Children's home run by The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd in Barking and Dagenham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection, three recommendations were made which the leaders and manager have successfully addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leaders and managers have worked hard to update essential policy and procedures to reflect the quality standards. They are in the process of completing a poster that reminds and guides staff about the quality standards. In addition, they have done a lot of work on developing systems that help them to oversee and monitor work. For example, a behaviour framework is in place for staff, which links to the newly developed supervision forms and staff appraisals. A competency framework is in the process of being developed and there is a new outcomes tracker, which helps to monitor how well young people are doing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring of the home is undertaken monthly by an independent visitor. Their reports help the home to develop and improve practice. In addition, the manager completes a review of the quality of care within the home, considering the independent reports and how the service can continue to improve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager resigned from her post in December 2015. The responsible individual has made temporary arrangements by appointing an interim manager while recruiting to this position. This has ensured the continued smooth running of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service has three long-term residential beds and two short breaks beds. Young people who use the service have high-level needs, reflected in the staffing ratios to support care. Staff are very experienced and most have worked in the home for a long time. They receive regular refresher training in areas such as safeguarding, first aid, medication and restraint, but also attend more specialist training in autism, epilepsy and managing challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service provides a welcoming, safe and stimulating environment, tailored to meet the needs of the young people. Young people are cared for on two sites, the home and an activity centre. The activity centre is a large area, where young people can enjoy relaxation, a sensory tent, arts and crafts, computers, games and cooking. The activity centre is nearer to community resources and staff use this as a base from where they take smaller groups of young people out on activities such as shopping or a trip to the park. The home has two mini buses so staff can collect and return young people to their homes for short breaks. On occasions, a larger group activity to a wildlife park or museum takes place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is a safe environment where young people can relax, do arts and crafts, cooking or use the trampoline. Due to the vulnerability of the young people, staff are careful to ensure the front door is locked and access to the kitchen is limited to when staff are supervising, by having a keypad entry system. Displayed within the home is a large mural of photographs of all the children engaged in various activities. Staff say that a tablecloth with photographs of the young people has been ordered for the dining table. Special monthly achievement certificates are awarded to young people, for example for improved behaviour or listening. These are on display around the home and the activity centre, as is young people’s artwork.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe within this home. Due to their vulnerability, staff ratios are high especially when they are out in the community. Clear risk assessments inform staff of all areas of risk and give strategies on behaviour management and physical intervention plans. This helps to keep young people as safe as possible. Assessments of young people’s vulnerability within the community and when being transported are clearly documented, ensuring their safety at all times. Where young people have been restrained for their own or other’s safety, clear records are kept of the circumstances, but young people’s wishes and feelings are not routinely recorded. Staff have recorded that they have spoken to the young person but not recorded what their feelings are about the restraint. A recommendation is made to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make progress from their starting points and within their own limitations. All three residential young people are on role in some form of education or training and are supported to attend regularly. Young people are encouraged to learn independence skills such as basic cooking, cleaning their own rooms or helping with shopping. The home runs a ‘trust programme’ where young people can gain rewards for listening, following instructions and co-operating when given responsibility. Progress is rewarded, and then young people can move to the next level. This helps young people learn independence with responsibility.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions are managed well in this home. One young person has moved on since the last inspection, supported with outreach work from the staff at the home. This support continues with a gradual reduction each month. Another young person who moved in as an emergency was helped to settle very quickly and is being carefully supported to move on to a long-term residential school. The Social Worker says, ‘X was in a crisis state, they have moved her on and given her a positive frame for this move.’ Young people referred for short breaks have an assessment before coming for a visit with their family. They are then offered day visits at the activity centre prior to coming for an overnight stay. This ensures they are familiar with staff, the centre and the home before they come to stay overnight.

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Information about this children's home

A private company operate this home, which is registered for two short break services and three long-term placements. The short break aspect of the service generally operates between Friday and Monday and in school holidays. This service is for young people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and/or have learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity to express their feelings about the experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint. Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access an advocacy support to help them with this. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49, paragraph 9.60)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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