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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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

This 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, 3 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with 2 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant.

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This monitoring visit

On 26 January 2026, an assurance inspection was carried out to review the provider's response to a serious incident that had been notified to Ofsted. This inspection identified serious and widespread concerns regarding the care and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. The responsible individual provided an action plan to address the concerns identified and provided assurances that no more children would move into the home until they were satisfied with the improvements. Ofsted issued 2 compliance notices under Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard,’ and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard.’

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to review the effectiveness of the action taken by the provider to address the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have demonstrated in-depth reflection following the assurance inspection. They have accepted the shortfalls highlighted by Ofsted and have made significant efforts to improve the safety and wellbeing of children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2522240 2 The responsible individual has completed multiple reviews of staff practice and the manager's oversight of the home. A detailed plan with specific actions to address all shortfalls identified with clear timescales has been developed. A further quality assurance plan has been developed to review all aspects of the home and implement any learning identified. Leaders and managers are implementing both these action plans.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received purpose-based supervision sessions to reflect on the outcome of the assurance inspection. This provided staff with a safe space to share their thoughts and identify any further actions that could be taken to enable them to keep children safe. Staff have been open and honest through this process and felt listened to. They shared gaps in their knowledge and skills also highlighting shortfalls in the support that they have received to develop their practice. The responsible individual has included their suggestions of support in the action plans. Staff say they now feel more supported.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have provided different strategies to improve the safety and wellbeing of children. Staff have received training and engaged in a safeguarding workshop to increase their understanding of safeguarding practice and their responsibilities. An on-call procedure has been introduced to provide support to staff during incidents and oversight of decision making. Staff now receive timely discussions with managers following incidents to reflect and identify learning for future practice. Incidents are also reflected on as a team through team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

Internal meetings have been introduced to children's individual key staff teams. These meetings review all care planning documents for individual children. Changes have been made to these to provide more concise, appropriate, and clear guidance to staff on children's individual risks and how to care for children. However, one child's risk assessment continues to not give clear strategies and actions for staff to follow regarding substance misuse.

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This monitoring visit

The reporting and recording of incidents lack detail and do not reflect all the actions staff have taken to safeguard children. This means managers do not have a full understanding and oversight of incidents.

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This monitoring visit

There is currently no manager of the home. The responsible individual has increased their presence in the home and is working closely with the deputy manager regarding the day-to-day safety and care of children, implementing their action plans, and having oversight of the home. The directors of the home have also increased their presence. While the home is actively looking at recruitment options, a lack of a manager affects the oversight and stability of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Although appropriate systems and strategies to improve children's safety and welfare have been introduced and appear effective, they are not yet fully embedded into the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2522240 3 A case review took place on 11 March 2026, where it was decided that all the steps in the compliance notices under Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’ and Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’ had been met.

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2522240 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 with 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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vii)(e)) 7 June 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— 7 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2522240 5 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(h))

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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: 2522240 6

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2522240 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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