Children's home run by Vcare - 24 Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 1

p.1

VCare24 Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to one child or young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered since July 2020. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was carried out to review the safeguarding practices of staff and to assess the quality of training. The visit also explored the admissions of children to the home, the thresholds about when to inform Ofsted about significant incidents and the management oversight of the independent visitor reports.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home has not been inspected since it was registered in July 2020. The visit was conducted remotely during a period of national COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On one occasion, crucial information about risk was not shared with the registered manager or the staff team before a child was admitted to the home. The impact of the missing information on the child’s safety and welfare was kept to a minimum due to the action of staff. The registered manager challenged the placing authority appropriately and has since undertaken some learning. This learning has ensured that full information is shared prior to accepting any new children to the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The child currently living in the home is settled, well cared for and has very good relationships with the staff, who know the child very well. The child is engaging with their plans effectively. They are responding well to the structure and routines put in place by staff. This is helping them to make good progress and develop independence skills in preparation for the next stages of their life. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 2 The staff apply the learning from the safeguarding training to protect children from harmful situations. In addition, risk management plans guide the staff about the strategies to follow in relation to specific risks. Effective risk-management practice by staff has resulted in a significant reduction of risk, such as missing-from-care incidents. The child rated their safety as ‘10 out of 10’.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The staff have responded sensitively to the child’s emotional needs when the child has been anxious, angry and sad. The child’s positive engagement with the nurse, who is employed by the provider, ensures that the child gets the right advice, support and prompt access to health services. The nurse also ensures that everyone at the home is updated about the COVID-19 government guidance, in order to reduce the risk of them contracting the infection.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The child is re-engaging with their education after a significant period of time out of school. The support from the staff team and the education consultant, who is employed by the provider, is improving the child’s future employment prospects.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The staff facilitate family time for all children, which has resulted in a child’s return home to their family.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager is qualified and experienced. He also manages another home for one child, and he visits both of the homes regularly. The staff receive good management and peer support. The staff member’s access to training informs their practice. However, the provider has faced difficulties in meeting the targets required to ensure that children are cared for by a fully qualified workforce. There is no impact on the care of the child and the provider is addressing this matter.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager and responsible individual have oversight of the reports from the independent visitor. This enables the registered provider to respond to any recommendations. The registered manager has completed his first internal monitoring of the home since it was registered with Ofsted. However, the registered manager has not obtained the views of children, staff and stakeholders first-hand. This hinders his ability to make continuous improvements to the quality of care.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has not notified Ofsted about a serious incident that involved the child needing medical attention. Although action has been taken, the gap in Ofsted being notified has prevented the regulator Ofsted from monitoring the home’s safeguarding practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The child’s social worker expressed satisfaction with the quality of care at the home and the good communication from the registered manager and the staff team. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

There is no inspection history, as this is the homes first visit following registration. Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.4

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 31 March 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5))

p.4

Requirement Due date

The specifically relates to the registered manager ascertaining the opinions first-hand to inform the service developments. 31 March 2021

p.4

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

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

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Simpson Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 5 Registered manager: Benjamin Lawry

p.4

Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2544219 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6