Children's home run by Vantage Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2837587 1 Registered provider: Vantage Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living at the home. Both children were seen and contributed to 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 applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2837587 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive very individualised care from the staff in this home. Staff embrace children’s personalities and characters, and they know the children very well and show genuine emotional warmth and care. Children feel that they are understood and valued by staff. This ensures children enjoy positive relationships with staff and settle quickly when they first move to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have high aspirations for children. Staff support and encourage children to reach their potential and live fulfilling lives. For example, one child who had limited independence skills is learning to cook their own meals. Another child who struggled with aspects of their personal care has overcome these difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are earnestly sought and considered by the staff and managers. For children who do not use words to communicate, significant effort is made to ensure children are heard and understood. Personalised communication tools, such as electronic devices and symbol books, are used by staff to aid conversations with children. One child with very limited vocabulary has learned to say new words. This is commendable progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do well in education considering their starting points when moving to the home. When children are unable to attend school, staff are creative in engaging them in educational activities. Children enjoy learning and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff meet children’s health needs well. Effective monitoring systems are in place for health issues that children may experience and this means staff can provide the help children need quickly. Staff collaborate well with medical professionals, and for one child, there has been a reduction in their required medication. Children are also supported to be active and eat a healthy diet. As a result, children’s overall health improves.

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

Staff keep children safe. Effective safeguards are in place to reduce risks to children. For example, children who display self-injurious behaviours are regularly checked on through the night and are closely monitored for any signs of harm.

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

Staff know and understand the risks that children could be exposed to. Children’s safety and risk management plans are comprehensive and tell staff how to respond to any concerns for the safety and well-being of children. Children’s behaviours and incidents are monitored for patterns and trends. This helps the manager and staff understand what might be troubling the child and what additional support is needed.

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

The staff are up to date with core learning, such as safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities. They receive additional training in relation to Inspection report for children’s home: 2837587 3 children’s individual needs, such as self-injurious behaviour and other conditions. This ensures staff are competent in their role and reduces the risks to children.

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

An independent advocate visits the children regularly. This gives children the opportunity to raise concerns with someone independent to the home.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children and staff safe. The least force and measure are used. Children and staff are spoken to after each incident, and the manager uses learning to inform practice. However, not all records contain sufficient detail, and this is an area for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is competent and tenacious. She is a strong advocate for children and has high aspirations for them. The staff are supported with regular supervision from the manager. These supervision meetings cover pertinent topics, such as safeguarding, whistle-blowing and the care of children. Monthly team meetings provide staff with an opportunity to bond as a team and further develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective systems are in place to ensure staff are safe to work at the home. Appropriate checks are carried out robustly and overseen by the manager. Staff enjoy working at the home and feel well supported. They have positive relationships with each other, providing a family-like environment for children to enjoy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective oversight and monitoring systems in place. She constantly knows what is happening in the home and how staff are meeting the children’s needs. Routine internal and external audits are carried out, and areas of shortfall are promptly addressed. Patterns and trends in children’s behaviour are monitored closely, and the manager reviews these areas to see if any changes are required to the care provided to children. This also helps staff to understand children’s needs and adapt their practice accordingly and in response to the changing needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has positive relationships with external professionals, such as social workers and paediatricians. She is a strong communicator and works well in collaboration with others. The information provided by external agencies is unanimously positive. This ensures that decisions made about children are well considered and informed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837587 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept, and these should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2837587 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Vantage Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Regent Street, Nottingham NG1 5BQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Adkins

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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2837587 6 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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