For Professionals
For social workers, brokerage and placement teams, commissioning managers, and anyone else making or considering a referral to Ashden Support.
Cohort
We support looked-after young people aged 16 and 17, including care leavers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). We are based in Birmingham, in the West Midlands, and accept referrals from placing authorities across England.
All referrals go through a pre-placement assessment. We look at each young person's current needs, history, and whether semi-independent living is appropriate at this point. We take a practical view and work with the referring professional to understand the full picture before agreeing a placement.
Where a young person's needs require residential care under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, or exceed what a supported accommodation model can safely provide, we will tell you clearly and promptly so you can continue your search.
Quick reference
- Age range
- 16 and 17
- Cohort
- LAC, care leavers, UASC
- Placement type
- Semi-independent supported accommodation
- Regulation
- Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023
- Ofsted URN
- 2907824
- Geographic area
- Placing authorities across England. Based in Birmingham, West Midlands.
- Staff qualifications
- Safer recruitment, face-to-face induction, ongoing training
- Response time
- Within 24 hours on working days
Referral process
Initial contact
Send a referral summary to info@ashdensupport.co.uk or call +44 7507 112 497. Include the young person's age, current local authority, and a brief outline of their current situation and needs.
Acknowledgement within 24 hours
We review planned referrals within 24 hours on working days. We will either confirm we have capacity and want to proceed to assessment, or advise we are unable to take the referral and explain why.
Emergency referrals
Emergency and same-day referrals are assessed on an accelerated basis. We only accept a placement once we are satisfied it is safe for the young person and for the young people already living there.
Assessment
We review the referral information and, where appropriate, arrange a pre-placement discussion. We will tell you clearly if the young person is not suitable for this service before any placement is agreed. Every matching decision is recorded as a written risk assessment, and the views of young people already living in the home are taken into account.
Placement agreement
We issue a placement agreement before the young person moves in. This sets out fees, notice periods, reporting arrangements, and the terms of the placement.
Move-in and induction
The young person is introduced to the home, their keyworker, and the house routines. The RSM is available during the move-in period. A named keyworker is allocated within 48 hours of placement and a support plan is co-produced with the young person in the same period.
What happens after a placement begins.
A named keyworker is allocated within 48 hours of placement. The RSM is present or available throughout the induction period.
A support plan is co-produced with the young person within 48 hours of placement and sent to the placing authority. It covers daily living, education and employment, health, relationships, and goals for the placement period. Keywork sessions are held at least twice a week.
Progress reviews are held at the frequency agreed with the placing authority. The RSM attends reviews where requested. Between reviews, daily logs are available on request and significant events are reported to the placing authority on the same working day.
Hamza Yusuf remains your named point of contact for the duration of the placement. If anything significant happens, you will hear from us first.
Reporting to placing authorities.
- Individual support plan (within 48 hours of placement)
- Daily logs, available to the placing authority on request
- Significant events, reported to the placing authority on the same working day
- Progress reviews at the frequency agreed with the placing authority
- Missing from Home and Care notifications, in line with statutory requirements
- Placement agreement prior to move-in
- End of placement report
What you can expect from us.
Named manager, always
Hamza Yusuf is the named RSM and your main point of contact throughout any placement. You will not be passed between departments.
24-hour referral response
All referral enquiries receive a written response within 24 hours on working days. We confirm capacity and suitability before moving to assessment.
Transparent about fit
We carry out a pre-placement assessment on every referral. If a young person is not right for this service, we say so promptly.
Support plan within 48 hours
A support plan is co-produced with every young person within 48 hours of placement and shared with the placing authority. Progress is tracked using the Outcomes Star.
Significant events reported same day
Significant events are reported in writing to the placing authority on the same working day. Daily logs are available on request.
Safer recruitment and training
Staff are recruited through safer recruitment and complete a face-to-face induction before working unsupervised. Training and supervision are ongoing, and staff without a relevant qualification are supported towards a Level 3 qualification.
Key policies
To request any policy, email info@ashdensupport.co.uk. We aim to respond within one working day.
Safeguarding
For urgent safeguarding concerns, contact the relevant local authority MASH directly. For concerns about a young person placed with us, contact the DSL first.
Designated safeguarding lead
Hamza Yusuf
Registered Service Manager
Framework
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. All concerns referred to the appropriate local authority MASH.
Ready to refer?
Contact us by email or phone. We respond within 24 hours on working days. If we cannot take the placement, we will tell you promptly so you can continue your search.