Children's Home run by Invested Childcare Ltd in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 1 Registered provider: Invested Childcare LTD

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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 owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 2

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Summary of findings

The child benefits from nurturing and consistent care from staff who understand their individual needs and promote positive experiences, routines, and relationships. Staff work effectively with professionals and the child’s family members to provide coordinated support. As a result, the child feels valued and makes positive progress.

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Summary of findings

Staff provide consistent and proactive support that promotes the child’s safety and well- being. Staff respond promptly to risks and this helps the child feel safe and protected. However, staff do not always explore online safety concerns in sufficient detail which can reduce the effectiveness of safeguarding strategies in this area.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers create a supportive and reflective culture, which strengthens practice, promotes consistent care, and improves outcomes for the child. Effective oversight and support from leaders have improved staff’s confidence, morale and accountability and this contributes to a stable and nurturing home for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home benefits from positive and meaningful experiences because of the strong and trusting relationships that staff build with them with them. Staff demonstrate attentiveness to the child’s emotional well-being and provide nurturing support. Photographs displayed throughout the home capture enjoyable and memorable experiences shared between the child and staff. These reflect a warm and nurturing environment. As a result, the child demonstrates a clear sense of belonging within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making positive progress in education and is working towards expected targets. Although there are occasional periods of reduced attendance, there has been a significant overall improvement in engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create and maintain good routines for the child. They use child-centred approaches to encourage healthier sleeping patterns, successful transitions to school and positive day-to-day routines. For example, staff prepare breakfast each morning to support a positive start to the day. These actions demonstrate nurturing and responsive care, which increases stability for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers provide staff with access to a clinical team, which strengthens practice and promotes consistent, good quality care. Managers involve the child’s social worker in the organisation’s ‘formulation meetings.’ One professional highlighted how well staff know the child and understand their needs. This collaborative approach contributes to the child receiving the good quality and consistent care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 3 Staff support family time to ensure the child maintains meaningful relationships with those that are important to them. During periods of challenge, staff adjust arrangements when needed. This approach reassures the child and their family that staff value family relationships. One family member described the staff as ‘accommodating and understanding,’ which reflects the positive relationship staff have established with the child’s family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain a good understanding of the child’s friendship group and build relationships with their parents. When there are challenges in peer relationships, staff provide guidance and support to help rebuild these. The child enjoys activities with friends, such as fishing and having sleep overs at the home. These experiences help maintain important social connections and promote enjoyment.

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

Managers ensure that staff have the knowledge required to keep the child safe. Staff create clear plans that reflect the child’s needs. These plans provide effective strategies to keep the child safe. Staff review plans regularly and consistently follow them. This helps to protect the child from harm.

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

Staff recognise and reward the child for making positive choices. Staff provide an effective incentive plan that is tailored to the child’s individual needs and encourages positive behaviour. Furthermore, staff manage any unwanted behaviours effectively and proactively. This has reduced incidents significantly and the need to use physical holds.

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

When the child leaves the home late in the evening, staff respond promptly and maintaining visual supervision. If the child is missing from home, staff take immediate action by searching known locations. Staff also speak with the child to try and understand the reasons for incidents and use the information to inform future safety planning. As a result, incidents of the child being missing from home now rarely occur .

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

Staff are professionally curious and consistently explore the child’s behaviour and experiences. Staff complete thorough initial fact-finds in response to potential safeguarding concerns, which helps them understand the underlying causes of the child’s behaviours. This helps staff to provide informed support that promotes the child’s safety and wellbeing.

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

Staff use a personalised code word that enables the child to discreetly communicate with them when they feel unsafe or require support. The child uses this system confidently. Staff also recognise when support is required, even without verbal communication. As a result, the child feels safe, understood, and protected.

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

Staff hold conversations with the child in response to safety concerns. However, staff do not always explore the specific context of individual concerns in sufficient detail. As a result, these discussions lose focus and this could affect the child’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 4 Leaders and managers recognise the importance of creating a supportive environment where staff can reflect, learn and develop their practice. Staff are provided with a range of resources and development opportunities that strengthen their skills and confidence. The culture in the staff team has improved, which contributes towards the child’s progress and experiences. The manager demonstrates commitment to the organisation’s values outlined within the statement of purpose. This helps staff provide consistent care and promote positive outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and family members describe the care provided to the child as nurturing. One professional said that staff go ‘above and beyond and are accommodating to [name of child’s] needs’. Staff maintain positive and effective working relationships with the child’s wider care team. This strengthens partnership working and promotes the child’s well-being and overall progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that managers as approachable and supportive. Following a recent change in provider, leaders have supported staff through the transition and helped them to adapt to new expectations and systems. Although staff initially felt anxious about the change, they now recognise this as a positive and can identify clear improvements. As a result, staff’s morale and confidence have improved and this contributes to improved experiences for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have effective oversight of the home through regular audits and clear action planning. The manager completes regular monitoring checks and has an increased presence in the home. Managers provide regular supervision sessions to staff which promote development, addresses concerns, and support staff well-being. As a result, a supportive culture that strengthens practice, accountability and good quality of care is in place Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the children’s home staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: 2873243 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Invested Childcare LTD

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector (lead) Saira Rafiq, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873243 7 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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