Children's Home run by Vcare - 24 Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591501 1

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Vcare - 24 Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in July 2020 and has not yet had a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns received by Ofsted in relation to the health and safety of the premises; the bedroom arrangements for children; children’s access to education; staffing levels and actions taken by staff to prevent a significant incident.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the visit was undertaken remotely with systems in place to gather the information required.

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This monitoring visit

Children are well supported by staff. This is helping the children to trust the staff and enables them to ask for and receive the support and help that they need.

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This monitoring visit

Children are encouraged to develop confidence and become more independent. Plans are in place for one child to move on to independence at their request, and staff are working with them to give them the skills they will need for the future.

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This monitoring visit

The manager recognises the importance of promoting the emotional well-being of the children, particularly given the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. On occasion, the manager has put plans in place to enable the children to meet with their peers. However, these arrangements were made with no prior consultation with social workers. This prevented external oversight and input and potentially contributed to a significant incident occurring. More positively, the staff managed this well and the manager has since recognised the importance of consulting with others. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591501 2 Education is promoted for the children and some children will engage. However, there has been a delay in action taken by other professionals to source a local education provision for one child. The manager has not challenged other professionals but has taken proactive steps to try and resolve the issue.

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This monitoring visit

Staffing levels are appropriate for the needs of the children and all staff have received relevant training. This means children are receiving consistent care from staff who can meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The home has been adapted temporarily to meet the needs of one child. This has been well thought out by the manager, with additional oversight from the company nurse to ensure all aspects of their care are addressed. However, due to the temporary adaption, one child does not have access to all of their belongings in their room. This is not good practice and does not promote the child’s privacy.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is able to identify areas of learning and development and responds well to feedback. This enables him to make changes to improve the quality of care the children are receiving.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

N/A Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591501 3

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Statutory requirement

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff —

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that consultation takes place prior to decisions being made, and challenge other professionals when there is a delay in action being taken. 11 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that children should be provided with appropriate furniture, such as a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items, including any personal information. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19) The registered manager should ensure that children have appropriate furniture within their own rooms to store all of their belongings. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591501 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to investigate information received that suggested there may have been a breach of regulations.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 18, Becklands Park, York Road, Market Weighton, York YO43 3GA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Simpson

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Inspector

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591501 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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