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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness . Young people continue to make good progress supported by knowledgeable, experienced staff. Detailed plans developed with young people from their starting points allows them to see their progress and gain an understanding of change and its impact on their lives. A member of staff said ‘it’s about getting them to see why they made a certain choice in their life and how making different choices brings different results’. A recent introduction of individual daily log books demonstrates confidentiality and ownership for young people but has increased the amount of recording undertaken. Inconsistencies in relation to recording were noted and this has been identified as a recommendation. Education attendance is seen as important. A young person has achieved well in education and staff are supporting the young person with their career choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work in partnership with schools and agencies to ensure that education continues to improve and the high attendance rates seen at the last inspection have been maintained. Contact with family and friends is recognised as important by the manager and staff. All young people have contact with one or more significant family members. Where friendships have developed in the local community staff have supported young people by building working relationships with those families. The acting manager said ‘We pop in to visit (Name)’s family to make sure things are ok, just as you would with your own children.’ Since the last inspection one young person has left the home. This transition was also well supported. A memories book was completed by staff and given to the young person to continue the sense of belonging generated within the home. Another young person is now living at the home. Planning of the transition to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home was good. Staff liaised with other professionals to gather all information ensuring they were able to respond to the young person as they settled into the home. Staff encouraged the young person to be a part of the home from the outset by enabling her to choose furniture and decorate her bedroom promoting a sense of belonging from the start. The last inspection identified that the environment was well maintained and homely. Staff ensure this continues by responding to repair and replacement quickly. All young people are currently involved in the planning of re-decoration of the communal areas of the home and are introducing a cinema room. A young person said they came up with the idea ‘so we can spend family nights together’. The acting manager and staff work well with other organisations to ensure the stability and consistency of placements. A social worker said ‘the home is one of the best in my experience at communicating. I can speak to them whenever I need

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to and they constantly keep me informed of progress. If I need information they always have it ready to hand’. Records demonstrate that professionals and families visit the home often, recognising the importance of partnership working. A Social Worker said, ‘the staff are amenable and flexible, they will always accommodate meetings’ Leadership and management of the home is good. The acting manager is an experienced practitioner who fully understands the complex needs of the young people and provides a positive role model for her team. This enables consistent messages to be given to young people and relationship trust to develop. Supervision that offers reflective opportunities raised in the last inspection is still outstanding. In addition the acting manager stated that formal supervision has not been happening regularly. The impact of this continuing could leave staff feeling less valued and supported and the consistency currently experienced by young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people could be lost. A member of staff said ‘I know I can always knock on (Name)’s door and discuss how things are going or how I am feeling about things’. Support for the acting manager has been in place but has not been regular enough to impact fully on her wider development within this role. Records of recruitment are not held in the home. A record detailing the information required to be held in relation to staff is in place but is completed inconsistently and results in a Requirement of this inspection. Training has improved with staff accessing courses on Team Teach and Attachment through the Local Authority. This has strengthened the teams understanding of the need for young people to have a sense of belonging and worth. Further training with the Local authority is planned. There were no Requirements made at the last inspection with three Recommendations. Two Recommendations have been met however, the impact of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the interim arrangements has meant that the third remains outstanding and will be carried through from this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This home accommodates up to five young people, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is provided by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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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

37. —(1) Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. (2) The registered person must— (a) maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; (b) ensure that the records are kept up to date; and (c) retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff supervision must enable staff to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. (The Guide to Quality Standards p39 paragraph 8.15)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. In particular the frequency of supervisions needs to support staff in meeting the needs of children and their own development. (The Guide to Quality Standards p61 paragraph 13.2)  All children's case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up-to-date

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Recommendations

and signed and dated by the author of each entry. In particular gaps in recording should be addressed. (The Guide to Quality Standards p62 paragraph 14.3)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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