Children's Home run by Invested Childcare Ltd in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873301 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 and home were registered with Ofsted in December 2025. This is the home’s first inspection since then, although the home was previously registered with another provider. One child was living at the home at the point of the new registration and they have since moved on. There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection and the inspector spoke with the child.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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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: 2873301 2 Summary of findings.

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good

The child is settling well into their home. They are developing trusting relationships with staff, who they willingly seek support from staff in periods of distress. Staff understand the child’s needs and risks and respond appropriately to them. This has helped staff support the child to develop more healthy routines.

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good

The child is supported by staff to maintain their relationships with people who are important to them. This includes inviting the child’s family and friends to attend some activities, which helps create happy memories for the child.

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good

There has been a reduction in the frequency and severity of incidents. The manager has good oversight of the child’s care and staff feel well supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home is settling in well. They said that they feel safe, have built good relationships with staff and that they are able to speak to staff if they are worried or upset. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to children and show genuine commitment to improving their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are actively sought by staff. Staff and managers support children to participate in decisions about their day-to-day life. Monthly catch-up meetings take place, which the child living in the home participates in and enjoys. The child has also been helped to have an advocate to support them in care planning meetings with the wider care team. This supports the child to develop their confidence and feel that they have a sense of control over their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s health needs. This includes exploring the child’s needs in relation to healthy sleep. Staff are supporting the child with consistent routines and sleep hygiene to help them have regular and restful sleep. This is starting to help the child have better routines and make progress in other areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has started engaging in their education. Staff and managers have supported the child to access a suitable provision that meets their needs. The registered manager has advocated for the child to ensure they receive educational support specific to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to safely spend time with family and friends. This includes taking part in fun activities, such as visiting theme parks as well as having sleepovers. This Inspection report for children’s home: 2873301 3 creates happy memories for the child. Staff also have good communication with the child’s family members, including sharing information. This helps to ensure that people important to the child are involved in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home there is a clear plan to help them settle and reduce anxieties. This includes staff visiting the child and the child visiting the home. When a child moved on from the home, they were helped by staff to learn more about their new home, including supporting them to visit. Emotional support was offered to the child, when they struggled with the decision made for them to move on from their home. This helps them to know that decisions are made in their best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is furnished to a good standard and is personalised to their individual tastes and interests.

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

Staff understand the risks for children and respond in line with their individual plans. Risk management plans are updated regularly and include all known risks.

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

Staff talk to children about unsafe behaviours. This has included discussions relating to vaping and substance misuse. Staff have also sourced specific external agency support around vaping.

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

Staff understand the emotions that lead to children displaying unsafe behaviours. They support children to help them to manage and understand these emotions. Risks for the child living in the home have reduced significantly because of the therapeutic care provided and the meaningful relationships they have developed with staff.

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

There has been a significant reduction in incidents of the child being missing from home since they moved in. The missing from home safety plan is detailed and well written, explaining what staff should do, when to do it and why.

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

When disclosures, allegations or complaints are made, these are taken seriously by staff. The child is listened too and reassured by staff. The manager informs partner safeguarding agencies to ensure a multi-agency response. Any concerns are appropriately investigated and necessary actions are taken.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted in the home. Staff use consistent and appropriate behaviour management strategies. These are trauma-informed and staff focus on understanding the child’s potential triggers and trying to de-escalate situations, where the child is distressed. The child is responding well to this approach and has been able to manage their emotions more effectively.

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

When staff practice falls short of expected standards, prompt action is taken by senior management. Incidents are fully investigated, appropriate referrals made and measures are put in place to reduce the risk of reoccurrence and improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873301 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated, knowledgeable and child centred. He knows the child well and plays an active part in their daily life. He is a strong advocate for children and will challenge professionals, when necessary, to ensure a high standard of care and support for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team are knowledgeable and provide stable, nurturing care. Staff have a range of training opportunities available to them. They have access to reflective workshops and consultations from a clinical team. This helps staff provide a positive environment, where children can feel happy and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of managers, describing them as supportive, approachable and readily available. This contributes to a positive working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended. They provide an opportunity for staff to share views on the day-to-day care of the child and any wider issues in the home. There is a focus on the child’s individual needs and areas for further development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions take place on a regular basis. The manager uses these as an opportunity to address any practice issues and reflect on children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a use of a chime alarm situated on the landing. This disproportionately limits the child’s privacy within the home and detracts from what is otherwise a homely environment. There is no appropriate safeguarding reason for this to be in place and there has been no review of this measure since the child has moved to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873301 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure any limits on privacy, such as the chime alarm, may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)). All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, Page 15, paragraph 3.10.)

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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: 2873301 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

Amber Merriman, social care inspector (lead) Kerry Chater, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873301 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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Inspectors

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

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