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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 1 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

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. 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 has been no registered manager since January 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were four children living in the home. Only one child agreed to speak with the inspector.

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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 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Good 15/02/2023 Full Good 24/01/2022 Full Good 04/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is warm and welcoming and has a family atmosphere. Children have space to spend time together and have their own, personalised bedroom. One child said that for the first time in nine years they are proud of their bedroom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to be healthy and to attend routine health appointments. They have access to a variety of healthy food choices and can participate in activities. Children actively contribute to the meal planning and activities provided in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are routinely gathered using a variety of methods, such as children’s meetings, key-work sessions and informal chats. Children can trust staff enough to share their thoughts and feelings as well as feedback about their care. Children feel listened to and know that staff will consider their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop the skills they will need to care for themselves. Older children take the lead in identifying the things they are good at, and the things that may need further support. This is helping children to prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children are engaged in education or learning. If children do not attend, staff continue to encourage them and work closely with education partners to find suitable arrangements. Most children are making progress, and one child who has moved on is now successfully studying at university.

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

Staff know the children and their risks well. Risk assessments are regularly updated, and staff adhere to them. Children say that they feel safe.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff ensure that they follow children’s individual plans. Staff search the local area and known locations, and report to the police if concerns persist. When children return to the home, staff have discussions with them to learn about how they were feeling and what prompted them to go missing. This provides staff with an opportunity to help children understand the dangers of going missing.

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

Some children misuse substances. Staff complete key work with children to educate them about the risks of substance misuse. This helps children to consider the impact of substance misuse on their physical and mental health as well as the associated risks related to criminality. This approach has helped one child to decide to engage with substance misuse services to stop using cannabis.

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

Staff use positive rewards and consequences to help children to develop more appropriate behaviour. All children engage in work with staff to help them to understand Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 4 their behaviour and the impact that their choices and actions have. This has helped children to take responsibility for their actions, and to learn how to better manage their emotions. This has reduced the level of conflict they experience in the home.

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

Children sometimes become angry or upset, and staff use holds to keep them and others safe. Staff receive training in behaviour management practice to teach them how to de-escalate situations effectively and to use holds safely. The effectiveness in the de- escalation techniques used is evident in the low number of holds that have been used with children. Children are spoken with following the use of a hold so that they can share their views or any concerns. This is also an opportunity to repair the relationship between the child and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The judgement for leadership and management has been impacted by the length of time the home has been without a registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The current manager was previously registered at the home and left at the end of December 2023, cancelling his registration. He then returned to his post in the home shortly afterwards. He has not reapplied to register with Ofsted and plans to leave again in the near future. This has created a sense of instability in respect of the management of the home. Furthermore, management changes across the organisation have added to the concerns of staff, and this impacts negatively on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is enthusiastic and has high expectations for the children and staff. Staff work sensitively as a team to support children and each other. Managers and staff work well as a team, and staff feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are robust systems in place to monitor the quality of care and practice in the home. This enables the manager to take immediate action if shortfalls arise. Staff are supported to understand the impact of shortfalls in practice, and a plan is put in place to prevent this happening again. This helps to make sure that practice standards are consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are well supported through regular supervision and annual appraisals. Supervision provides a space for staff to reflect on children’s progress and experiences. The manager uses this time to support staff’s learning and development. Consequently, he has good oversight of the needs of the team. This allows the manager to identify additional training and support where required. Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 5

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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

Any person who carries on or manages an establishment or agency of any description without being registered under this Part in respect of it (as an establishment or, as the case may be, agency of that description) shall be guilty of an offence. (Section 11 (1) Care Standards Act 2000)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the person in day-to-day charge of the home registers with Ofsted. 31 October 2024

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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: 1159884 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-Upon-Tees, Cleveland TS20 1LG

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1159884 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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