Children's home run by Sunderland City Council

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 1 Registered provider: Together For Children Sunderland

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection on 14 and 15 July 2025, the inspector found serious concerns about safeguarding practice and ineffective leadership and management. These shortfalls impacted the children’s safety, protection and welfare. The responsible individual and the manager have acknowledged the shortfalls identified in the inspection. They have provided Ofsted with an action plan to improve their service. In response, Ofsted issued requirements under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. This visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider to meet the requirements.

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This monitoring visit

A child has recently moved out of the home following a significant safeguarding incident. The child was supported to move to a more appropriate home that better meets their individual needs. The move was sensitively managed, ensuring continuity of care and emotional support throughout the process, which was particularly difficult for the child.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has relinquished her dual registration and is due to leave the service imminently. In response, the provider has acted promptly to appoint a new manager and deputy manager, ensuring continued and effective oversight of the home. The outgoing manager is working collaboratively with the incoming manager to support a smooth and well-coordinated transition. These new Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 2 management arrangements have strengthened leadership capacity and provided staff with improved support and clearer oversight of the day-to-day running of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers respond to allegations immediately. When an allegation occurs, staff prioritise the safety and well-being of children. Managers are thorough in their investigations. They are prompt in sharing any learning to inform staff practice. The manager liaises appropriately with external professionals, such as social workers and the local authority designated officer. This ensures that there is external scrutiny of safeguarding measures in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive more regular supervision and targeted training to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs effectively. Supervision sessions provide valuable opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and identify areas for development. Leaders and managers are proactive in supporting staff to strengthen their safeguarding knowledge and skills, contributing to a culture of vigilance and helping to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff practice in safeguarding has improved, and the staff demonstrate a growing awareness of their responsibilities. However, responses to safeguarding incidents are not yet consistently effective. On one occasion, weaknesses in staff practice led to a serious safeguarding breach, where a child subject to a court restriction order was able to leave the home and was missing for a significant period. This highlights the need for further development in staff’s ability to implement safeguarding procedures robustly and consistently.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have progressed the agreed action plan to address the requirements issued at the full inspection. The requirement previously issued under regulation 13 has been met in full. However, the requirement issued under regulation 12 was only partially met. For this reason, it is partially restated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/07/2025 Full Inadequate 25/11/2024 Full Good 31/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 4

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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, The 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vi)) 24 October 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Together for Children Sunderland

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA

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Inspector

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2741826 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 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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