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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The progress and experiences of the children and young people at this home are mixed. While all of the children and young people are making progress in educational attendance and attainment, the impact the staff team have on the behaviours of some children and young people is varied.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team continues to offer stability through warm relationships, positive planning and consistent, individual-directed work. However, the impact that children and young people are having on each other is proving difficult to manage. There are high numbers of sanctions and incidents of physical intervention. Records demonstrate that these are appropriately used but nonetheless add to what is, at times, a highly stressful atmosphere. This affects all the children and young people in different ways, either from the noise levels or the tense atmosphere when children and young people are in conflict with each other. Despite this, a young person said: ‘I like it here and feel safe.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a complaint from a young person since the last inspection, which details the impact of the conflict from their perspective. This was responded to and recorded appropriately, and the record states that the young person was satisfied with the outcome.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The impact of the conflicts between the children and young people can be seen in the physical environment of the home, which suffers constant damage. In particular, the bedroom fire doors are in need of repair or replacement as they are not closing sufficiently to fully protect the children and young people in the event of a fire.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Episodes of going missing are also high, but in the main relate to the young person who has moved on. When episodes of absence, late return or missing do occur, staff have a clear plan of action in place suitable to the individual child or young person. These plans are developed with the involvement of each child or young person, to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to return them safely. Relevant professionals and parents or carers are notified of any absence quickly. One record of physical intervention demonstrated that a new member of staff had been involved in a recent intervention with other staff members, without having had the relevant training. This needs to be addressed, as the impact of such practice could lead to injury of either the child/young person or the member of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has left the home since the full inspection. This was effectively a placement breakdown, as the provider no longer felt able to keep the young person safe or make any impact on disrupting the presenting behaviours. The transition was managed as well as possible by the staff team in the circumstances. Two new young people have been admitted to the home. Plans were effective in managing these transitions smoothly, and both young people have settled well. The staff team has a clear understanding of the needs of all of the children and young people, and key working is an effective tool within the home to respond to the needs of the different age ranges of children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works well in partnership with other professionals and services involved in the lives of children and young people. Social workers report that they are kept up to date regularly with relevant information. A local police officer said that he, ‘has a good working relationship with the staff’. The registered manager is suitably qualified, and is working towards a higher qualification. She has considerable experience of working in children’s homes. She is supported by an enthusiastic deputy manager who manages in her absence, and senior team members. As a management team they have addressed the requirements and recommendation of the last inspection and have development plans in place. There are strong monitoring processes in place that ensure that the quality plans and records are maintained. However, there are instances of inaccurate recording or gaps, and this impacts on the ability of staff to be fully

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider manages and operates this children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/06/2016 Full Good 18/11/2015 Interim Improved 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

12: In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to ensuring that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe by:

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 24/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to the use of physical intervention,

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 24/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  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

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Recommendations

about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 that 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, work based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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