Children's Home run by Virtue Health Services Ltd in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 1 Registered provider: Virtue Health Services 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 home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for one child with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection. The child was observed with staff during both days of 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Trusting and caring relationships have been built between the child and staff. Staff understand the child’s methods of communication and promote these to enable the child to make choices and participate in decision-making. A range of communication aids have been developed to encourage the child to share information about choices and feelings. The child’s ability to communicate with staff has improved. The child’s use of language has increased, and they are learning to use symbols and signs to communicate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s transition into the home was carefully planned, allowing them to spend time at the home beforehand to ease the move. The registered manager made sure staff had all the necessary information about the child before their arrival. With structured daily routines in place, the child has experienced a sense of stability, helping them feel settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress since living at the home. Nighttime routines established have led to the child benefiting from a good night’s sleep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before arriving at the home, the child had gone for a lengthy period without full-time formal education. Staff have taken the time to build a strong understanding of the child’s needs and have proactively engaged with the social worker and virtual school to advocate for suitable education for the child. Staff have remained committed to supporting the child’s learning and have successfully demonstrated progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been able to access a range of opportunities and activities. Staffing levels in the home have meant that the child has been able to spend regular time undertaking activities including seaside visits and drives in the car, which the child enjoys. These trips support the child’s well-being and education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are developing communication tools to help the child expand their choices around food. Meals at present remain limited and nutritionally restrictive. Due to the current layout in the home, the child eats in isolation. The registered manager is aware of this and is planning the introduction of a dedicated dining area to enhance the child’s interactions with staff and encourage social skills.

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

Staff understand the risks associated with the child and there are written plans available in the home that help staff provide safe care. Risk assessments are updated when required. They address the child’s vulnerabilities and are clear about how staff should manage the risk.

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

Staff actively promote and celebrate positive behaviour with the child and speak warmly about their work with the child. Staff employ de-escalation techniques to manage challenging situations effectively. Any use of restraint or restrictive practices is carried Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 3 out by trained staff in accordance with clear guidelines and procedures. Managers review all incidents, ensuring the child is encouraged to express their feelings. Relevant information is promptly shared with family and professionals.

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

The child is encouraged to try new activities and develop new skills that help promote their independence and freedom of choice. Staff ensure that the child is supported to do this. This helps the child feel safe.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment practices are in place and followed.

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

The registered manager provides a secure and well-maintained environment, with any damage promptly addressed to maintain safety and comfort. This provides a homely environment for the child to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a permanent and qualified registered manager. They have developed good management oversight of the child’s plans and have created strong working relationships with partner agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is adequately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the child. There is a wide range of training opportunities open to staff, and the registered manager monitors completion of core training. The registered manager and her deputy have developed workshops and training opportunities to enhance the specialist skills required to care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There isn’t a core training requirement for team members who are not working permanently in the home. This is something that the registered manager is aware of and is looking to resolve to ensure that the whole workforce is suitably trained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has an excellent working knowledge of developing services for children with learning difficulties and ensures that plans meet the child’s needs and take into account the local authority care plan and the views of parents. The registered manager is ambitious and recognises the achievements and the progress of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff do not always receive supervision within agreed timescales, and written records do not always reflect the discussions that take place. Bank staff who work in the home do not receive regular supervision, and there is no agreed training plan to support staff’s knowledge and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 4

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive practice-based supervision. 25 July 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have a qualification in regulation 32 (4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should have a training workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for each child’s needs. Where appropriate, children should be involved in choosing and preparing meals, and opportunities to sit together and eat should be promoted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 5

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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: 2784182 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Virtue Health Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Balby Court, Carr Hill, Doncaster DN4 8DE

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Inspector

Lisa Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2784182 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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