Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC065072 Inspector Sarah Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Time-Out Children's Homes Limited Registered person address Timeout Childrens Homes Ltd, Unit 2 Mill Fold, Ripponden SOWERBY BRIDGE West Yorkshire HX6 4DH Responsible individual Andrew David Cook Registered manager Mark Darren Stares Date of last inspection 19/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 17/06/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are well cared for enabling them to make good progress from their initial starting point. They are cared for by staff who engage well with them and work proactively to encourage and support them to develop skills and abilities within a nurturing environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are safe at the home. They benefit from staff who put their safety and well-being at the centre of their practice. They work closely with other safeguarding agencies to protect them from abuse. Parents and social workers speak highly of the staff and say that practice is child focussed and safe care is evident in all aspects of their work. Consequently, young people very rarely go missing from the home and the number of sanctions made are low.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's care needs are well met. Detailed individual care plans and risk assessments underpin care practice and this ensures that young people are cared for in accordance with their needs. These plans are reviewed on a regular basis. This promotes good outcomes for young people over time. Highly personalised pathway planning enables young people to develop skills and abilities ready for moving onto independence. Effective staff support ensures that transition from the home to independence is a positive experience for young people. 3 of 10 The home is well managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. He is supported within his role by a consistent staff team who are aware of their roles and responsibilities. All have undertaken full induction including completing the Children's Workforce and Development Councils standards. A good practice recommendation has been made in relation to having a staff team of both genders to enable young

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Overall effectiveness

people to develop positive relationships with male and female staff. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The children's home is operated by a private company and provides accommodation for two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2014 Interim good progress 14/08/2013 Full adequate 13/02/2013 Interim good progress 04/10/2012 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the staff group who are in day-to-day contact with children includ staff of both genders wherever possible (NMS 17.10). 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made good progress from their initial starting point. They have developed good relationships with other young people and this has enabled them to expand their circles of friendship within school and the local community. They have very positive relationships with staff who provide them with guidance, support and enable them to reflect on their past and to gain skills and coping strategies for their future. Staff help them to understand their family’s history and background and provide support to enable them to have positive visits with family members. Where there are restrictions on maintaining family contact, staff help young people understand the reasons why.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people understand the importance of good health. They are registered with health care professionals, attend routine medical appointments and have access to psychological support. Additional support is provided through the organisations in- house therapeutic service. Where young people do not wish to engage directly with this, staff receive guidance and support to enhance the young person’s emotional health care. This means that physical and emotional health care is well promoted. Young people are aware of the impact of smoking and substance misuse and it is positive that the young people at the home do not engage in these behaviours. Healthy eating is promoted and young people have an input into planning, budgeting and shopping for food. However some young people are resistant to changing eating habits. Staff are very aware of how this could impact on the overall health of individual young people and therefore make meal times a sensory and relaxing

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Outcomes for children and young people good

experience, offering increased opportunities for different food to be tried. Young people take part in activities including swimming and going to the gym to provide them with regular exercise and this further supports healthy lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Education is positively promoted within the home. Attendance at school is excellent and young people are on target to achieve good grades with their final year exams. Staff have high aspirations for the young people to achieve well and work in close conjunction with schools to ensure that young people receive the right support to meet their educational needs. Young people say that they are doing well at school and also have the opportunity to attend alternative educational resources to increase their chances of success. For example, attending a car mechanics course which will enable the young person to obtain a level two qualification and act as a foundation course for further courses within this area.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people take part in a wide range of leisure activities. These include swimming, football and using local leisure facilities including the cinema and bowling. They have also developed friendships with local children and play at the local park as well as invite friends back to the home. They have also been on holidays and days out and are currently planning a summer holiday. 6 of 10 Young people have developed good independence skills in accordance with their age and abilities. This includes basic household tasks, budgeting, cleaning, shopping and cooking. This enables them to become less dependent on staff within a safe and secure environment. Recently one young person has moved from the home to live independently. Prior to moving, the young person supported and helped by staff, gained a range of skills and knowledge to enable the transition to be positive and successful. One social worker said, 'The support and guidance that the young person

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Outcomes for children and young people good

received was of an exceptionally high standard and enabled a positive and successful transition from the home into semi independence.'

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Quality of care good

Young people receive good quality care and support at this home. Staff have high aspirations for the young people and want them to have a safe, happy and positive experience of living at the home. Young people and staff have good relationships built on mutual respect. Consistent support with clear boundaries enables young people to develop positive behaviours. This has been highlighted by social workers and independent reviewing officers. One said ' the young person has settled into the home well and is making very good progress. The placement is settled and this is demonstrated by the good engagement by (name) compared with the previous 12 months.' Another social worker said '(name) commenced at the home with very low self esteem. By the time she moved on, she was a different young person. She had been supported to develop skills and knowledge that gave her self worth and this shone through in her whole demeanour.'

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Quality of care good

Young people are cared for in accordance with their placement plans. These are individually tailored to identify their needs and how they will be met during their placement. These plans are developed in consultation with the young person, their placing social workers and, where appropriate, their family. These plans are kept under review to ensure that they reflect current needs. Individual risk assessments and strategies to aid behaviour management are also included within these plans. Progress is clearly reflected as well as areas for on-going support. The effective monitoring and reviewing of plans enables young people and staff to reflect on progress and links in with statutory reviews.

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Quality of care good

The views of young people are not only sought in relation to their individual care but also to how the home operates and functions. Young people feel very much that it is 'their home' and have a say in what goes on. For example, the home is currently being redecorated and young people had an input into the design and choice of colours. This means that young people take an active interest and pride in their home. The home is a detached house within a residential area and has good access to parks, leisure facilities, shops and good transport links The accommodation is spacious and comfortable and enables young people to have space to play and relax within. All young people have their own rooms and are encouraged to personalise 7 of 10 these through choosing the colour scheme to having pictures and posters to reflect their individual personalities and interests.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are provided with positive support and knowledge to help them have a good understanding of safety issues. For instance regular key worker sessions are held to enable staff and young people to discuss staying safe, including stranger danger. One young person said, 'I feel very safe here and know that I can talk with staff if I am worried about anything.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

All staff undertake safeguarding and safer care training. This includes understanding signs and symptoms of abuse, bullying and child sexual exploitation. This means that they have a greater understanding of the risk of abuse or sexual exploitation and the knowledge of the appropriate action to take if this occurs. Staff work closely with other agencies to minimise risks. This includes police and the local safeguarding agencies. There is a clear procedure in place is a child is missing from home. This is known and understood by all staff. There have been no incidences of missing from home since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff act as positive role models for the young people. Clear and consistent boundaries are in place that are known and understood by young people. There is a system in place that enables young people to earn additional rewards. Sanctions are rarely made but when they are young people say that they are fair and that their views are taken into account. Staff have undertaken training on managing behaviour and this enables them to effectively de-escalate any behaviours that are inappropriate. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to protect young people from harming themselves or others. Clear and detailed records of these are maintained although in recent months there have been no occasions when these measures have been required.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

All young people have individual risk assessments that identify potential risks and how these will be minimised. These are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they reflect current needs. Regular health and safety checks of the building and comprehensive building risk assessments are in place. Gas and electricity tests are in place as well as a fire risk assessment. Young people are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire and take part in evacuation tests to ensure that they follow the correct procedures. These measures help promote the safety of the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has robust processes in place for the recruitment of staff. All checks, including enhanced disclosure and barring service checks and references from previous employers, are taken up prior to the commencement of working at the 8 of 10 home. The young people benefit from the same staff team members providing a continuity of care and support to them. However, the staff team currently in place are of the same gender and this does not provide the young people with experience of support from both genders.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since August 2013 and provides effective leadership with a strong focus on improving outcomes. He is suitably experienced and holds a Level Four in the management of children's homes and is currently completing a Level Five management qualification. Staff respect his knowledge and respond enthusiastically to the manager's expectation that they will deliver care and support to young people to enable them to thrive and achieve positive outcomes.

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Leadership and management good

The home meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. This document is available for families, placing social workers and other professionals to have a clear understanding about the service and the support the home provides.

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Leadership and management good

Regular monitoring is undertaken of the service. An independent visitor undertakes monthly visits to the home on behalf of the provider to assess the quality of care provided and to identify any development need for the home. The home responds appropriately to any shortfalls identified and demonstrates a positive response to improving the service. Effective monitoring by the manager and regular consultation with young people, placing social workers, and families demonstrates the strong commitment to providing a nurturing and supportive home for young people. At the last inspection a recommendation was made in relation to encouraging young people to have a healthy diet. The staff have worked creatively in encouraging this and resulting in young people continuing to widen their choice of food.

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Leadership and management good

Staff benefit from regular supervision that helps them reflect on their practice. They undertake regular mandatory training and those staff who do not hold a Level Three qualification in Caring for Children and Young People are currently undertaking this. This means that children and young people are cared for by staff who are committed to developing their own skills to improve outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Young people are encouraged and supported to understand about their individual care records to enable them to have a good understanding about their own history. All records are stored securely and are well maintained.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager and staff have excellent working relationships with other professionals, including education and social workers as well as families. Comments received from social workers are exceptionally positive and highlight the effective communication from staff in relation to the young people as well as the preparation and support provided to enable positive transition into adulthood and independent living. 9 of 10 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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