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

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with autism and/or learning disabilities and social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were 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.

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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 outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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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

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

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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

12/12/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 21/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in developing their skills and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Whether children stay short term or longer term, they all make exceptional progress from their starting points. Inclusivity is at the heart of staff practice. Staff take great care to be attuned to the children’s non-verbal cues to ensure that every child’s wishes and feelings are understood. Staff use a range of visual communication aids to help children to be included in decisions that impact on their day-to-day lives. One child has been supported with the help of the speech and language therapist to be able to verbalise their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is beautifully decorated and has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Children can personalise their bedrooms and staff proudly display children’s completed artwork and photos from activities throughout the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for the children and encourage them to engage in a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are imaginative in finding diverse ways to support children in their care. Staff build exceptional relationships with children, which helps each child to feel happy and secure in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure that children’s care plans are detailed and reflect their individual needs. Achievable goals are set for children, and they are encouraged to develop their independent living skills at a pace that reflects their individual needs. Children are rewarded for their progress and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Some children have emotional and behavioural needs. Despite these challenges, they have made considerable progress socially and emotionally. Social workers and parents have remarked on seeing these positive changes. One social worker described how a child had made ‘massive progress’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who have in the past been unable to carry out their personal care are now steadily learning these essential life skills. For some children, this has meant they are now able to eat independently and do tasks such as bringing their laundry to be washed and sitting at the dining table to eat their dinner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise children’s physical health. One child’s health has significantly improved as a result of the staff’s diligence in introducing healthy food into the child’s diet. When changes are noticed in a child’s behaviour that may be an indication that they are unwell, staff are prompt at seeking medical advice. When necessary, staff will request a medication review to ensure that dosages remain right. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 4 Staff consistently challenge barriers that can impact on children accessing full-time education. One child who had previously found attending school difficult is now attending a learning centre regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff collaborate with parents to ensure that high standards of care for the children are maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff carry out regular key-work sessions to support children to understand a range of topics, including how to stay safe, learning how to do independence skills and understanding social cues. Staff use a range of tools to enable them to do this work, including using social stories, video stories and communication aids to help children to express their thoughts.

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

Staff take an initiative-taking approach to safeguarding that protects the most vulnerable children from harm. They take their responsibilities to safeguard children seriously.

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

Staff ensure that risk assessments are detailed and individualised to each child. Risk assessments are regularly updated following incidents. The strategies to mitigate risks are highly effective and are followed up by managers. Managers ensure that any physical interventions are subject to learning reviews to help drive improvement in practice. This ensures there is a learning environment where staff and leaders stay professionally curious and adhere to good practice standards.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s emotional needs and take appropriate action when incidents occur. They use de-escalation techniques effectively that help children to calm down when their emotions are heightened. They also ensure that incidents between children are reviewed. In one example, managers recognised that a child was struggling with the environmental noises when they were having their meals. Changes were made to the environment that helped the child to be more settled. This change led to a reduction in incidents.

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

Staffing arrangements ensure that there are always sufficient staff on duty to meet children’s needs. Children living in the home receive constant supervision throughout the day. Some children with particularly complex health needs have extra support and monitoring through the night.

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

Behaviour support plans are detailed and support staff to understand children’s presenting behaviours and how best to support them. Strategies for supporting children are clear, and this enables staff to provide appropriate individualised responses to children who may be distressed. Behaviour support plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that children are appropriately supported when their needs change. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 5 Staff treat children with dignity and respect. Children’s positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded by staff. For example, children are nominated for the Child of the Month award.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are inspirational and ambitious for children. They are committed and influential in changing the lives of those in their care. They provide daily updates to families and seek to involve them in the care of their children. Parents are invited to coffee mornings and their views are regularly sought on the care of their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New members of staff who have joined the home recently describe a family atmosphere where children’s care is prioritised. They are supported with fortnightly supervision and feel able to speak to managers and other staff members if they need support. This has been crucial to staff feeling settled and confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers encourage staff to professionally develop and there are now a number of staff who have graduated to more senior positions where they are able to mentor new members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. The manager uses a range of review and monitoring systems. This ensures that systems are in place to support good practice that benefits children. Leaders and managers have developed effective relationships with partner agencies, and this ensures that the needs of children are responded to well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and they are effective. The manager and staff discuss relevant topics, such as children’s progress, safeguarding and training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision which focuses on their personal development and child- focused practice. However, the supervision records do not always contain sufficient evidence, including how staff apply reflective practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is not always enough detail captured when decisions are made on accepting referrals for new children to move into the home. Not enough consideration is given in the evidence to show whether the staff have the skills and training needed, or that the assessment has considered the needs of the other children already living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children when they have fully demonstrated that they have considered the skills and training of staff and the impact that the placement will have for the child in the future and for other children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that all staff supervision supports them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care and that this is recorded effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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 IG11 7BT

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Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2532471 8 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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