Children's home run by The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 1 Registered provider: The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home to care for up to four children. The statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties and associated emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home and its manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with all of the children during this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 3

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outstanding

Children with very complex needs make exceptional progress. They blossom within a nurturing and aspirational environment, which concentrates on their capabilities. Children are thriving educationally, emotionally and socially. A child’s relative called the home ‘a magical place’, another said their child received ‘exceptional care’.

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outstanding

The home provides children with stability, and they feel part of a family. There is a strong sense of friendship among the children and they enjoy socialising together. Children enjoy a wide range of activities in and outside of the home. They enjoy new experiences, such as visiting museums, going to the seaside and fruit picking.

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outstanding

Children’s individual identity is promoted exceptionally well, and they are encouraged to be proud of who they are. Children are wholly supported to follow their religious and cultural traditions. Life-story books provide children with valuable information about their heritage and individual needs, as well as capturing meaningful memories. Children learn about each other’s cultures and faith through cultural evenings and religious celebrations.

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outstanding

All children are in some form of education. The organisation has a learning centre where children can receive tuition, and purposeful plans are implemented to enable children to successfully return to school. An excellent example was seen of a child being reintegrated back into school after a year away.

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outstanding

Children benefit from highly effective healthcare arrangements. Staff successfully manage children’s epilepsy, allergies and gastro feeding. Children are supported to manage their weight with a balanced diet and exercise. They are members of a gym and they enjoy using the outdoor equipment in the local park, going for walks and swimming.

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outstanding

Children make a positive contribution to society. They enthusiastically support charitable appeals, for example, by baking and selling cakes. A child has had their creative writing published in an anthology. They also celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee, which gave them a sense of national pride and belonging.

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outstanding

Children have developed important independent living skills. They keep their room clean, make their bed and attend to their own laundry. They also contribute towards group living by cutting vegetables, cleaning the lounge and washing up.

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

Children live in a stable and safe home. Since living at the home, children’s behaviour and their emotional well-being have significantly improved. Challenging Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 4 incidents and physical interventions are rare. Professionals and relatives comment on children being calmer, and there is a peaceful atmosphere throughout the home.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s needs and their unique communication style, which helps children to feel understood. Specialist training helps staff to respond positively to children’s frustrations and assists them with de- escalating potential incidents.

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

Children are less anxious and staff provide them with tools to express their feelings, which helps them to learn how to manage their emotions. There are robust behaviour management strategies in place. Children’s emotional well-being is also supported by relaxing pampering sessions. Staff help children to develop essential life skills, such as patience and how to share, and they appreciate each other’s differences.

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

One of the home’s strengths is that staff are highly responsive to children’s complex needs. Staff demonstrate significant resilience and sensitively work with children. An independent reviewing officer praised the tenacity of staff. In particular, their ability to meet the needs of children who may have experienced high staffing levels and significant moves.

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

Children benefit from a positive reinforcement model, which rewards their achievements and good behaviour. Staff consistently celebrate children’s achievements. Unacceptable behaviour is talked about with children, which enables them to reflect, learn and progress.

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

Children live in a safe environment where all risks are known and understood. They benefit from effective individual risk assessments. The location risk assessment includes local intelligence and concisely details potential threats. Staff undertake regular health and safety checks in the home. Robust recruitment practices also help to protect the children.

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

Staff benefit from safeguarding training and they have established good links with the designated officer. Leaders and managers promptly refer any safeguarding concerns, and there have been no allegations against staff. Staff are also aware of the whistle-blowing procedures and they know that concerns can be referred to Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly experienced and solution-focused management team leads with a determination to provide a high-quality service for children. Leaders and managers actively work in partnership with families and local authorities. A child’s relative said that they were ‘very impressed’ with the transparent communication. A senior teacher described having an ‘exemplary professional relationship’ with the home. An independent reviewing officer described the home as ‘a joy to work with’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 5 The dynamic and creative management team is concentrating on actively meeting children’s current and future needs. It is commendable that a property that is a few doors away has been purchased to provide an adult home for older children. There are plans to replicate the same environment and provide the same staff to help with children’s transition into adult life. This will provide excellent continuity of care for

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers work exceptionally well with families. This includes providing ongoing emotional support. The introduction of coffee mornings enables relatives to visit and meaningfully discuss their child’s care. The organisation has a contact centre where families spend quality time together. Children not only celebrate their birthdays here with their families, but there was also an example of a child’s sibling having a birthday celebration at the contact centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children live in a clean and comfortable home, which is well equipped for their needs. Their own ensuite bedrooms are personalised to reflect their heritage and interests. For example, a child has a mural of their name in Arabic. Children also benefit from their own smart television, which enables them to access their favourite programmes and music.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive care from a highly skilled, committed and consistent staff team. Staff use their skills to benefit children. For example, they use their barbering skills to cut children’s hair. Having a culturally diverse staff team also means that some children can have a culturally reflective key worker, and a staff member can speak to a parent in their first language.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued. They benefit from a wide range of training, which includes the required vocational qualification. Senior staff are also undertaking management training. Staff have regular supervision sessions, team meetings and performance appraisals. New staff receive a structured induction, which effectively prepares them for their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection effectively. There is capacity for continuous improvement. A further example of this is the plan to open an independent school to meet children’s educational needs. Monitoring arrangements include monthly independent visitor reports. These reports are not always sent to Ofsted in a timely manner, but this does not impact on the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 6

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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 independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that this report is forwarded to Ofsted promptly. 1 February 2023

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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: 2532471 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Vine Residential Services (TVRS) Ltd.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Granary, Studio 4 1st Floor, 80 Abbey Road, Barking, Essex IG11 7BT

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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