Children's Home run by Timeout Children’s Homes Limited in Calderdale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One significant change since the last inspection is the registered manager has taken maternity leave and a new manager has been appointed. Prior to the registered manager’s departure, her thorough handover with the new manager has enabled her to quickly grasp the issues. It has also allowed her to take responsibility for running this home, plus a second home that is operated by the same provider. The new manager has a coherent understanding of the young person’s needs, which enables her to continue to effectively deliver high quality and consistent care. Her clear, child-focussed approach to the protection of children and improving their outcomes is evident in her proactive management style. She has quickly developed positive relationships with the young person who lives at the home and is establishing her position in the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation raised at the last inspection has been addressed. This is with respect to staff recruitment. A system is now in place, which ensures verification as far as possible of the reasons why an individual’s employment with children or vulnerable adults ended. Young people’s access to unsuitable adults is minimised by this improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have moved in or left the home since the last inspection. This promotes a stable environment where the existing young person continues to thrive. This is due to the support from staff who attend to their needs with skill and care. This progress is significant, given the young person’s difficult starting point. A social worker said, ‘They do everything right and everything they can.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact is promoted, which maintains the young person’s identity. An agreement for the young person’s family to celebrate Christmas with him at the home shows how the team have gone the extra mile to make for a memorable occasion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team work hard to help young people understand the importance of a good education. Consequently, a young person has made exceptionally good progress in his educational development and attainment. Young people enjoy attending school, which is reflected in their 100% attendance. The manager, in relation to a particular young person said, ‘He loves attending school’ and a social worker said, ‘He has developed.’ Excellent progress in key subjects, such as English now matches the young person’s age, which has helped him to overcome barriers to his learning. Good working relationships between the home and school are strengthened by the sharing of good practice. This is further supported by staff in school that promotes consistent practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Similarly, the young person is showing optimistic signs of physical, emotional and behavioural growth. He is engaging in all of his health appointments and is taking advice to ensure he remains fit and healthy. He consumes a balanced diet and is able to make better sense of his emotions through his engagement in therapy. Having an improved insight into his behaviour has enabled him to take time out to self-regulate when he becomes agitated, recover and apologise for poor behaviour. This has led to a reduction in incidents and physical interventions, which is boosted by a new rewards system and gives the young person the impetus to behave well. Positive and trusting relationships formed between the young person and staff has enabled him to be responsive to the positive role models. Consequently, this helps him to sensibly articulate his inner thoughts and emotions. Appropriate hugs ensure that the young person feels cared about by the trusted adults. The

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager said, ‘I am massively big on appropropriate touch.’ Inappropriate behaviours are swiftly addressed through talking with the young person and risk management plans are implemented. However, the documents are not sufficiently robust because they do not include dates of incidents that distinguish between the number of incidents and the action taken after each one. In addition to his other leisure activities, a new found interest in football has enhanced the young person’s social life and camaraderie as a team player. Learning new skills improves his confidence, self-esteem and creates opportunities for him to make new friends, which broadens his social horizons.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Robust staff practices effectively protect the young person from going missing from care, child sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. Staff training in these areas, including recent internet safety awareness keeps the team vigilant and alert to the potential threats to the young person’s vulnerabilities. This helps them to protect him from potential dangers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s wishes and feelings are fully integrated into his care and acted on where possible. As well as obtaining his views through key work sessions and regular consultations, the young person has social work visits. This enables him to feel sufficiently confident to speak his mind and feel secure in the fact that his reasonable requests will be honoured by staff. For example, his desire for a gold fish is to be discussed at a team meeting. Although the complaints procedure is made known to all young people, no complaints have been made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person continues to prosper from the comfort of his familiar and homely territory. His bedroom is personalised, which reflect his personal tastes. Newly purchased sofas, a dining table and chairs ensure fully inclusive meal times. The outside area provides the space for the young person to ‘play out’ or venture into the neighbouring area to socialise with local children under the supervision of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Excellent partnership between the home and relevant professionals continue to improve the young person’s outcomes. This provides him with access to the resources that he needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A small, child focussed staff team that includes the introduction of an experienced senior worker and care staff to the team adds value to the skill mix. They are committed to ongoing learning and development to ensure that they remain qualified to meet the young person’s needs. The manager leads by example and has the aptitude to motivate the staff team. A social worker said, ‘(Name of the manager) is very proactive and on the ball.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent visitor reports inform about the operation of the home, but it lacks sufficient evaluation of whether young people are safeguarded and their welfare promoted. This does not negatively impact on the excellent care, but its inclusion would satisfy the provider and the regulator of this fact. Internal management monitoring shows how well the manager understands service delivery, but the feedback following consultation with carers and staff is missing from the monitoring reports. This does not explicitly show how they influence service developments.

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Information about this children's home

This service is a privately-run children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child 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

20/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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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)) 31/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  All children's case records must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 62, paragraph 14.3). Specifically ensure robust risk assessments that are dated in respect of incidents and clearly distinguish between how many incidents have taken place and what action was taken after each one.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with: each child; the home's staff; each child's family/carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care and protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), teachers, clinicians and other health professionals etc. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 54, paragraph 10.23). Specifically consult with staff and parents to inform the management review of service improvements.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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