Children's home run by Vita Nova NE Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615326 1

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Vita Nova Ne Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in January 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

The home, which opened during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, has not previously been inspected by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, this visit was carried out off site. The visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made since the home was registered. The visit included a review of documents, a virtual tour of the building and discussions with children, staff, families and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to moving into the home, children have the opportunity to visit for tea and to meet the staff and other children in the home. One child scored the placement as ten out of ten, citing the staff as one reason for the score. The child said, ‘They are really nice, they make you feel like you are at home.’

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This monitoring visit

When children are admitted to the home, the level of risk is not reviewed and updated. Impact risk assessments are poor. They do not include any analysis of risk and are not specific to the individual child’s needs. This means that staff are not provided with the information to help them to understand children’s needs or the risks that children face.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s case records, including care plans and behaviour support plans, do not always include all the necessary information. They are confusing to read, at times Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615326 2 contradictory and lack detail. This means that staff do not have clear guidance to follow to help them understand how to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

There are 14 members of staff working in the home, six of whom do not yet hold the minimum required qualification. All shift leaders are suitably qualified, which means that they provide experienced oversight of the care provided to children on a day-to-day basis.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that new staff joining the home receive an induction and structured training programme, relevant to the individual needs of the children. However, the type and level of training offered, as well as when to update the training, is not clear. Monitoring and reviewing of staff training and development will help to ensure that children are well cared for.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervision takes place regularly and is reflective, but there is little focus on the individual needs of the children in the home. Staff feel supported by the management team and are confident to seek advice and guidance. One member of staff said, ‘If you need anything they are always there.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand the importance of children spending time with family. Staff support children to see friends and family where it is safe to do so, and in line with government guidance. Staff keep in regular contact with family members and realise the benefit of including them in the children’s lives. This supports children’s identity needs and promotes their sense of belonging.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recognise the importance of education and create a bespoke education package for those children not in formal education. Staff attend education meetings with the children and advocate on their behalf. The manager is aware of the need for the children to attend formal education and is actively pursuing placements with support from the virtual schools.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615326 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, the 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) This specifically relates to the need for children’s impact risk assessments to include an analysis of risk and for them to be specific to the individual needs of the child. 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) This specifically relates to the need for children’s care plans and behaviour support plans to be specific and to be individualised to the needs of the child. 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615326 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Professionally qualified staff employed by the home, e.g. teachers or social workers, should be provided with relevant professional or clinical supervision by an

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Recommendations

appropriately qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2615326 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Vita Nova North East Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 20 Oakwood Gardens, Gateshead NE11 0DD

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Inspectors

Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Sue Atkinson-Millmoor, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615326 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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