Children's Home run by Investing in Children CIC in Sunderland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 1 Registered provider: Investing in Children Cic

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with 2 children during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant. The interim manager had applied to be registered with Ofsted but subsequently withdrew their application following the inspection.

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Inspection date: 27 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection took place to look at specific concerns following a number of safeguarding notifications having been received by Ofsted. The inspector evaluated how children are cared for, helped, and protected and assessed the actions of leaders and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children and the leadership and management of the home at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers did not safeguard one child effectively despite being aware of escalating risks. They did not identify measures to reduce these risks. Consequently, the child was able to harm themselves and required hospital treatment. Following this incident managers did not put strategies in place promptly to mitigate ongoing risks. This left the child at risk of further harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not follow children’s plans and safeguarding procedures consistently. On one occasion, following an incident of substance misuse, staff did not explore with the child the need for medical support. On another occasion, a child was assaulted while out in the community. Although staff advised the child to go to a place of safety which was appropriate, there was delay in staff collecting the child. Records indicate that only after staff spoke with the local authority emergency duty team, who advised staff to go and pick the child up, did this happen.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments do not contain accurate information about children’s needs and vulnerabilities, and this undermines their effectiveness. They do not inform staff of all actions needing to be taken to mitigate risks to children. Although risk assessments are updated after incidents, they do not reflect changes in practice needed to keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not identified the significance of incidents that have happened. Reflective work has not been undertaken with managers and staff to improve staff’s understanding of children’s needs and the skills they need to better promote children’s safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do care about children and their wellbeing. Children have developed positive and trusted relationships with staff. One child confided in staff about a significant incident enabling them to receive lifesaving treatment.

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Findings from the inspection

The environment is homely and the décor reflects that of a family home where children live. The games room is favoured by children which has many activities for them to enjoy. It also provides a safe and comfortable space for children to spend time with friends and family. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 3 Following a case review on 28 January 2026, which confirmed that there are serious and widespread concerns at the home, two compliance notices under Regulation 12 (The protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (The leadership and management standard) were made.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous requirement raised at the full inspection in June 2025 was not considered at this visit and has therefore been restated. It will be reviewed when Ofsted undertake a monitoring visit to review progress to meet the compliance notices. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Good 06/08/2024 Full Good 20/06/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 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

*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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)) 8 March 2026

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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 8 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 6 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time, and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(c)) 8 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Investing in Children Cic

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sjovoll Centre, Front Street, Pity Me, Durham DH1 5BZ

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Inspector

Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2522240 8 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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