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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 1 SC484242

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Registered provider: Spark of Genius North East LLP

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection 3 children lived in the home and 1 was spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since 18 October 2024. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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. Inspectors have 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: SC484242 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

This home has been without a registered manager since October 2024. Interim managers have not ensured adequate oversight of children’s care. Improvements identified at the previous assurance inspection have not been sustained and there has been a decline in the quality of care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not safeguard the children well because they do not respond effectively to known risks to children. Staff do not use information shared by professionals to inform ongoing risk management plans and decisions. They are not proactive in helping children to identify risks and develop the skills they need to stay safe.

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Findings from the inspection

One child had moved into the home just before the last assurance inspection. Vulnerabilities identified at the time of their planned move have not been kept under effective review, and challenges have subsequently arisen about how best to support them and other children at the home. Another child has had to move out sooner than planned and so this child has not experienced the stability that they needed. Shortfalls in care planning impact on children’s experiences and progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Adults caring for the children are not sufficiently familiar with their needs. New staff have been recruited, and they are getting to know the children. However, they are not receiving all necessary training, such as behaviour management and this does not help them to fully and safely support children.

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Findings from the inspection

When new staff are recruited, the manager and deputy are not involved in the shortlisting process and do not have access to applicant’s work experience or gaps in their employment. This limits their ability to make decisions about whether staff are suitable for their role and what experience they bring.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not demonstrate that children’s education is a priority. Some children are not engaged in education and staff do not provide them with alternate methods of learning. There is no consistent structure or routine to support children who are out of education to reengage.

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Findings from the inspection

Some progress has been made in the staff team working together and providing more consistency for children. Work is ongoing by managers to bring about further improvement in this area.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager fully investigates allegations about staff. Thorough investigations are undertaken and learning identified is quickly implemented. The manager is exploring staff development in supervision sessions and team meetings. This provides the manager with some oversight of how improvements in staff practice can be made moving forward. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 3 Children have some positive experiences and make some progress. For example, one child has developed positive relationships with some core staff and is spending more time in communal areas of the home with other people than in their bedroom and on their own.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2025 Full Good 12/12/2023 Full Outstanding 21/03/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 4

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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, 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)) 26 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a full review of care planning for children is undertaken, including of their move into and out 26 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 5 of the home. Any shortfalls must be clearly identified with evidence of lessons learned and actions to be taken to ensure that there is effective care planning for children moving forward. 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

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 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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 (a)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 3 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 3 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 6 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2) (a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Dunedin House, Columbia Drive, Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees TS17 6BJ

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC484242 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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