Children's Home run by Vesta Children's Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 1 Registered provider: Vesta Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It provides care for two children who have had adverse childhood experiences. The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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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: 11 February 2025

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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: 2792586 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, no children have moved out and no children have moved in. Both children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Staff help the children personalise their bedrooms to create a sense of belonging. Children enjoy pets visiting the home, which creates and supports a family and homely environment for them. Staff support the children to pursue their hobbies and interests, and they benefit from engaging in a wide range of activities that they might not otherwise have had access to. This supports children’s confidence, social skills and sense of enjoyment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences with education have been inconsistent. Both children are not currently in full-time education and instead receive education at home. Communication between staff and education professionals is good and this has enabled them to identify a new provision that will better suit the children’s needs. The importance of education and supporting children with this has been a focus of staff’s work with the children. While the children await formal education, they have been able to pursue qualifications in the interim, for example a qualification in horse care. This will help the children pursue their future goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and prioritise building positive relationships. Staff make thoughtful keepsakes of children’s time living at the home. They understand each child, and when new needs are identified, ways of meeting these are discussed in team meetings and supported by therapeutic input. This approach helps children feel understood and supports their connection with the adults who take care of them. As a result, children say that they are happy living at the home.

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

Staff understand the risks associated with the children well. They work closely with relevant professionals to develop plans that are based on each child’s individual needs. Staff are proactive in updating these plans to incorporate new information. Intervention and support around children’s mental health needs are guided by therapeutic oversight and recommendations, and staff have received training that is relevant to the specific needs of the children in their care. For example, staff attended training on mental health to help them to better understand and respond to incidents of low mood and self-harm.

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

There have been incidents where children’s whereabouts have not been known. In these instances, staff take swift and appropriate action to locate them. When the children return home, they are met with empathy, support and understanding. There is good reflection among staff and managers following these incidents to identify any learning that can be taken from them. This will help prevent future occurrences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 4 When an allegation was made there was a thorough exploration of the concerns raised. This included seeking advice from the local authority and the local authority designated officer. This supports an open and safe culture where children feel able to raise issues and be listened to. Children know how to make complaints and feel able to raise these with adults working at the home if required.

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

When room searches are carried out, these are in line with children’s plans and done so in order to keep children safe. Where possible, children’s consent and views are sought to support their understanding of the reasons for these room searches.

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

There is a positive approach to environmental risks. The manager has worked with partnership agencies to ensure that the location of the home does not present a risk to children. Expertise is sought from outside of the home to ensure that specific risks such as fire are appropriately mitigated against. Staff carry out regular checks of the environment. This ensures that children live in a safe environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified for the role. The manager also manages another home for the same organisation and shares her time across the settings. She is supported by a deputy manager who is based in the home each day. This provides continuity of leadership when the manager cannot be present. The responsible individual is visible, engaged and plays an active role in the oversight of the home. Professional feedback is excellent. One professional said, ‘They go above and beyond’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly, with good attendance from staff. Records of these meetings are detailed and demonstrate a strong focus on reflection and professional discussion about each child’s needs, progress and experiences. The home’s model of care is fully embedded within these sessions, ensuring that practice is consistent and informed by the home’s therapeutic approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training for staff is varied and responsive to the needs of children. A therapist employed by the organisation regularly provides additional training for staff. This enhances staff’s psychological understanding and ability to respond to children’s emotional and behavioural needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, which is of good quality. Supervision records show that shortfalls in practice are identified and addressed promptly. Managers ensure that following incidents or periods of crisis for children there is an opportunity for staff to reflect on these and take learning as appropriate. This ensures a reflective and learning- focused culture and will drive improvements in the quality of care provided to children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is clear management oversight of staff practice and the progress of children. For the most part, these systems are effective. However, they have failed to identify Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 5 discrepancies in the use of surveillance and that a consequence fora child’s behaviour was not in line with the home’s therapeutic approach. These are isolated incidents that have had minimal impact on children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they keep under review a ‘Statement of Purpose’ (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The home’s statement of purpose should be child-focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the Quality Standards for the children in their care. In particular, the registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose reflects current use of surveillance and the home’s approach to behaviour support. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2792586 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Vesta Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: A B C Tools & Fasteners, Unit 4, Emma Court, Dewsbury Road, Fenton Industrial Estate, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2TH

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Inspectors

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Sophie Coogan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2792586 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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