Children's home run by Invested Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 1 Registered provider: Invested Childcare Limited

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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 is privately operated. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home. Two children were seen and spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2024

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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: 1276421 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2024 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Good 07/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build trusting relationships with staff who know the children well and can anticipate their needs. The quality of the relationships that children have with the staff has a positive impact on their experiences. Children say they feel safe and happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager works with professionals to plan how best to help children move into the home. Moves are well planned and at a pace that suits the needs of each child. When moves need to happen quickly leaders and managers ensure that this happens in a way that does not negatively affect the child and those already living in the home. Children receive a warm welcome and settle well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children regularly attend education. One child sat their exams and achieved their expected grades. Specialist education workers support children to engage in further study or work. One child successfully completed a pre-course to further education and is now in college. Another child achieved a coaching qualification and was supported by staff to start the recruitment process to join the armed forces.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that family time is well planned, adaptable, and sensitive to the needs of the children and their families. One child is currently increasing their family time with a view to returning to their parents’ care. When ready, children are helped to leave the home in a planned way and learn important life skills from staff. Children know their plans and engage well in activities to promote their transition to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and engage well with medical appointments. Staff ensure that they have access to all the health services they need and encourage the children to regularly take part in active pastimes including boxing and laser tag. When inaccurate health information has been shared, the manager raises this with the appropriate agency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make detailed records, often written to the child. However, this is not fully embedded across the team as some records are not completed using language that is accessible to children.

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

Children’s risks are well understood by staff. When needed, additional training is sought for staff to meet the children’s changing needs. Staff use their trusting relationships with children to influence children’s behaviour positively. The children can all identify trusted adults they can speak with and feel that their concerns are listened to. One child said the home is somewhere they ‘finally feel safe’ to be their ‘true self.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 4 Missing from home incidents are well managed. Staff follow detailed plans that help them take action and return children home safely. The manager works with the police and other professionals to ensure that when children are away without permission, plans are reviewed to address the reasons for missing and the associated risks.

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

Children learn how to manage their behaviour better with consistent support from the staff and the clinician. The manager has oversight and challenges staff when an inappropriate consequence is given, helping to maintain the focus on educating children about the impact their decisions can have on themselves and others.

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

Staff educate children to help keep them safer online. Children understand the risks and are supported to make positive choices in their online interactions. The manager has carried out specialist training and the team’s response to online safety is informed by this. The restrictions and online monitoring applications used are largely effective and are paired with regular conversations to help children to have a safer online experience.

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

The manager records allegations clearly and involves other agencies where appropriate, ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed appropriately. Where necessary the manager carries out ‘lessons learned’ reviews to develop staff practice. However, there was a delay in the reporting of one disclosure. This did not have a negative effect on the child, but the manager has reminded the staff of the importance of reporting all incidents within timescales.

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

Risks are reducing for most of the children. However, there have been some challenges in keeping all children safe since the last inspection, that have led to one child leaving the home. The manager worked quickly with other professionals to manage the child’s immediate safety, and to support a smooth transition to alternative care.

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

Staff rarely need to hold children for their safety, when they do the records are clear and discussions and reflections are carried out with staff. The manager writes child-friendly restorative letters to any children involved. Follow-up actions with the children and staff are carried out promptly to avoid any negative lasting effects on children. However, there are some gaps in the process, as a discussion with staff from one incident was not completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a new manager in post who has a clear vision about the type of home she wants to develop. Staff are all recruited safely, and the team have a wide variety of skills and experience to meet the children’s needs. The manager understands the strengths and development needs for the staff and is taking action to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has monitoring systems and undertakes reviews of staff practice to improve her understanding of any issues. Her oversight of the children’s progress has improved following the introduction of an electronic recording system that enables the manager to have daily oversight of all documentation. The manager’s monthly review Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 5 includes analysis of any patterns for the month and actions to develop staff practice over the coming period are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Practice-related supervision sessions and team meetings are purposeful and reflective. The staff understand the importance of reflection and value the support they receive. The staff have many opportunities to discuss the progress of the children in their care both individually and as a group. The manager uses a structured process to support the staff to reflect, and input from the clinician strengthens this. This leads to rich conversations and helps the team understand the children’s needs better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home, they value the support of their colleagues and managers. They talk about the different qualities that staff bring to the team, and their focus to remain consistent for the children. The manager ensures that they have sufficient staff to cover predictable absences and maintain continuity. Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control discipline and restraint are recorded promptly to allow the manager timely and regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is necessary and proportionate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified with 24 hours to the appropriate people, including if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 63, paragraph 14.13)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information in a consistent way. In particular, use language that the child can understand. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1276421 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Invested Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Acklam Hall, Hall Gardens, Middlesbrough TS5 7BJ

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Inspector

Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1276421 8 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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