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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC430320 1 SC430320 The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd.

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home for up to five children. The statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children who have a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties. This home was registered with Ofsted in August 2011. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2016.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted was informed by an anonymous complainant of several concerning issues. These related to insufficient staffing, the use of agency staff, staff morale, the deputy manager arrangements, the new finance system and an incident involving a child having unsupervised contact with their family. This visit involved the inspector examining the staffing rota, agency staff induction records, a staff disciplinary letter and the personnel documentation for the new deputy manager. The inspector held individual discussions with six of the staff members on duty, which included two agency staff members. A group discussion was also undertaken with the senior management team, which included the responsible individual, the operations manager and the safeguarding lead. A telephone discussion was also held with the social worker of the child who had unsupervised contact with their family. Leaders and managers admitted that staffing had been an issue. Several staff

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This monitoring visit

members have left. This, along with staff ill health and Christmas leave, has resulted in staff shortages. There has been a greater reliance on agency staff and managers have assisted by covering staff shortages. Insufficient staffing has occasionally impacted children’s ability to access the local community, where two-to-one staffing is needed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC430320 2 The staff team is working hard to care for children who have very challenging needs. Children benefit from good continuity of care provided by consistent agency staff, who work regular shifts. There is a satisfactory induction programme for agency staff, which includes familiarisation with children’s care plans, behaviour support plans and risk assessments. Agency staff have access to the home’s computerised recording system, which enables them to keep children’s records up to date. Agency staff additionally benefit

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This monitoring visit

from ongoing training, which further develops their practice and knowledge. During the Christmas holidays, it was particularly hard for staff as all children had been at the home. All staff interviewed admitted that the work is challenging, and some staff said that they do not feel valued. The senior management team, however, stated that it regularly praised staff. The organisation has an ‘employee of the month’ scheme and staff enjoyed a Christmas event and received gifts during the festive period. A new financial management system has been implemented in response to a review of the petty cash system. Children receive their monies on a weekly basis and records and receipts ensure that all monies are clearly accounted for. Despite the loss of two deputy managers, the current management arrangements are satisfactory. The new deputy manager is suitably experienced and qualified to work with the children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

There was one incident where a staff member allowed a child to have unsupervised contact with the child’s family. This incident was managed appropriately by the senior management team and the staff member was appropriately disciplined. The child’s social worker was promptly informed of this incident. The child’s social worker additionally confirmed to the inspector her satisfaction with the quality of care. The senior management team is endeavouring to improve practice in the home. Safeguarding issues have been effectively addressed and staff are appropriately disciplined for practice issues and for failing to safeguard children. There are no current safeguarding concerns.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2018 Full Good 18/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC430320 3

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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, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the 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 children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(d)) 01/03/2020

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC430320 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Granary, Studio 4 1st Floor, 80 Abbey Road, Barking, Essex IG11 7BT

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC430320 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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