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

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people are consistently helped to prosper and improve their life chances in a stable and aspirational home. This is made possible by supportive staff. They actively enable young people to address their past trauma, emotional and behavioural difficulties and risks in a safe and well planned way.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people’s highly personalised plans support their care journeys. They provide clarity and influence how their care is to be delivered with maximum impact. This significantly improves a range of outcomes for young people from their starting points.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 A strong safeguarding culture and staff practice promote young people’s safety and welfare so their care and protection remain firmly central to all care practices.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Excellent support and guidance offered to eligible young care leavers ensures they have realistic opportunities to lead successful and fulfilling lives.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Highly effective leadership and management oversight significantly supports an excellent child-centred service that invests in young people. Strong interventions from exceedingly motivated, well trained staff makes a positive difference to young people’s lives

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 One shortfall raised in relation to the external monitoring system does not impact on young people’s safety, welfare and development.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) ) 31/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI; upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; the placing authorities of children; the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (7)(a to e)) 31/07/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private company and provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Young people make excellent progress from their starting points. This isbecause they live in a culture that wills them to prosper. Although this has not been without some challenging incidents, their individual needs are attended to exceptionally well. This enables young people to thrive in a well-organised and nurturing environment. The essence of this practice is captured in the Statement of Purpose. It states, ‘the quality of the parenting we provide today determines the parents of tomorrow. Our unique approach integrates education, care and therapy. We provide a reparative experience through the timeout therapeutic treatment plan to ensure the best individual outcomes for all our children, now and for the future.’

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outstanding

Highly individualised, consistent support and guidance delivered by the committed and efficient staff team underpins young people’s progress. Young people know what is expected of them because staff provide useful information about the home and invest time talking to them. Young people say they were made to feel welcome by staff and other young people when they moved in. A young person stated in the homes feedback, ‘I had my own bedroom and comfy bed. I soon felt at home and very settled.’ Staff express genuine excitement when meeting young people for the first time. A member of staff said, ‘when I found out x was here, I was really excited. When I came in, I knocked on the door, and x responded and I sat with her and we had a natter, laughing and everything. We have got to make them welcome.’ Strong and trusting relationships are nurtured from these early interventions. A member of staff said, ‘there is a bond already and barriers have

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outstanding

been broken down.’ Parents and social workers are equally happy with the care and support that young people receive. A parent described the home as ‘brilliant!’

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outstanding

Comprehensive plans and detailed chronologies provide excellent background information. This fully appraises the staff team about young people’s traumatic and complex histories and gives an excellent understanding of their behaviours. The team implement positive strategies that help young people to address some of their challenging behaviours. This helps them to develop socially acceptable mannerisms. The staff team can demonstrate the difference that they make to young people’s lives in words and pictures. For example, the development of DVD’s capturing young people’s care journeys, photos and feedback from young people, their families and professionals. These all build up a positive picture that shows how living at the home adds value to young people’s daily lives.

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outstanding

Young people’s wishes and feelings are listened to and influence the running of the home. Some young people have sufficiently developed in confidence to make constructive representation to professionals about their future plans. This is very impressive because it shows their determination and spirit to make their voices heard. Young people know how to complain but have not had reason to do so. They openly talk to staff about issues that concern them and this enables staff to help and protect them. Parents and professional stakeholders express no concerns with respect to how young people are cared for.

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outstanding

Young people have a well-informed understanding of their health, some of which is influenced by previous negative experiences. Support from staff and health care professionals help young people to sufficiently understand how to protect and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. For example, protecting their sexual health, avoiding the risks associated with smoking, substances and alcohol misuse.

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outstanding

Young people’s engagement in health appointments, eating healthy balanced meals and doing activities indicate that they take their health seriously. Clear and firm boundaries from the point of admission help those young people with a predisposition for taking substances to be redirected. This is intended to protect their health. Therapeutic interventions are dynamic and creative. There are tailored to capture young people’s interests and are well integrated into care practices.

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outstanding

Young people’s educational progress has improved overall. Staff know how they have developed from their starting points. They make every effort to ensure that young people’s learning and skills enhance their life chances. One young person credited the home for encouraging them to attend college daily. They said ‘they really encouraged me to go to college’. Young people enjoy the social interactions that integrate them into colleague communities, enhancing their social and networking skills. Consequently young people have thrived in their chosen subjects and continue studying after leaving the home. Young people who have a poor education history benefit from the continued support from staff and education providers. They are achieving awards where this was not previously considered possible. A flexible timetable enables young people to access 25 hours of education that is tailored to meet their learning and practical needs. For example, a work

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outstanding

placement performed by a young person in the home was deemed a success. Positive supervisor feedback, such as, ‘at her best x was one of the best’ supports this view. Effective partnerships between the Registered Manager, social worker and education providers ensure that all young people’s educational needs are properly assessed and responded to at the correct level. This aspirational approach meets the aims of its Statement of Purpose, ‘to provide high quality, stimulating and safe learning environments that enable all children to achieve and reach their sometimes latent, potential.’

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outstanding

Young people’s access to diverse social and recreational opportunities in the home and community provide them with new and exciting experiences. For example, some young people continue to be involved in fund-raising for cancer charities, attending youth clubs and enjoying day trips out. Young people have been part of the ‘winning team’ when their nativity garden scene won them first prize in a competition between the homes. The prize, a helicopter trip afforded a young person a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity’ to try something new. The young person could not choose which member of staff to accompany them, which resulted in them opting to take the whole staff team on the helicopter ride. Those young people who are going on a European break during the school holidays are saving up their pocket money and have something special to look forward to. This shows how quality time spent between staff and young people, develops young people’s

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outstanding

social skills and helps staff understand their unique personalities and traits.

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outstanding

The staff team fully support young people’s contact with family and friends. They are particularly keen to ensure that young people far away from home maintain their positive cultural identity. Positive staff interventions make parents feel welcome when they visit the home. This is effectively facilitated. Over time young people’s relationships with their parents have improved and they involve their kin in activities that promote positive family life. For example, young people taking their parents out for meals during contact, buying gifts for them on special occasions and doing activities together. Young people’s sense of belonging and identity is maintained through their regular contact. Similarly inviting friends over for meals provide fun occasions that form a part of young people’s social and cultural development.

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outstanding

Young people engage in the excellent opportunities to develop hands-on skills that help them to be independent. Those with no previous life skills have learnt how to prepare meals, keep themselves and their space tidy and make important phone calls. Young people are proud of their achievements. For example, one young person who was consulted by the home said, ‘I now travel to most places on the bus on my own and know how to ask and find times out of the buses and where to catch them.’ The excellent support and contributions from the staff team has resulted in an effective transition between the staff team and adult services. This ensures that young people make a positive start with all the resources they need to make a success of their life. Young people are reluctant to leave the home because they enjoy living there. A young person confirmed this view when they said that staff, ‘have really helped me…life at the home was really good.’ Similarly,

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outstanding

young people who are not eligible to leave care respond well to the help and support that prepares them for the future.

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outstanding

Young people live in a well maintained environment that resembles a family home. Staff support young people to respect and take ownership of their home and they are comfortable there. All young people are encouraged to individualise their rooms, which showcases their individuality.

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outstanding

Young people live in an environment that promotes a strong safeguarding culture.. Their strong sense of safety is secured by the reliable and proactive safeguarding practices that are well-established in the home. Safeguarding is threaded into daily practice which highly prioritises young people’s welfare from their point of admission. Consequently, young people feel valued and cared about. Placing social workers and parents are satisfied that young people are safely cared for. They trust that staff will promptly communicate any issues of concern with them.

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outstanding

Young people openly discuss their concerns with staff. They have confidence in them which demonstrates trust. Staff are supportive, non-judgemental and they are skilled at managing and responding to young people’s changing risks. This is evident on the two occasions that young people have made serious disclosures regarding incidents that have happened away from the home. Staff have diligently followed safeguarding procedures and risk management plans are reviewed to reflect the presenting risks. Staff ensure that young people are treated sensitively, which make them feel believed. Highly effective relationships between the home, police and other professionals promote young people’s protection and support during the investigation process.

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outstanding

Well co-ordinated internal and external support mechanisms and robust risk management strategies support young people who are at risk of significant harm. This includes sexual exploitation and substance misuse. As a result, young people’s good engagement in protective and self-esteem work with staff, the therapist and specialist services significantly minimises risk. This is further strengthened by the work of the police. They have disrupted the activities of unsuitable people outside of the home who present a significant risk to vulnerable young people. Young people are encouraged to take calculated risks so that aspects of their development are not undermined. For example, time limited supervised spending money to discourage young people from buying inappropriate goods. This enables young people to retain their sense of independence and stay safe. Bullying is not considered to be an issue for the young people in the home. However, where

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outstanding

cyber bullying has been identified, staff have researched the subject on the internet to confidently support targeted young people. They also monitor those young people who have social media accounts, such as ‘Facebook’ through the befriending process. This helps staff to safeguard young people from negative forces. It also helps them to develop clear and effective strategies to overcome barriers.

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outstanding

Young people do not regularly go missing from home. Proactive measures are swiftly implemented when they have been missing or absent without permission. This includes staff walking the streets in search of young people in likely places. Professional stakeholders, such as the police and parents are notified when young people have been missing. Return home interviews are always offered to young people and some have taken them up. This provides an opportunity for young people to discuss their reasons for going missing with an independent adult.

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outstanding

Well organised, consistent staff practices help young people to understand and adhere to the clear routines and boundaries. This keeps young people safe and supports good parenting. Consequently, young people’s behaviour has improved, which has promoted socially acceptable behaviours over time. The excellent relationship between young people and staff ensures that challenging incidents are quickly de-escalated before they reach crisis point. Their behaviour is challenged when inappropriate. Young people have the ability to self-regulate, discuss and reflect on their behaviours and at times express remorse for their actions. Despite the significant challenges presented by some young people’s behaviours, there has been no cause for staff to restrain or physically intervene. Sanctions imposed on young people are minimal. This is a positive indicator of young people’s progress that is acknowledged and rewarded.

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outstanding

Young people are helped and protected exceptionally well by the stable staff team. The careful selection and vetting process of staff member’s safeguards young people from unsuitable adults having access to them.

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outstanding

No staff member is the subject of allegations made against them. The Registered Manager has good links with the local authority designated officer (LADO) and she is clear about her responsibility to notify of any safeguarding concerns.

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outstanding

Young people live in a physically safe environment. Fire safety and other relevant checks protect young people, staff and visitors from significant hazards to their safety.

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outstanding

The home is managed by a Registered Manager who has been registered with Ofsted since March 2013. She holds both a degree and a management qualification at Level 5 in Leadership and Management Caring for Children and Young People. She also manages another children home within the organisation. This has no impact on the services delivered to the young people.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager is highly effective, proactive and adaptable with a clear child-focus. Her knowledge of the young people’s histories, risks, needs, family dynamics and future plans is impressively extensive. This translates into robust and transparent management oversight that places young people firmly at the centre of child care practices. A social worker described the Registered Manager as being ‘passionate and focussed.’ A member of staff said that the Registered Manager ‘is amazing and has good relationships with the young people.’

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outstanding

The Registered Manager’s realistically high standards and efficiency is shared by a highly motivated and conscientious staff team. The team is well established and they take their parental role very seriously. They develop consistency through working well as a team and providing a flexible service in partnership with professional stakeholders and to some extent, families. Included is a ‘can-do’ and well considered approaches when presenting barriers arise. This showcases positive and resilient team players that champion young people’s diverse needs. To a great extent, this approach shields young people’s interests, enabling them to raise their aspirations and find future success with minimal turbulence.

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outstanding

Strong working relationships between the home and external parties is clearly evident. Professional stakeholders and families speak highly about the home. Comments made, such as, ‘I trust the home’ and ‘put it this way, I can sleep now’ and ‘she (the Registered Manager) came across so well, genuine’ is strong confirmation that the practices in the home instil trust and confidence from interested parties. Furthermore, social workers have made placements at the home over other providers. One social worker said that he chose the home because the Registered Manager ‘came across head and shoulders above all others.’

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outstanding

Young people’s life chances are significantly enhanced at the home. This is due to the support that is delivered by a very resourceful and competent staff team who invest in them without fear or favour. When asked about how young people are cared for, a member of staff said, ‘it’s not a job. It’s something that just happens inside you that makes you respond to the children’s needs. You just don’t walk away. This is their home for however long.’ Staff support is well promoted by the organisations development and supervision strategy. As indicated in the Statement of Purpose, the strategy, ‘is intended to be positive, continuous and systematic. It is individually designed and is intended to extend each employee’s knowledge, skills and experience for the benefit of the children in our care. It also promotes job satisfaction.’ This is endorsed by staff who are of the view that their practice is highly valued.

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outstanding

All staff are progressing with training on the therapeutic training model. The introduction of the new salary structure that is a good incentive to the already motivated staff team’s ongoing professional development. A range of regular management, keyworker, team meetings and daily handovers provide opportunities for team discussions about young people’s progress. Some are in consultation with the therapist. These effective support mechanisms improve staff consistency and promote good practice.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager’s strong and coherent awareness of the home’s strengths and weaknesses means that she can successfully meet the aims of the Statement of Purpose. This ensures a well organised and efficiently managed home.

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outstanding

Internal and external monitoring visits frequently take place and influence improvements in young people’s lives. The independent visitor raises no safeguarding concerns and comments on the homes strong safeguarding culture. However, their confirmation that children are safe and the home promotes their well-being is not explicit. Furthermore, the responsibility for sending the independent person’s report has not been taken up by them. The provider is addressing these issues with immediate effect and there is no impact on young people’s welfare.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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