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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 1 SC477031

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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

This home is operated by a private provider. It offers 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, 5 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with 2 of the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Inspection date: 25 August 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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. The inspector has 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: SC477031 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The inspection took place following a whistleblowing complaint received by Ofsted relating to the management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have warm and trusting relationships with staff. They say that staff enjoy spending time with them and that they can talk openly to staff about how they feel.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is well presented, well maintained, and provides a welcoming environment for children. Children have access to all areas of their home. Previous practice in the home involved locking certain doors, which restricted children’s freedom of movement; however, this is no longer in place.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they feel supported by leaders and managers. Staff know how to raise concerns and feel able to address any worries they may have with the manager or responsible individual. Good support for staff contributes to low levels of staff sickness and low staff turnover.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers ensure that children are cared for by familiar adults. This has put some pressure on staff, which, in turn, has affected staff morale. However, a recent increase in staffing has helped to alleviate these difficulties.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are provided with regular supervision sessions, as well as debriefs following incidents. However, these do not consistently provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their experiences. This limits opportunities for staff to consider the impact of their practice and any changes that may help to improve children’s care.

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Findings from the inspection

The timescales for meeting requirements made at the full inspection under Regulations 11 and 13 had not passed at the time of this inspection. Therefore, these requirements are restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2026 Full Good 27/08/2025 Full Good 16/04/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; 4 September 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 5 de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the staff caring for children are able to manage their behavioural needs without relying on the police for support.

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(f)(h)) 4 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that supervision enables staff to reflect and act on how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 6

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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: 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC477031 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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