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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 1 SC477031 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 is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place. The deputy manager is the interim manager on a temporary basis.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 14 February 2023 in response to a number of safeguarding concerns. Serious and widespread failures were identified in relation to the help and protection of children. Ofsted issued a compliance notice under regulation 12.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit took place on 5 April 2023 to monitor the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notice. The inspector found that action had been taken to improve the service, and the compliance notice under regulation 12 had been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/11/2019 Full Outstanding 20/03/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled living in this home. They develop close, trusting relationships with staff, sometimes for the first time. As a result, the children feel able to share their worries and trust that staff will respond to them. Staff empathise with the children, which helps the children to talk things through without feeling judged. The children are reminded of their potential and how much they are cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like being around staff. They have fun together and enjoy each other’s company, and this helps children to form secure attachments. Children take part in a wide range of activities. Staff take children to special events in line with their wishes, which gives them memorable experiences. Children are supported to develop new hobbies and interests. This helps children to succeed and provides them with an opportunity to make new friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with their emotional development, with some children making significant progress. They learn how to regulate their emotions, supported by staff who are patient, skilled and caring. This means that there are fewer incidents within the home, which benefits all children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop independence skills. They take care of their own laundry, clean their bedroom, learn how to budget, and prepare and cook meals. Staff adapt plans depending on the child’s age, needs and understanding. This supports children’s transition to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to get part-time work, which increases their confidence and social skills. Two children have gone on to achieve apprenticeships through this work. These are significant achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with those people who are important to them, in line with their plans. Staff will facilitate and supervise this time if necessary. This means that children have been able to spend time with loved ones. This is important in promoting the children’s identities. Families and friends are welcome in the home, providing children with a sense of normality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from an independent visitor who they can speak to about any worries they have and their views about the home and their care. The visitor can then advocate on their behalf. This helps children to feel listened to and gives them a voice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are important and their opinions matter. Their influence can be seen and heard throughout the home. However, on one occasion, a child’s clear wish was not respected. This left the child feeling that they were not listened to. The child described this feeling as being ‘like I live in a proper care home’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 4

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improvement to be good

The safeguarding measures implemented when risks are identified sometimes fall short in their effectiveness. For example, when inappropriate relationships become known, electronic device checks do not take place. This lack of oversight could prevent staff from being aware of, and therefore respond to, concerning information.

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improvement to be good

Measures are used to help children to learn that there are consequences to their behaviour. Children are given opportunities to make amends and learn from their mistakes. However, consequences are sometimes not relevant to the behaviour. As a result, one child said ‘they don’t work’. In addition, children can feel ‘lectured’ about their behaviour. This does not help them to learn. The effectiveness of consequences is not recorded. This prevents managers and staff from having an understanding about what works and does not work for each child.

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improvement to be good

Most staff have completed all mandatory training. However, not all staff are fully trained in physical restraint. This could leave children at risk of harm in the event that such an intervention is required during the night. In addition, the timescale has not been met for some staff in attaining the required children’s home qualification.

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improvement to be good

Additional training is provided in response to children’s individual risks and needs. This enables staff to better understand and respond more effectively to children. As a result, children are better safeguarded and cared for.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the children incredibly well. They understand their risks and respond effectively to their needs. This helps to prevent conflict within and outside of the home. When children struggle with their emotional well-being, staff work hard to help them. This results in positive change and enables children to remain living in the home. This helps children to feel valued and prevents feelings of rejection. One professional said, ‘The work the home has done with [Name of child] has been fantastic. He has been really well supported. They genuinely care.’

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improvement to be good

Bedroom searches are carried out when necessary. They have uncovered unsafe items, which have been disposed of or stored appropriately. This helps to safeguard all children. The children are present, where possible, and are helped to understand the reason for the search.

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good

The home is being managed by an interim manager and has experienced several changes of manager in recent months. This has left a relatively new staff team without management oversight and guidance at times. Currently, the staff continue to feel unsettled while they await another manager appointment.

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good

The interim manager has some monitoring systems in place. They give him Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 5 oversight of the children’s care and important aspects of the running of the home. He is able to identify the progress that the children make. However, the systems are not consistently effective as they have failed to identify that a number of important local authority documents are missing from the children’s files. This could result in children’s needs being unmet.

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good

The interim manager does not ensure that the children’s care plans are reviewed. This means that they do not reflect the progress that the children make. Consequently, there may be missed opportunities to identify new actions.

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good

Staff like working at this home. One described feeling ‘proud to work alongside such a committed and supportive staff team’. Their dedication to the children is clear and they work well together. New staff receive help and advice from one another as well as time to learn their role. This helps with the provision of consistent care to children from staff who are knowledgeable and confident.

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good

Staff describe feeling supported in their role by the interim manager and senior members of staff. Supervision is valued, as are debriefs after serious incidents. Both allow staff to reflect on and learn from their practice. Staff also receive emotional support, which helps them to continue to support the children effectively.

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good

Staff particularly value team meetings. They give an opportunity for the team to come together, learn about the children and learn from one another. Staff are encouraged to contribute and share their ideas. This practice helps to involve the whole team in raising the standard of care that children receive.

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good

The management team has been responsive to concerns where practice falls short of their expected standards. They have acted swiftly and appropriately to manage these concerns with the relevant staff members. This protects children and promotes their well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)) 19 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or 19 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 7 works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)) 19 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 19 July 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s wishes are respected. Where appropriate, children should be able to see the results of their wishes being acted upon. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that consequences are relevant to the behaviour. Staff should help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, at all times, sufficient numbers of staff are trained in physical restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4) In particular, ensure that children’s care plans are reviewed and updated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 8

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children’s home: SC477031 9

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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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Inspectors

Emma Ridley, Social Care Inspector Jan Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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