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

Assurance visit report: SC477031 1 SC477031

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to five children and young people who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in July 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

Visit dates: 30 September to 1 October 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 20 November 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Outstanding

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC477031 2

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The care of children

Children develop positive, trusting relationships with members of staff. Many children live in the home for several years. They come to know their carers well and develop confidence in the staff team. Professionals who work with the children are extremely positive about the home, confirming that children become settled and make good progress as a result of living in this home.

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The care of children

Children are making good progress with their education, and their attendance at school and college is excellent. When schools were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of staff helped the children with their schoolwork. This prevented them from losing the progress they had made previously. Children are proud of their accomplishments in school. This helps them to think about plans for their futures.

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The care of children

Members of staff help the children to stay connected with their families and are creative in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on family time. Children say that this is very important to them. When possible, the staff team helps children’s families to develop their relationships with their children. For example, members of staff give advice about managing behaviour. As a result of this support, some children now have long-term plans to return to the care of their families.

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The care of children

Members of staff provide children with a wide range of activities during the COVID- 19 pandemic restrictions. As restrictions change, members of staff ensure that leisure opportunities for children develop so that they can continue with their hobbies and interests. This means that the children do not feel curtailed by the COVID-19 limitations, and children respond well to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

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The care of children

Children live in a home that is well maintained. They personalise their bedrooms and take pride in their surroundings. The provider employs a housekeeper, who is a valued member of the staff team and helps the children to look after their bedrooms and other areas of the home. Children understand that staff want them to have nice, homely surroundings. This is good for children’s sense of self-worth.

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The safety of children

Children benefit from clear boundaries. Members of staff help them to understand the consequences of their actions if they do not comply with agreed expectations. This consistent approach reassures children, whose behaviours become increasingly settled as a result.

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The safety of children

Members of staff prepare risk management plans to help to keep children safe and make sure that children are involved in this process. Plans are detailed and are reviewed regularly by the staff team. Children’s risks reduce because of this coordinated approach. Assurance visit report: SC477031 3 Children contribute to their safety plans, and staff encourage children to express their views following any incidents that place them at risk of harm. Children feel included in measures designed to keep them safe. This means that the children are involved in decisions about their care and protection, and they make significant progress from their starting points.

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The safety of children

A clinical psychologist provides advice to the staff team. This support focuses on the impact of trauma on children’s experiences. Despite this input, members of staff do not always understand children’s behaviour. As a result, some children experience inconsistent care at times of crisis. This means some children’s needs are not fully met.

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Leaders and managers

This children’s home is led by an experienced registered manager. She has confidence in her senior staff and appropriately delegates responsibilities to them. This means that the manager is able to oversee the matters that affect children the most.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is reflective in her approach. Detailed debrief conversations take place with staff and children following incidents. This approach reduces the likelihood of mistakes being repeated. It also encourages staff to reflect on their own practice. As a result, children are looked after by members of staff who become familiar with learning from their own practice.

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Leaders and managers

Members of staff receive regular supervision. All staff, including the registered manager, have had an appraisal in the last year. This means that children are cared for by a staff team that receives an appropriate level of support and development.

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Leaders and managers

Members of staff undertake training required to perform well. The staff team has benefited from the support of the clinical psychologist, even when other face-to-face training has been affected by COVID-19 restrictions. This means that members of staff continue to learn new skills to help them care for children.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager undertakes regular monitoring of the service. However, this monitoring lacks evaluation. Monitoring does not fully consider the impact on the children of the quality of care they receive. As a result, some inappropriate or unhelpful practice is not addressed.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers undertake impact assessments before a child moves into the home. When considering emergency placements, managers do not fully scrutinise the issues affecting the child. The knowledge and skills of the staff team are not included when deciding whether a child’s needs can be met. As a result, such placements are at risk of breaking down. This leads to instability for those children affected. Assurance visit report: SC477031 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix)) 27/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and 27/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC477031 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(f)(h))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 TS20 1LG

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Inspector

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC477031 6 to 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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