Children's Home run by Vcare - 24 Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 1 Registered provider: Vcare – 24 Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently resigned. A manager has been appointed and is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live at this home build warm and trusted relationships with a small and consistent staff team. Staff listen to, and engage, with the children. This helps children to settle into the home quickly and feel an immediate sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move into the home in a sensitive way by staff. Children’s individual needs are understood well by staff, even when they have moved in at short notice. This supports and promotes positive beginnings for children, who are given the opportunity to personalise the home and bedroom when they feel ready to do so.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and other family members participate in the lives of children. Staff support children to see their loved ones even when they live a considerable distance away. Staff transport children and offer support when needed so that the time they spend with their families is as enjoyable as possible. The registered manager worked closely with one placing local authority, and this resulted in one child being successfully reunified with their family.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak to children using familiar words that are child-centred and easy to understand. Children contribute to their own care plans and are supported to attend any meetings that concern them. This means that children feel listened to and have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear boundaries in place and children respond well to the model of care and nurturing approach provided. Specialist advice and support are readily available in recognition of any unmet needs children may have. This promotes early intervention and early diagnosis, which leads to earlier and more successful interventions.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff are able to unpick the barriers to children’s learning and promote successful returns to education. Staff liaise with virtual schools and offer effective challenge when needed, to ensure that the correct provision is in place for children. This means that children have been supported back into education, continue to make progress and have aspirations for their futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy activities such as swimming, martial arts and having holidays and days out. This has given children more opportunities to identify specific hobbies and interests of their choosing and helps them to develop their confidence and have positive experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 4

p.3

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

Children’s well-being is a priority for all staff. Close working relationships with professionals ensures that there is a proactive response by those involved in the children’s care that reduces harm and keeps them safe.

p.4

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

Risk assessments are completed at the point of referral and these inform suitability and decision-making. The registered manager’s attention to detail and her professional curiosity ensure that the most suitable children move into the home. Children are protected, and they say that they feel safe as soon as they come to live in the home.

p.4

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

Care plans and risk assessments identify any risks and vulnerabilities children have and set out what action should be taken to minimise any risks. In addition, these assessments help to support the child to make positive choices and keep safe. Staff are attuned to children’s anxieties and past traumas and are effective in de- escalating unwanted behaviours without the need for any form of physical intervention.

p.4

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

The environment of the home is free from hazards and maintained to a good standard. Children are supervised appropriately when undertaking activities both in the home and in the community. This is balanced against safely developing children’s independence.

p.4

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

New staff are suitably vetted, and recruitment practice ensures that staff are suitable to work with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has recently submitted their resignation and is leaving. The provider has taken action and has ensured that there is managerial cover and oversight. A peripatetic manager has stepped into the role and will submit an application to register with Ofsted. This has ensured continuity for staff and children. The peripatetic manager demonstrates confidence in maintaining stability and consistency in the home and for children in their care. They are proactive in ensuring the delivery of a model of good practice from the staff team that is individualised to the needs of children. This helps children to make good progress. Staff have opportunities for continuous learning and development. Some are progressing their NVQ qualifications and others are promoted to more senior positions in the organisation. Regular reflective supervision and training opportunities underpin a skilled and experienced staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work in a collaborative way, which provides the children with the consistency they need to feel secure. A parent, by way of saying thank you, said, ‘Words don’t Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 5 really cut it. I just want to say how grateful I am to all of the staff for the great work they have all put in with my child.’ The peripatetic manager has effective systems of monitoring the quality of care and evaluates staff practice through a visual presence and through interactions with children. The peripatetic manager identifies areas of improvement and utilises the staff to make changes. This means that the manager has good oversight of the care and progress of children who live in the home. Multi-agency working is strong and professionals are complimentary about the care provided in the home. The peripatetic manager recognises and challenges placing authorities when there are shortfalls in the care planning process. This in turn

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

improves the lives of children and promotes better outcomes for them.

p.5

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: 2538267 6

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Simpson

p.6

Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2538267 7 regulates and inspects 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.6

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 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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7