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

Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 1 SC484242 Registered provider: Spark of Genius North East LLP Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for no more than five children or young people in a semi-rural area. The manager of the service has an appropriate level 5 qualification and was registered in May 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good 18/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive high-quality individualised care. Children enjoy spending time with staff and share positive relationships with them. The staff are ambitious and advocate well for children. Professionals are very complimentary about the quality of relationships and how this supports the children to make outstanding progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making excellent progress in all areas of their lives. Children are now able to regulate their behaviour and incidents of violent outburst have markedly reduced. Children are fully involved in contributing to plans to support behaviour management and this helps them to take appropriate levels of responsibility for their actions and to learn about how to manage challenging situations well. The staff support children to achieve well, making excellent progress from their starting points. Children are thriving in school, their attendance has significantly improved and staff provide support in the school environment to promote learning as needed. Good role modelling by staff helps children to understand the importance of education and this is supporting them to achieve their individual targets. Relationships with families are thriving and children regularly access activities and strive towards their personal goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The emotional well-being of the children is given the highest priority. Staff are well trained and attuned to children’s needs. The support and interventions provided by the in-house psychologist help children and staff to work together to find creative and effective ways to meet children’s needs. Children have individualised plans and progress is clearly demonstrated, effectively monitored and documented. When needs change, children receive support that meets their needs because staff are particularly responsive and proactive about securing appropriate resources.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress in their preparation for independence and they are supported to make decisions responsibly. Children, parents and professionals gave extremely positive feedback to inspectors about the help and support that children receive in the home, including help to regulate emotions and understanding of risks to keep themselves safe. At times, the children have disagreements which are well managed by staff, helping children to live together safely. Children are actively encouraged to ‘be themselves’ and to achieve their ambitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children benefit from numerous holidays with staff, which on occasions involve the children’s family. This facilitates ongoing connections with families, nurtures relationships and supports strong development of identity. In addition, children benefit from experiencing a wide range of activities to keep them engaged and interested. Children take responsibility and benefit from keeping pets of their own. This supports children to care, love and look after animals and supports the development of empathy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are very well supported and confident to voice their opinions about all areas of their lives. As a result, children confidently contribute to and directly influence the quality of care that is being provided. This encourages children to feel valued and promotes Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 4 self-worth.

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

Children are safe and feel safe in this home. Their understanding of how to keep safe has significantly increased since coming to live at the home. One child told inspectors that staff have helped him to feel safe and that he can talk to staff about any of his problems. Staff are very supportive of children and actively demonstrate that they listen and act in children’s best interests.

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

Children are very well supported to stay with friends and family. Children and families are fully involved in making arrangements that are well managed by staff to ensure that children are well engaged. Staff go the extra mile and visit the children when they are staying with family in the evening to ensure that they are safe and happy. Through this regular contact, children’s relationships with family members flourish.

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

There is a strong, robust and proactive response to risk. The highly effective, comprehensive risk assessment and management plans (RAMP) have been developed in consultation with the in-house psychologist. These provide a thorough formulation of risk and clear strategies for a reduction of harm. Children’s risks are monitored and tracked to ensure that risk is reduced and sustained. Staff use recognised research appropriately to support the meeting of children’s needs. Staff have a shared understanding of evidenced-based practices, which support reflection about how best to engage with children to support behaviour, safety and well-being. This has reduced the need for physical intervention and the number of incidents in the home. There is a very positive approach to behaviour management. Children, families and professionals all said that children are safe and risks to them have vastly reduced since being in this home.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home, but staff know how to respond safely when, on the few occasions, they do. Staff support the health needs of children effectively. Health histories are clearly documented in case of emergency situations. This means that children will get the help that they need as quickly as possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a highly experienced residential manager. He is ambitious and influential in changing the lives of children. In the 18 months that he has been the manager, he has created a child-focused and highly aspirational culture within the home. Staff are regularly challenged and are asked to reflect on practice to ensure that children receive the very best care to meet their needs. The management team leads by example, giving clear direction and effectively scrutinising practice. Standards set are high and this demonstrates the home’s ambition for children. The manager has introduced evidence-based practice to support the provision of high-quality childcare. Staff are trained in a recognised therapeutic model and this is implemented effectively. This enables them to provide attuned and sensitive care. The staff feel very supported and staff turnover is low. Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The independent visitor provides the home and the regulator with a thorough overview of the setting. Regular audits of children’s records by the management team ensure that information is up to date and child-focused. Records demonstrate the impact of management oversight and the progress of children, particularly in relation to progress in education, behaviour and engagement with families. Staff supervision is regular and of a very high quality. It is challenging and reflective. Staff appraisals are equally as thorough and demonstrate a culture of high support and high challenge. Children also provide feedback that contributes to improving the quality of care. A child-focused culture is embedded, and children are held in high regard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is well staffed to meet the needs of children and this supports effectively the very positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management and staff have highly effective relationships with parents and professionals. One parent said: ‘The staff team is amazing.’ Communication with all people involved in the children’s lives takes place regularly. There is a strong ethos of working together to achieve the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff work hard to maintain the standard of the home’s environment. Children are involved in decorating their own rooms and shared spaces.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The recommendations and requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC484242 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Spark of Genius North East LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: King Edwin School, Mill Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS20 1LG

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Inspector(s)

Rachel Holden: social care inspector Jan Edwards: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 7 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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