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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 1 Registered provider: Vcare - 24 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

A private provider runs the children’s home. It provides care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home, and one was spoken to during the inspection. Two children have moved out from the home since the last inspection, and two have moved in.

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Information about this children’s home

The service registered with Ofsted on 17 July 2020. The service does not have a registered manager. The interim manager, deputy manager and responsible individual led the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2023

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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: 2591501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2023 Full Good 07/06/2022 Full Good 25/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel safe and secure in the home. Children have been able to build good relationships with staff. The staff know the children well and they invest in spending time with them. The manager and staff work proactively with other partners and seek to build effective working relationships to improve outcomes for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s well-being is at the very centre of the ethos in the home. Children are encouraged to personalise their rooms and communal spaces to make them more homely and meet their individual needs. This makes children feel a sense of belonging and pride in where they live.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted. Staff monitor and encourage children to attend routine medical appointments and ensure that they have access to local health services. Staff communicate regularly with specialist health advisers and will challenge and escalate concerns if they feel that specialist help is not available when required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their views and give feedback. Children have been helped to access advocates and know how to make a complaint should they wish to. This means that children’s voices are heard and their opinions considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create and embrace a nurturing environment in the home. Children’s achievements are celebrated. Children are encouraged to take part in a range of activities that help to build their self-esteem and create further opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence. Staff encourage children to develop new skills that will help them as they move towards independent living. However, children who are not in full-time education are not being offered an alternative provision.

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

Staff know the children well and their safety is promoted and any risks identified. Risk assessments are regularly updated and reflect current concerns. Staff use these risk assessments to ensure that care is consistent and safe. Staff know what to do in any given situation to help protect children.

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

Staff act in accordance with missing-from-home plans if children go missing. Management oversight and a review of the incidents is visible. Children are encouraged to accept return home interviews, which are independent and an opportunity to discuss why they left the home in a bid to stop it happening again.

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

Children feel safe in the home and can identify staff to talk to if they are worried or concerned. Children are supported to manage their behaviours and feelings, and staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 4 have a good understanding of triggers for behaviours. Staff use de-escalation techniques in the first instance to make children feel safe and secure. Staff support children through direct and focused key work to help children understand their feelings. Children are given space and time to talk.

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

Staff recognise and reinforce positive behaviour. This ensures that children understand what is expected from them when living in the home and the impact on others.

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

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. All previous incidents are recorded, reviewed and monitored by the manager to note any patterns or trends.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has left the home. An experienced interim manager is in place and a new manager has recently been appointed and has confirmed their intention to apply to register with Ofsted. Staff say that they receive good support from leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have been identified who are due to register or have already registered for the required qualification. Staff have benefited from a comprehensive induction and a training package that helps them to care for children and understand about working with children in care and their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new management team has a clear vision and has noted deficits in the quality of care for the children. They have taken immediate steps to promote effective leadership and management oversight to drive forward standards. This helps to improve practice and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are monthly visits to the home by an independent visitor, and the resulting reports provide external oversight. The interim manager has addressed the recommendations noted in the reports. This has led to improvements in the staffing and home, and a better living environment for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes training and development with the staff team and monitors learning. The manager has commissioned and delivered bespoke training dependent on the needs of the children who are living in the home. This has made staff feel more confident in supporting the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has not been reviewed and requires updating to reflect the changes in staffing and the service offered to meet children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 5

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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 must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual in a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b)) 25 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should work closely with the placing authority so that children are supported into full-time education or learning and development, including helping them to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping them to complete independent study. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 28, paragraph 5.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 6

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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: 2591501 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Lisa Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591501 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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