Children's home run by Vita Nova NE Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 1 Registered provider: Vita Nova North East Limited Full inspection 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 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 home was registered in January 2021. The manager was registered in September 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 27 July 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the last full inspection, three compliance notices were issued under regulations 11, 12 and 13. These were issued due to the serious concerns that were Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 2 identified in the safeguarding arrangements, and the widespread failings in the leadership and management of the home.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was completed on 27 July 2021 to review the action taken by the provider. The inspector found that the provider had met all the steps in all three compliance notices. Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they are happy living in the home and identify staff as people who they can trust. Children build positive relationships with their caring adults, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager assesses the suitability of children prior to them moving into the home. She considers the potential risks and whether these can be safely managed by staff. However, sometimes the strategies that she identifies for the staff to follow are broad and generic. This has not negatively affected children; however, this has the potential to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to the children and help them to develop their confidence to share their feelings. Staff are sensitive regarding the varying needs of the children and help the children to develop an understanding towards each other. This helps the children to live together harmoniously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in fun activities with the staff, which gives the children an opportunity to develop new hobbies and interests. Staff consider the children’s individual interests when they arrange trips and holidays, and they incorporate the things that children enjoy. This helps children to have memorable experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by the staff to learn about healthy choices and to understand how positive choices support good health. Staff assist the children to develop routines that support good physical and mental health, such as going to the gym. Staff listen to the children’s views and seek professional medical advice before implementing children’s wishes, such as regarding the use of herbal remedies. This inclusive approach helps children to be involved in their care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with educational professionals to gain an understanding of the children’s barriers to learning. For some children, enrolling and beginning to attend education is good progress from their starting point. However, children complete home-based education in a busy communal area. One child said they find it hard to work here as it is difficult to concentrate. Additionally, one child is not supported effectively by the staff to maintain their education routine. These shortfalls limit the child’s educational progression.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager acts swiftly when new risks emerge. She shares significant information with partner agencies so that the children gain access to specialist services without delay. Staff recognise when the children become increasingly vulnerable, and they put in extra measures to reduce the risks to children. One professional said: ‘The staff work proactively to help to keep [Name] safe.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 5 Risk assessments and care planning documents are linked. These assist the staff so that they have the guidance that they need to understand the risks that the children face. The manager promptly shares the strategies and the safety measures with the staff so that they are up to date with the actions they should take to help keep the children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are helped to understand how unsafe choices may negatively affect their lives. Staff support the children to complete training to help them understand how to make safer choices. There have been no incidents of the children going missing from the home since the last inspection. This excellent progress demonstrates that children are helped to become safer.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff support the children to develop their skills so that they can manage their emotions positively. Children are provided with resources to help them to develop coping strategies to promote their well-being. This helps to empower children by giving them a sense of control.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Sanctions are imposed to help the children to learn that there are consequences for their actions. The manager scrutinises this practice to help ensure that it is fair. Sanctions are discussed with children. Staff take children’s views into consideration. This helps children to see that their contribution is important.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager, who has taken up her post since the last inspection, is suitably qualified and experienced. She is supported well by a small staff team. The stable staffing arrangements help the children to experience consistency and familiarity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment processes provide assurances that the adults have been appropriately vetted before they care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has identified when further information is required from a child’s placing local authority. She has requested this information to help her team understand one child’s care planning needs. However, the manager has not challenged or escalated her concerns further when this information has not been provided in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed all mandatory training. Staff refresh their knowledge and develop additional skills through a programme of ongoing training in response to the children’s emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. Staff discuss the children’s current needs and explore how these are best met. This helps the children to experience consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff share their ideas for how the children’s care can be improved during their regular supervision. This practice helps to involve the whole team in raising the standard of care that children receive. Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 6 The manager has devised audit tools which she is implementing. She has started to use these processes to help her to monitor the care that children receive. When she identifies shortfalls, she acts swiftly to address the issues. This demonstrates her commitment to ensuring that the children are well cared for. Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 7

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 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. (Regulation 5 (c)) 8 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(b)) 8 November 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that the manager and leaders have fully considered the impact that any new admission will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 8 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Vita Nova North East Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 58 Lanchester Road, Maiden Law, Lanchester, County Durham DH7 0QS

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Inspectors

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2615326 10 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

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