Children's home run by Vita Nova NE Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 1 Registered provider: Vita Nova NE Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to all three children.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/06/2022 Full Good 05/10/2021 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they like living at the home. Staff provide good-quality care and put children at the forefront of their practice. One parent said, ‘Staff do a really good job.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a child moves in to the home, the manager and staff gather relevant information from people who know the child. This includes considering the impact on the children already living in the home. When children have struggled to visit, staff have gone to introduce themselves, which offers reassurances to the child prior to their move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational attendance is mixed for children. One child’s attendance has increased significantly due to incentives from staff. Older children who have left school are enrolled on a recognised training programme, but staff do not consistently encourage children to participate in this. This affects the children’s future life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the health needs of children. When children decline or struggle to attend medical appointments, staff encourage them and offer reassurance. Where appropriate, children are supported to be independent in meeting their own health needs, such as self-medicating and attending appointments alone. This helps to prepare children for adulthood and gives them a sense of responsibility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in activities of interest, such as music and art. Staff also encourage children to take part in community events, such as village fayres. This supports children to develop a sense of identity and belonging in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children spending time with those who are important to them. The home is in a rural area, but staff ensure that this does not hinder children visiting others. Staff have developed relationships with important people in the children’s lives, such as parents. Children said that they can have friends visit the home should they wish to do so. This helps children to maintain and strengthen bonds with family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that the house has a homely and comfortable feel. Children contribute to decision-making about the home and garden, such as asking for the removal of trees in the garden. Children’s bedrooms are decorated in a personal way, which helps the children to feel valued and listened to.

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

Children make progress as the managers and staff have a good understanding of their needs and how to support the children. This includes staff helping the children to understand the risks that they may face. These discussions help children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 4 consider issues such as drug misuse, which has led to a reduction in cannabis use for some children. Furthermore, children can have support from external agencies if needed. This supports children to be consistently cared for and kept safer.

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

There has been a reduction in the times that children go missing from the home. When this does happen, staff know how to respond as each child has an individualised risk assessment and missing protocol. The manager makes sure that these are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff warmly welcome the children back when they return.

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

Children are rarely held and only to keep themselves and others safe. The manager speaks to the children and staff involved in the incident to understand and have oversight of the situation. This enables managers and staff to reflect on the incident and identify any areas of development.

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

Children said that they can speak to staff if they are worried about anything. Staff encourage children to talk about their feelings. Staff complete some safeguarding tasks, such as bedroom searches, which some children find frustrating. Staff tell the children involved why they are taking this action. This helps children to understand that staff are taking these measures to ensure their safety.

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

Staff will rarely use consequences. When used, they typically relate to children causing damage within the home. However, these are punitive as children are expected to pay a large amount for the damage caused. However, progress is being made to make consequences more restorative in nature to help children to understand the impact that their behaviour has on others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for the children. Managers advocate on behalf of children and challenge other professionals. This has resulted in the planning changing for one child after their views were sought and listened to. This enables children to build trust and feel supported in sharing their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they enjoy coming to work and are well supported by managers. All staff and managers describe a family feel to this home. Managers praise staff’s achievements, which are celebrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff speak warmly about children. This is reflected in their records, which are written in a child-friendly manner. This enables children to see that they are cared for by committed and caring adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed effective monitoring tools. This ensures that he is aware of any shortfalls and can act quickly. The manager strives to promote service improvement. He utilises the support from the independent person. This enables the care afforded to the children to develop and improve further. Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 5 Managers ensure that they follow safer recruitment procedures. When staff begin working at the home, there is a well-planned induction. Staff have access to training and shadowing opportunities, which mean that they understand children’s needs prior to them caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager raises issues with professionals when required. However, there is no clear timescale when issues should be escalated and which external professional should be contacted. This means that there has been a delay in obtaining documents or a health assessment for one child. This impacts on staff having the most up-to-date plans for children to support their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to continue their education or training and support them to develop the skills necessary to succeed in the option they choose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.16)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home challenges them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page, 12, paragraph 2.8)

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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: 2615326 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Jessica Elliott, Social Care Inspector Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2615326 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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