Children's home run by Vcare - 24 Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 1 Registered provider: Vcare - 24 Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care for one child who may have experienced emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022 and is suitably qualified for the role.

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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

Date of last inspection: 8 December 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home and they are making good progress. Staff promote the child’s hobbies and interests by encouraging them to spend time doing the things that they enjoy, such as gardening work, building a greenhouse and playing football. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is exploring things that they have never done before. The staff put a lot of time into them, and they have positive relationships with [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the child with a nurturing and homely environment. Staff have built positive relationships with the child in a short space of time. This has helped the child to settle into the home quickly. The child speaks to staff about any concerns that they have and about their previous experiences and risks. A family member said, ‘Anyone offering [name of child] help was pushed away, but now they speak to the staff, which is helping their mind to settle.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been out of education for four years. In the short time that they have been in the home, the staff have worked hard to promote and support the child to engage in home tuition. These sessions are facilitated by the school where the child is on roll and are tailored to meet their needs. These also help the child to build positive relationships with teachers from the school. Regular multi-agency meetings with education specialists, social workers, the child’s school and the manager mean that the child’s return to full-time education is a priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with all relevant healthcare providers and is in good health. Staff have reinforced a positive night-time routine with the child. This has helped them with their sleep pattern, and they are now going to sleep at a reasonable hour so that they are ready for the next day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with their family and understand how important this is. This emotional and practical support helps the child to develop resilience and ensures that they remain in contact with the people who mean the most to them.

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

Risk assessments provide staff with clear actions to follow to reduce the risk of harm to the child. Staff know the child’s risks and know what to do to keep them safe. Staff talk to the child about their risks and keeping themselves safe.

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

The child currently living in the home does not go missing. This is because they have trusting relationships with staff. If the child did go missing, staff are clear on the actions that they would need to take in these circumstances. This keeps the child increasingly safe and potentially reduces their risk of harm. Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 4 The use of physical restraint is rare. This is because staff focus on building good relationships with the child, and this helps them to verbally de-escalate incidents. When restraint is used, staff ensure that records of these events are detailed and evaluative. This allows all of those involved to reflect and learn from the incident.

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

Staff use restorative consequences when children’s behaviours are unacceptable. These are proportionate, and staff ensure that they consult with the child so that they understand why the consequence was given and how this relates to the incident. The registered manager and deputy manager have oversight of these and give a reflective account of the incident.

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

There are occasions when agency staff are used in the home. The registered manager does not know the content of Disclosure and Barring Service certificates for these staff. He does not know if they have appropriate skills and qualifications or if they have worked with vulnerable children before. This does not ensure the suitability of the agency staff working in the home with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager keeps up to date with research regarding childhood development. He cascades this knowledge to the staff. This ensures that staff have the knowledge to meet the child’s changing needs. The manager and deputy manager are respected by staff, who say that they are supportive. They create a culture where there are high aspirations for the child to progress in all areas of their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. The monitoring systems in place mean that when shortfalls are identified, the manager takes action to quickly address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete mandatory training such as physical restraint, safeguarding and first aid. However, staff are not trained in specific areas that reflect the child’s individual needs. This does not raise staff awareness around how to manage specific behaviours to help and support the child’s progress and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager admitted a child to the home when this child’s specific needs were not covered by the statement of purpose. This means that the home operated outside of the aims and objectives of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are reflective and support staff development. These give staff an opportunity to discuss the children and their own practice. This ensures that staff feel valued and supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager professionally challenges other agencies to ensure that the child is not disadvantaged. The deputy manager also liaises with placing authorities to make sure that the child’s records and plans are up to date and reflect all of their support needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 5

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 21 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 21 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 21 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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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, 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 for children's home: 2544219 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 10, Halifax Way, Pocklington Industrial Estate, Pocklington, York YO42 1NP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Simpson

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2544219 8 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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