Children's Home run by Spark of Genius North East LLP in Stockton-on-Tees

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision is requires improvement because:

The interim manager came into post 4 weeks ago. Whilst it is clear she has started to make improvements, there are a number of inconsistencies in practice which require attention. These include:  There are gaps in the knowledge of staff team members due to poor induction.  The recording system is not currently allowing staff to record information systematically and with focus on the journey of the young person.  The statement of purpose does not provide the information that is required in a clear and consistent way. This is echoed in the children’s guide.  Behaviour management is not consistently dealt with by staff.

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The children's home provision is requires improvement because:

 Relationships with the community were extremely poor with a large number of complaints coming from local residents.

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The children's home provision is requires improvement because:

 Staff and the management team could not demonstrate a thorough understanding of the starting points of the young people, their journeys and the impact of abuse and neglect.

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The children's home provision is requires improvement because:

 The monitoring systems need to be more evaluative and robust.

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The children's home strengths

 The Registered Individual has been quick to put in a recovery improvement plan. There is evidence that the new management team have recognised the areas of improvement and have implemented changes.  Young People have continued to attend school placements and have increased the numbers of hours they attend school. Young people are also maintaining apprenticeships in the local area.  There is a robust complaints procedure which is known by the young people and has been tested in recent months. Outcomes of complaints are used to review and inform practice.  The staff continue to encourage young people to take responsibility for their own health. They are all registered with local doctors, dentist and opticians. Young people who were previously too frightened to go to appointments are attending regularly and receiving the treatment they require.  Young people continue to go missing from the home. Staff try and prevent this happening

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The children's home strengths

with distraction techniques and incentive based activities. When young people do go missing, there is a clear process including staff going looking for the young people and involving the appropriate local organisations. On their return young people are involved in a meeting to try establish why they have gone missing and if anything could have stopped them doing so.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard with particular reference to ensuring from induction staff can demonstrate they fully understand the ethos of the home and can 30/09/2015 demonstrate they understand what the statement of purpose is used for the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2) (i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard with particular reference to ensuring the records that are kept are easy for the child to understand; are consistent and accurate, the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(f) that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being

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Requirement Due date

Specifically the report should be evaluative rather than descriptive. (Regulation 44(1) (4)(a) and (b) 30/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. In particular the staff and young people require information and training on how to stay safe when using the internet. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 29 paragraph 5.19)

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular the risk assessment documents must be consistent with all other relevant plans. (The Guide to the quality Standards, page 42 paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55 paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

 This children's home provides care and accomodation for children and young people with behaviour and emotional difficulties. It is registered for up to 5 young people. It is provided by a private provider.

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requires improvement

The manager and staff are committed to the care of the young people and build good relationships with them. Recent staff changes have meant that some young people have struggled to make new relationships with staff.

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requires improvement

As the staff become increasing confident they are building trust and respect of the young people they care for. There are fewer incidents of conflict and these are handled in a more effective way as the staff improves their understanding of the behaviour management techniques.

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requires improvement

There is a positive ethos about the importance of attending school as young people continue to attend school and work. Some young people find it hard to engage within education. Staff support them in a variety of ways including assisting with getting into a school routine, assisting with homework and liaison with local schools. The interim manager has established networks with local education professionals to support their educational outcome

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requires improvement

Young people have all the equipment and support they require to complete homework. They also enjoy using technology. Internet safety needs to be an integral part of this. Currently this is not robust enough.

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requires improvement

There are a number of activities available. Young people are encouraged to choose activities. There seems little evidence on walls and common areas of the photographs of these activities. There is also little evidence that the young people are encouraged to collect memorabilia which is important in making memories. Rooms remain with clear walls and seem not in use. This does not help the home to feel like a homely nurturing and comfortable environment.

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requires improvement

Some young people are preparing for their move into independence. Engagement in this is difficult. There seems to be a lack of planning in terms of ensuring young people have a clear plan of what they need to do. The independence training needs to be an integral part of the placement plans.

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requires improvement

Health information is available on files and young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health. Young people are guided into healthier and more active lifestyles. Young people are starting to see the link between physical and emotional well-being.

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requires improvement

Staff encourage and support young people to have contact with their families and important people in their lives. For some this is re-building relationships, for others it is managing difficult supervised contacts. This contact is important in building a sense of identity and understanding why they are in care.

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requires improvement

There is a history of young people moving to the home without thorough and robust transitions, resulting in poor placement planning and tensions building between the young people. This has resulted in inappropriate behaviour from the young people. Lessons have been learnt and a clear induction and transitions plan is now in place.

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requires improvement

The staff team are a new. They said initially, the support and training they received was very poor. This resulted in misunderstanding between staff and other professionals. Staff said this has improved since the new manager came into post. She has provided them with support and advice, specifically about helping young people understand and manage their emotions.

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requires improvement

The young people in the home found it difficult to articulate if they felt safe. Their behaviours demonstrate that some have found trusting adults. Others try and push boundaries to test the adults to see if they can trust them.

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requires improvement

Risk assessments are inconsistently reviewed following incidents or disclosures. This inconsistency leaves young person vulnerable to further abusive situations.

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requires improvement

Where possible young people are encouraged to self-medicate. Reviews of the self- medication assessments need to be more regular and robust to ensure young people remain safe to self-medicate. The challenging and sometimes complex behaviours that young people are involved in have been identified by staff working with them. Sessions explaining the risks of exploitation and abusive relationships are offered. Information can assist young people to make better choices.

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requires improvement

Young people are confident to use the complaints procedure when they feel they have are not been treated fairly. They also say that they are confident to talk with the staff about problems they have.

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requires improvement

The staff team have had training on safeguarding processes and procedures. Some staff are clear of the specific steps they would take others require further support in understanding this. This lack of clarity means that some young people may be not be protected from harm.

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requires improvement

The interim manager came into post less than 4 weeks ago. She is experienced and qualified to hold the post. She is currently in the process of applying to be a Registered Manager. She is supported by the Responsible Individual.

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requires improvement

The new manager and staff team are clear about the things they need to improve. Their capacity to change is evident given that the new team have only been together for a short period. A recovery improvement plan has been put in place.

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requires improvement

Case records need to be monitored and audited in a systematic way to improve clarity, accuracy and accessibility. Discrepancies between different plans and forms need to be addressed. One staff member said ‘we started expecting everything to be in place and it was not’.

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requires improvement

Some social care professionals voiced concerns about the lack of clear communications they had with members of staff. One said ‘I’ve been asked for the same information 3 times’ the same professional went on to say that things had improved and she was satisfied that the young person was safe and well cared for.

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requires improvement

Monitoring and the use of independent visitors is not robust enough. Reports have not been sent to Ofsted on time. Monitoring is crucial in ensuring young people remain safe and well cared for. There had been very little supervision and those who had experienced it spoke of it been ‘purely functional and to tick a box’. The new manager has prioritised supervision ensuring staff become more resilient and can support the young people more effectively.

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requires improvement

There is a sense in the home that the new management team is making a significant difference to the running of the home and to the safety of the young people. Staff feel more energised and motivated.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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