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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 1 SC484242 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 the inspector spoke to one child 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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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection took place on the 3 March 2026. At this visit, the inspector found serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children. Following a case review a compliance notice was issued under regulation 12, and a restriction of accommodation notice was also issued.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers at the organisation provided additional information to Ofsted to indicate that the home was ready to have new children move in. This monitoring visit took place to review the progress made and whether the arrangements in place sufficiently protect the children.

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This monitoring visit

Plans that were being made at the time of the last inspection for one child to move out of the home had not been implemented by managers. As a result, children continue to be exposed to significant risk of harm. Managers have limited understanding about the impact of this risk on children and have not taken effective action to reduce it. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 2 A child protection investigation is ongoing relating to the safeguarding of two children. Managers, as well as other external professionals, have not been mindful of the effect that their decisions could have on that process, despite clear police guidance.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments are up to date. However, staff have not followed these consistently and as a result, staff practice is not proactive and effective to help children to be safe outside of the home. In addition, managers do not fully understand their responsibilities for keeping children safe when they spend time in the community.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight is not consistently effective. Staff do not always follow missing from home procedures. There is insufficient curiosity shown by staff about why children’s behaviour suddenly changes. Monitoring and review processes have failed to help managers identify these concerns. Consequently, children continue to be at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review held on the 1 April 2026, Ofsted made the decision for the restriction of accommodation to remain in place. Ofsted will review the compliance notice under regulation 12 at the next inspection as the due date has not yet passed. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 3

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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 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 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, 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

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)) 26 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 5 In particular, ensure that a full review of care planning for children is undertaken, including of their move into and out 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.

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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

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

that staff— 3 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

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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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: SC484242 7

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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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Inspectors

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Joe Matkar-Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484242 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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