Children's Home run by Vesta Children's Services Ltd in Stoke-on-TrentOfsted inspection, 9 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 1 Registered provider: Vesta Children’s Services Ltd

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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 2 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; however, she is currently on authorised leave. An interim manager is overseeing the home in her absence. They are yet to apply to register with Ofsted.

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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.

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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: 3 February 2026

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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: 2825282 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive consistent and nurturing care from staff. Children make good progress from their starting points and are helped to develop independence in line with their individual needs. Children speak positively about the relationships they have with staff. Senior leaders support staff, ensuring that staff have the appropriate training and skills in place to deliver a good level of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with stability, helping them develop a strong sense of permanence, security and belonging. Staff know children well and invest time in building relationships while promoting their safety and wellbeing. As a result, children have developed trusting and secure relationships with the adults caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are understood by staff. Staff have supported children to progress from online tutoring to attending school full time. The confidence to attend school allows children to build on their learning, develop relationships and work towards their educational goals. One child aspires to work in the public sector and is supported by staff to learn more about their chosen career path.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Learning is promoted in the home through various activities. Children are supported to achieve accredited qualifications. Subjects are tailored to the needs of children, including understanding money and budgets and developing resilience in mental and emotional wellbeing. This allows children to develop skills and confidence in subjects that support them as they move into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to take part in activities that reflect their interests and strengths, helping them to develop their confidence. This includes volunteering and physical fitness to help them pursue personal goals. These activities help children to develop links and make a positive contribution to their community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with family members. Staff support children by taking them to see their families and helping them maintain regular telephone contact. Staff also promote children’s relationships by supporting them to spend time with their families in the home. This provides children with an opportunity to spend time with people who are important to them in a relaxing and natural environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s religious and cultural needs are met by staff. Children are supported to attend their place of worship with the support of staff. Children are further supported to follow their religious rituals, and one child is actively seeking to learn more about their faith. However, shortfalls were identified in staff’s ability to fully meet children’s cultural needs. This has led to one child’s dietary needs not being fully met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 4

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

Staff understand how to reduce and manage children’s risk and vulnerabilities. The ability of staff to build trusting relationships with children has contributed to their safety. Because staff respond with nurture and understanding, there has been a decrease in the number of incidents in the home. Incidents of children going missing from home have also reduced.

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

Staff understand and work in line with children’s plans to help them make progress. Staff support children to understand risk and develop independence through a gradual process. This practice allows children to develop a greater understanding of safety and life skills, which helps to reduce their vulnerability in the future. One child has been assessed as no longer needing a deprivation of liberty safeguards order because staff have supported them to increase their independence while balancing this carefully against identified risks.

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

Staff understand the importance of helping children to safely use online platforms. A gradual re-introduction to using the internet has supported children to use the internet more safely. This has included helping children to apply theory to practice. Strategies learned by children reduce their vulnerability to potential risks, such as online bullying and online grooming.

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

Senior leaders actively challenge other agencies on children’s behalf. When shortfalls are identified in partner agency responses, senior leaders escalate matters to seek a resolution for children. This practice ensures children feel listened to when important decisions are made about them.

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

Safer recruitment processes are followed. Senior leaders ensure that only suitably qualified and trained staff work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced interim manager is overseeing the home. Staff say they enjoy working in the home. Staff speak positively about the support available from senior leaders through formal and informal supervision and monthly team meetings. Team meetings are well attended and allow staff to learn together, celebrate milestones and track children’s progress. This shared vision of improving practice helps to improve children’s experiences in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is made available to ensure staff hold the necessary skills to support children and respond to their needs. All staff are trained in responding to the individual risks of the children they care for. When new concerns arise, senior leaders are proactive in ensuring that additional training is made available, allowing children to continue to receive safe care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 5 Staff are further supported by the on-site therapist. Therapeutic support is available to help children to overcome past traumas. Children speak positively of the support available from the on-site therapist, with one child requesting an increase to their one- to-one sessions. Staff also benefit from this support and are provided with informal and formal opportunities to strengthen the care they deliver. The level of oversight and support available from the on-site therapist contributes to children receiving trauma-

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Family members and professionals speak positively of the care provided to children. One social worker described staff’s communication skills as ‘brilliant’, and said they are updated about children’s progress. Good levels of communication ensure children’s care plans are progressed, allowing children to make progress from their starting points. Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are supported to maintain and develop children’s cultural or religious beliefs as far as practicable by observing religious requirements, including dress and diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17 paragraph 3.22)

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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: Unit G2 Alexandra Mill, Queen Street, Leek, Staffs ST13 6LP

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Inspector

Salma Ahmed, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2825282 8 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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