Children's home run by Vesta Children's Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 1 Registered provider: Vesta Children’s Services 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 company owns this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and suitably qualified.

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Information about this children's home

There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection. The child spoke with the inspector during 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not applicable. Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a well-planned and supportive transition into the home. Introductory visits and having clear, age-appropriate information about the home supported the child to develop a good understanding of the home’s routines and the staff who would be caring for them. As a result, the move was well managed, and the child settled quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has formed positive and trusting relationships with staff. Warm, nurturing interactions were observed during the inspection, demonstrating staff’s understanding of the child’s needs and their capacity to respond sensitively. These strong relationships provide the child with a safe and supportive environment in which they feel able to express their feelings and anxieties. As a result, incidents have remained low, and the child is making sustained, positive progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a strong emphasis on the importance of education and ensure the child is supported to access appropriate learning. They provide education within the home through online learning and through regular sessions with a tutor who visits the home. Staff demonstrate creativity and flexibility, offering alternative learning opportunities when formal education has not available, such as educational outings to places of interest, including museums. Due to staff’s proactive approach, the child is now progressing towards a return to mainstream school and is receiving well-coordinated support to help them succeed with this transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities that reflect and build upon their interests. Their enthusiasm for boxing is actively encouraged, and staff ensure they are supported to develop this interest further. Staff also spend time planning enjoyable activities, including pamper evenings, cinema trips, long walks and drives out, all of which the child responds to positively. These experiences contribute to their sense of enjoyment, routine and feeling cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child's voice is valued. They are offered a variety of ways to share their wishes and feelings. Regular meetings, feedback forms and daily chats are used as opportunities to gather information about how the child is feeling and how their views can be used to inform decision making. As a result, the child feels listened to, respected and involved in decisions that influence their day-to-day lived experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is well supported to maintain meaningful relationships with their family. Staff are proactive in arranging and facilitating family time, ensuring that plans are organised promptly and are in the child’s best interests. When delays arise, staff appropriately challenge professionals to ensure that family time is prioritised. As a result, the child is able to sustain important family relationships, which supports their emotional wellbeing and sense of identity. Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 4 The child provided positive feedback about their experience of living in the home. They report feeling safe, settled and well cared for, and describe the staff and the home as the best they have ever had. This reflects the strong, nurturing relationships the staff have built with the child which supports their sense of feeling cared for and wanted.

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

Incidents within the home have been low, reflecting the positive relationships the child has developed with staff and the effective use of therapeutic approaches by staff to support the child. This consistent, nurturing environment enables the child to feel safe, stable and understood, contributing to a calmer and more predictable day-to-day experience within the home.

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the risks associated with the child and how they are to be managed. They show good insight into the legal necessities of the child’s care and this supports the child’s safety and wellbeing.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Staff ensure the child is listened to, reassured and kept informed of the progress and outcome of any enquiries about the concerns they have raised. As a result, the child feels confident that any worries they raise will be acted on without judgement.

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

Self-harm incidents are managed in a sensitive and nurturing manner. Staff respond with curiosity and empathy when exploring the circumstances surrounding each incident, while ensuring that the child receives appropriate medical attention. The child is provided with opportunities to reflect on these incidents, which also enables staff to increase their understanding of the child’s emotional needs and adapt their approach accordingly. This reflective and trauma-informed practice supports the child to be open with staff and to develop alternative strategies to harming themselves. As a result, there has been a reduction in self-harm incidents for the child.

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

The child has access to a range of therapeutic interventions that support them to process past trauma and develop effective self-regulation skills. The home’s therapist works directly with both the child and the staff team, ensuring that the child’s emotional needs are understood and met. This approach ensures that staff are well supported to apply the home’s therapeutic model consistently, resulting in practice that is informed, reflective and responsive to the child’s needs.

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

Feedback from the child’s family and professionals is consistently positive. They highlight the strong, nurturing relationships staff have built with the child and their genuine desire to see the child happy and making progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a registered manager who is committed to the child and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for them. A strong deputy manager supports her. Together, their leadership is evident within the home through their direct interactions with the child and staff, as well as their thorough oversight of records and day-to-day practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a strong advocate for the child and is proactive in challenging any delays in the child’s care plan or instances of poor practice that could negatively affect the child’s wellbeing. This persistent and child-centred approach ensures the child feels heard, valued, and reassured that adults are committed to championing their needs and keeping them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight is strong. All incidents within the home are reviewed by managers, with a clear focus on identifying learning to enhance and develop staff practice. A range of auditing processes provides additional scrutiny and ensures effective oversight of the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a broad range of training that supports them in meeting the child’s individual needs. They benefit from regular supervision from both the management team and the in-house therapist, which supports reflective practice and continual professional development. Staff report feeling well supported and speak positively about the leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure staff working in the home are safe to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no requirements or recommendations arising from this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 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: 2825282 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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Inspector

Menaka De Silva, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2825282 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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