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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 1 Registered provider: Vcare – 24 Limited

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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 two children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Staff do not always follow behaviour management strategies.  Staff do not always use the least restrictive physical intervention techniques.  Leaders do not put strategies in place to ensure that children are fulfilled and can participate in daily life.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is relatively new and leading the home through a period of significant change. These changes have created a less-experienced workforce. Leaders are aware that both the registered manager and staff require support to be able to provide children with stable and nurturing care.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff practice is not consistent with behaviour management strategies. Staff actions have contributed to the child becoming upset or anxious, leading to avoidable incidents. Staff have had to hold the child to keep them safe, in situations in which other strategies could have reduced the child’s distress. The child’s records show that staff do not always use the least restrictive holds when physical intervention is used.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always review risk assessments and safety plans promptly when strategies are not effective. As a result, the child’s opportunities to attend education or take part in activities has been reduced. Leaders have not shown persistence to find alternative ways to help the child manage risk while maintaining a positive daily routine.

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Findings from the inspection

The home requires attention to ensure that it feels welcoming and well maintained. Leaders have not repaired damage quickly enough, which stops the premises from having a homely feel. However, staff do ensure that the home is kept clean and tidy.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have decided that the child will move from the home, as this is considered to be in their best interests. This decision follows a period of instability and inconsistent care. The child’s move was not well planned, with plans for his future not confirmed until the day of moving or communicated with them.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring and review systems do not consistently identify shortfalls in staff practice. When concerns are highlighted, learning is not always shared effectively or followed up to check that improvements are made. This limits the home’s capacity to learn from incidents and strengthen practice quickly. Notifications of incidents are not always made to Ofsted in a timely way.

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Findings from the inspection

Following a case review on 17 November 2025, which confirmed that there are serious and widespread concerns at the home, two compliance notices under Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 3 regulation 6, quality and purpose of care standard, and regulation 13, leadership and management standard, were made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2025 Full Good 11/06/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/07/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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— protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; and

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(ix)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have personalised plans in place that recognise children’s specific needs and risks and direct staff practice to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff follow individualised plans and make day-to-day decisions that support positive outcomes for children, including but not limited to attending education and a range of activities. 2 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 6 The registered person must also ensure that the home is clean and provides an environment that is homely and not institutionalised. This specifically relates to ensuring that repair works are carried out in a timely fashion and to a good standard.

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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 to 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there are appropriate plans in place to ensure that children receive care in line with the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and experience to deliver a consistent behaviour management approach that enables children to achieve positive education and enjoyment outcomes.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems provide insight to the quality of care children receive, and information captured improves this care for children. 2 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 7 The registered person must also ensure that staff attain the required qualification within appropriate 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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 31 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. Regulation 20(2)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff use all behaviour management strategies outlined in their policy to avoid the need for restraint.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that when restraint is required, staff use the least restrictive holds available to them. 2 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

*Requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 8

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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

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591499 9 regulates and 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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