Children's home run by Vines Support Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 1 Registered provider: Vines Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager position has been vacant since 28 July 2025.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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 these inspections, 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. Inspectors have 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: 2794301 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Some of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been met. Others remain, as they are untested with no child living at the home since September 2025.

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Findings from the inspection

A manager has been appointed and is leading the home. However, they are not currently registered. There has not been a registered manager at the home since July 2025.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual, manager and director are reflective regarding the child's time living at the home. This includes the placement ending. They have made changes to their referral process. This is to ensure that they are confident in being able to meet the needs of any children coming to live at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

A good range of training and workshops has been provided to upskill staff. This covers important topics such as trauma informed practice and report writing. Also, reflection on the care of the one child who lived at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has reflected on the risk assessment that had been used. This was specific to the child and based on a team around the child approach. This included meetings with other professionals to review the risks. A clearer template has been devised to guide staff on responding to risks to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Quality assurance and monitoring systems are now in place. These will be used by the manager and responsible individual. The manager stressed that he would be spending time talking with children to gain their views of the care provided. Also, observing staff practice for discussions in staff supervisions.

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Findings from the inspection

New templates have been created, using child-friendly language. These include, discussions with children following incidents, one-to-one sessions with children and a child's feelings check in sheet. These are good tools for gaining a child's views and wishes. However, these have not been able to be used as yet, given no children live in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spent effective one-to-one time with the child. These keywork sessions included helping the child to manage their emotions and behaviour. A behaviour agreement was introduced with the child's input. However, the time after the last inspection was difficult and challenging for the child and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff rarely used physical intervention to manage the child's unwanted behaviours. When required, they were responded to well and recorded in detail. Management oversight was added including analysis and any required actions. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 3 Children's medication storage has now been moved to a safer place. However, medication records need to be clearer, especially around controlled medication. The new manager is aware of this and is implementing a new system. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/04/2025 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 5

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Statutory requirements

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

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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children;

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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)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives. 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child's views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(v)) 30 April2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and 31 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 7 a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which— is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c) and (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to ensuring that medication is stored safely and accurately recorded, especially with regards to controlled medication.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) and (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to there not being a registered manager at the home since July 2025. 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Vines Support Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: C/O Quantum Uk Business Solutions Limited, Breakspear Park, Regus, Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4TZ

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794301 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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