Children's home run by Vitality Care Residential Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 1 Registered provider: Vitality Care Residential Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

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

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Information about this children's home

There is a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager who has been in post since January 2021.

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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: 28 January 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: 2501566 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Good 11/03/2024 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved into the home, and 2 children have moved out in accordance with their care plans. When children move on suddenly, staff make efforts to celebrate their progress and provide a positive ending.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work hard to get to know each child and understand their needs. Staff speak warmly and respectfully about the child, and interactions are kind and sincere. This supports the development of meaningful relationships. The child recognises all staff as safe adults and feels comfortable to have open and honest conversations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child's health needs are well understood. Staff encourage the child to manage aspects of their medical needs in a safe and age-appropriate way that promotes independence. Sensitive topics are approached with compassion, helping the child feel respected. In one example, staff used an inventive strategy to support a child to attend a dentist appointment. Despite their anxiety, the child attended for the first time in a long period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote the importance of education. Although the child has experienced challenges, staff have been creative in finding ways to engage them in learning. A similar level of commitment was evident for the children who have recently moved on. Despite their difficulties with education, they were enrolled in and engaged with bespoke learning plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels supported by staff, who advocate strongly for their wishes. Managers follow up complaints on behalf of the child when they consider external agency decision-making to be poor. This ensures that the child's voice is heard and has contributed to improved confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value equality and diversity. The child's individual needs are respected and promoted in their daily care. For example, staff research each child's cultural background and identify local services that can meet their specific needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parts of the home provide warm and comfortable spaces. The garden has been adapted to create a pleasant outdoor area for sports. Visual aids throughout the home help the child maintain routines. The child's bedroom is furnished in line with their tastes. They are proud of their room and enjoy spending time in it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some written records contain opinion-based language that is not therapeutic. Managers are aware of this and are committed to improving written recording. Development work with staff has started to embed more child-friendly and consistent language. Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 4

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

The child told the inspector they feel safe. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and implement consistent practice that promotes the child's safety and security.

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

Restrictive practice is only used as a last resort. Staff use their positive relationships with the child to de ‑ escalate situations. On occasion, low ‑ level holds have been used to keep the child safe and prevent harm. However, these have not been recognised or recorded as physical interventions, which limits effective monitoring and regulatory oversight.

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

Staff provide supportive responses to self ‑ injurious behaviours. Their approach is empathetic and encourages the child to talk about their feelings. Staff are often quick to recognise early signs of distress and offer immediate support. Together, the staff and child created a 'soothe box' containing items that help the child regulate their emotions. This has contributed to the child feeling understood and cared for.

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

The staff response to missing ‑ from ‑ home incidents is effective. Records show that staff consistently follow the strategies set out in safety plans. Staff work collaboratively with external professionals, including the police and the local authority, to ensure that the child is located and returned home promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are motivated to achieve positive outcomes for the child. The registered manager is dedicated and committed to providing a high standard of care. This creates a strong child ‑ focused ethos within the team. As a result, the child feels seen, valued and included in the daily running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular and detailed audits help managers identify the home's strengths and areas for development. Managers maintain robust oversight of practice and ensure that safety plans remain relevant and purposeful. Staff receive meaningful supervision that evidences both support and challenge to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff take part in monthly consultations with an external clinical team. The manager uses therapeutic input to inform staff practice and ensure that the child is well supported. The allocated therapist describes the manager and staff as reflective and keen to implement advice to enhance the child's experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The assistant manager introduces monthly themes to promote positive mental health. For example, during suicide prevention month, the child and staff took part in journalling activities to support emotional expression. Another monthly theme focused on awareness of one child’s needs, helping to promote equality and understanding of the child's diagnosis. Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 5 The child benefits from care provided by a stable staff team. No agency staff have been used, offering the child consistency and predictability. The manager recognises positive practice and encourages staff to nominate colleagues for employee of the month. Staff feel extremely supported by leaders, contributing to high morale. Staff enjoy their roles and describe managers as knowledgeable and approachable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from the child's family highlights staff's consistent and friendly communication. This has helped staff develop positive relationships with the people who are important to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirement and 2 recommendations from the previous inspection have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 6

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Statutory requirement

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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 20 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 7 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers recognising use of physical intervention and having sufficient oversight of incidents.

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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: 2501566 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Vitality Care Residential Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 6 Central Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 9AR

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Alison Fitchford-Raji

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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2501566 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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