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

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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 who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. 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: outstanding

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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

22/08/2018 Full Outstanding 21/06/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people build trusted and secure relationships with the adults who look after them. Staff have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the impact of the early childhood experiences of the children and young people, which have often been traumatic. This knowledge is enhanced by the expertise of a clinical psychologist, who supports the staff to find innovative and effective ways to meet children and young people’s needs. The staff team works well with other agencies to ensure that children and young people receive the best possible care from the right people. Professionals were complimentary about the high standard of care that staff provide, and the very good progress being made by the children and young people. For example, one child who was the focus of a substantial number of notifications for disruptive behaviour previously is now settled and achieving in education. The children and young people enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences, both as

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

a group and as individuals. For example, they have just returned from a week’s holiday in Majorca, where they were able to spend quality time relaxing with people who care for them. In addition, children and young people can keep their own pets. This develops their sense of responsibility and nurturing. All children and young people attend school or have sourced further education or employment. Attendance is excellent, and staff are ambitious and innovative in the support they offer to ensure that children and young people achieve their full potential. When problems occur at school, staff advocate effectively on behalf of children and young people to ensure that there is minimal disruption to their education. The staff team understands how important it is for children and young people to maintain contact with their families and friends. The exceptional work that takes place means that children and young people’s relationships with their families have improved

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

significantly and, in some cases, this has enabled children and young people to return to the care of their family. Children and young people are well supported in day-to-day decisions that affect their lives. Care plans show that children and young people are encouraged to involve themselves in activity that increases their self-esteem and improves the lives of others. For example, children and young people are encouraged to take part in the ‘young inspectors’ scheme, whereby they visit other children’s homes and carry out an inspection. They present their findings to the manager, and this ensures that children and young people can directly influence the quality of care they and others receive. Children and young people enjoy taking part in regular themed nights. Staff are creative when planning activities with them that celebrate cultural events. These events celebrate diversity and encourage children and young people to learn about and value difference.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 4

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

Children and young people say they feel safe, and staff provide them with a safe place to live. There are clear boundaries in place that help children and young people to manage their behaviour and regulate their responses. Highly effective planning for managing the behaviours of children and young people ensures that they are safe both inside and outside the home. Staff have clear, individualised and well-considered care plans for children and young people. Staff continually check the welfare of children and young people when they are out in the community. This ensures that children and young people can grow and develop skills for independence in the knowledge that advice and support are readily available when required. Risks are well understood and significantly reduced for all children and young people. Missing from home episodes have reduced significantly for one young person. When these episodes do occur, staff do everything they can to try to find the child or young

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

person. This shows the children and young people that they are valued, and that the adults want to keep them safe.Further work between the home and other agencies has seen a further reduction in missing episodes. Safeguarding practice is embedded well in team meetings, supervisions and at daily handovers. This ensures that staff are always fully aware of their responsibility to keep children safe. Staff use key-time sessions effectively to help children and young people to understand how to keep themselves safe. Key-time sessions are clearly linked to children and young people’s plans and encourage them to reflect on their behaviour. Staff, with the support of a clinical psychologist, show a great deal of understanding of the risks that children and young people take and why they do so. This helps children and young people to learn from their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is well qualified and experienced to meet the aims and objectives set out in the home’s statement of purpose. He leads by example and this influences positively the aspirations that staff have for children and young people too. The staff team shares his desire to ensure that children and young people are given the best possible opportunity to achieve their highest potential. The manager is committed to continuous professional development, both for himself and for his team. The manager implements theoretical models and current practice when developing the home. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home and his highly effective and forensic monitoring of the home evidences continued improvement over a sustained period. The manager ensures that the home is maintained to the highest standard. This is an example of the manager’s use of a theoretical model from America, involving children

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

and young people getting involved in the maintenance of the home and any repairs. This not only develops skills that will be useful in later life, it also means children and young people take pride in their home and treat it with a great deal of respect. Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 5 The manager actively challenges when the responses from other agencies are not effective. This assertive advocacy on behalf of the children and young people ensures that children and young people are receiving services that meet their needs in a timely way.

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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

Mark Proffitt, 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report children’s home: SC484242 8

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