Children's home run by Vita Spirit Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 1 Registered provider: Vita Spirit Limited

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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 home is owned by a small private company and provides care for up to four children with learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

An acting manager has been in post since October 2024 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted. The previous manager left their position in November 2024.

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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: 2635269 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Good 10/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the home are welcomed sensitively and planning is detailed. Staff spend time with children observing and getting to know them prior to them moving in. Staff communicate with previous carers and professionals, including school settings. This means that children’s needs are understood before they move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a range of activities that they enjoy, such as attending a gym, trampolining and holidays together with the staff. Children remain living in the home for long periods of time. There are photos around the home of children involved in a range of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and place them at the centre of their practice. Staff communicate with children depending on their individual needs and use a range of methods for this to happen, such as putting in place visual aids. One child has made significant progress with their communication skills. This is supporting them to participate fully in their daily lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school and are making progress. One child has made exceptional progress, with staff supporting the child in the classroom environment. The child is now able to move independently around school without this intense level of support. This supports children to develop their confidence and learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s memories are captured in photographs. Children who have moved out of the home take a photograph book with them so that they can understand their journey. Clear plans are in place when children move out of the home, including staff supporting introductions with new carers. This means that children experience positive endings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to manage their feelings safely. A mental health practitioner said, ‘I can’t stress enough how much of a positive impact this home has had on the young person’s well-being.’

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. Clear plans set out what support the individual children need to help keep them safe. Staff regularly review and revise their approaches with professionals, including health professionals. Incidents for one child have significantly reduced.

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

Children are cared for by staff who promote positive behaviour. Staff are gentle in their approach and receive training that is specific to children’s needs, such as autism spectrum disorder. This is enhancing their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 4 Physical intervention is used when there is a risk to a child’s safety. The manager has clear oversight of incidents and any actions taken by staff. The manager has a tracker in place that considers any themes and patterns, and reflects on incidents in detail. This is used to review care practices to ensure that they are safe. As a result, incidents for children are reducing.

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

Children have door alarms in place. These alert staff should children need support during the night. However, individual risk assessments are not in place to evidence that their use is proportionate and necessary. Placing authority social workers are aware of the use, however, this needs to be signed and regularly reviewed.

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

Children are taken to see their family by staff. Staff understand the importance of those relationships. Staff review and report on any issues affecting the child. Plans are revised and decisions made with social workers when these arrangements are not in the child’s best interest. This supports children to feel safe.

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

The manager ensures that the staff recruited are subject to all relevant checks, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. This ensures that children are looked after by adults who can care for them safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager ensured that the interim manager was supported through a clear and robust transition period. This means that the current manager was able to spend time getting to know children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, there have been some changes to the staff team. Staff report that they completed a robust induction and training programme alongside shadowing experienced staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals, such as teachers and social workers, said that communication between the manager, staff and themselves is good. The manager completes and shares weekly reports for each child. This means that they can understand children’s experiences and incidents that may affect them. Children receive high-quality, consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they receive support and enjoy their work. Staff are ambitious for what children can achieve. Staff use learning from professionals working with the children to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings, supervision and appraisals are used as an opportunity to reflect on the progress that children are making. This is also used to identify strengths and areas for development across the team. As a result, staff have clear responsibilities and experience a sense of shared ownership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are written to them using creative ideas that are individual to the child’s understanding and preferred communication methods. Records reflect children’s achievements, progress and plans for their future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 5 Feedback from professionals and parents is positive. Children are reported to be making significant progress. They have praised the staff team for their responsive and caring attitude towards children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 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, The 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that if bedroom door alarms are used, there is a clear identified risk, and these are kept under review. 7 April 2025

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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: 2635269 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Vita Spirit Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 25-27 Seel Street, 25-27 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AU

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2635269 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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