physical health needs of young people, including medication handling, recording and safekeeping;
15. Anti-discriminatory practices in respect of young people and their families;
16. How it supports the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of young people;
17. Details of who to contact if a person has a complaint and how that person can access the Complaints policy (see Regulation 31);
18. Details of how a person involved in the support or protection of a young person can access the supported accommodation undertaking’s child protection policies.

Please find the Statement of Purpose in the Local Resources for each of the 3 services:

Supported Lodgings, Staying Close and A Place of My Own