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

Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 1 SC065072 Registered provider: Time-Out Children’s Homes 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 is one of several children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

If required, children and young people can access the organisation’s school and therapy department.

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Information about this children’s home

A registered manager has been in place since December 2017. She is experienced and is currently working towards her level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

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

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2018 Full Outstanding 04/07/2017 Full Outstanding 30/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 3

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Recommendation

 It will be in the interests of the majority of looked-after children to maintain contact with their families and friends. Information about the local authority’s responsibilities for enabling continued family contact is in Children Act 1989: Care planning, placement and case review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.14)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Through living at the home, children make remarkable progress in all areas of their lives. For example, from their starting points of complete disengagement with education, both children now attend school and regularly achieve 100% attendance. The children’s school reports reflect their progress, and preparation and revision plans are in place. The staff encourage the children to develop aspirations for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have developed significantly strong and trusting relationships with the staff, and this forms the foundation for the children’s sustained progress. The primary focus is for the staff to spend time with the children. Because of this, the staff know the children well, and the children trust the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager uses research to inform and improve staff practice. This makes a real difference to the lives of the children living in the home. Staff are well trained and competent in the model of care used. They have a thorough understanding of attachment theory and they are regularly supported by a therapist who offers guidance about how to work with the children and reduce risk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are fully involved in their care planning, and reflect on and review their progress with staff. Clear records reflect each child’s lived experience and show life-story work and their journey throughout their time spent living at the home. Children know their current stage of development and progress, and their future plans. Key conversations with the children are linked to regular key-work sessions, and children have their own research files showing topics and advice specific to their needs. These arrangements ensure that the children’s physical, emotional and social needs are consistently monitored and met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children participate in a variety of activities, meet friends and have fun. This significantly improves their self-esteem and confidence. For example, children enjoy going to the cinema, gym, drama class, bike rides, walks and youth club. Children are looking forward to their upcoming summer holiday abroad. They spoke with excitement about travelling Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 4 together and spending time with their staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children to prepare for independence by carrying out age-appropriate tasks from the start. These include helping to tidy their rooms, baking and other household tasks that are seen as part of group living rather than as chores. There is an inspirational game that tracks the children’s progress and improves their social skills and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard. It has a calming and warm feel because care has been taken to consider the home’s environment and the effect it has on the children’s well-being. There is a memory wall and progress tree showing the outcomes the children have achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff should regularly remind children of their right to access an independent advocate. Independent advocates can support both the child and the home to seek redress of issues which affect them, such as lack of contact with their family.

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

The children told the inspector that they feel safe and that they are confident to approach any staff member if they have a concern. A strong safeguarding culture is well established. Staff know what to report, to whom and when. The children’s risk assessments reliably inform staff of what known risks look like. The documents provide clear strategies to reduce the children’s risk and include the home’s therapeutic approach. There are no incidents of children being missing or absent from the home.

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

The registered manager and the staff team know the children very well and are skilled in identifying safeguarding risks. Sensitive, insightful and individualised approaches support each child. The registered manager uses research-informed practice and delivers this to her team. She has used presentations on county lines and contextual safeguarding from conferences she attended. Staff are competent and share their knowledge with other teams looking after children in the organisation.

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

Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding about children’s previous experiences and how they may impact on potential risks and their behaviour. A balanced approach to risk management means that children take part in activities and the usual childhood experiences in the least restrictive way. For example, children spend time out with their friends, have access to the internet and use mobile phones and portable devices appropriate for their age and understanding.

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

Since coming to live at this home, the children’s behaviour has significantly improved. Staff are able to reflect on the children’s behaviour. They use a therapeutic model of care, with support from a therapist, which helps them to understand the emotions underpinning the children’s presenting behaviour. Physical intervention is not used and sanctions are rare. The home continues to be extremely settled and children told the inspector that they are happy and that they love living in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 5 The registered manager implements safe recruitment procedures. Staff confirmed that there is a thorough induction that includes the responsibility for delivering safe care. They are monitored through a probation period. Children are involved in recruitment days and have contributed to ‘quick fire’ questions used during an applicant’s interview. These arrangements contribute to a new employee’s suitability and keep the children

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager, senior therapeutic carer and staff consistently provide outstanding care to children. The inspirational culture for children to develop a high regard for themselves and high aspirations is evident throughout the records in the home. This means that children develop confidence and self-esteem, and achieve well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are excellent arrangements in place for covering the registered manager’s absence. These arrangements were demonstrated throughout the inspection by the senior therapeutic carer and staff. There is no impact on the children when the registered manager takes her holiday as the children continue to receive a high level of care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff described the registered manager and senior therapeutic carer as ‘effective and supportive’. Team meetings and staff supervision are used efficiently to provide guidance and support to the staff team. Training has been adapted to address particular care needs and particular challenges in the home. This ensures that staff have a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of each child’s needs, therapeutic approaches, and safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

As the home has been settled for some considerable time, the management team is effective in ensuring that the staff do not become complacent in their roles. Delegated tasks and regular reviews of performance are in place. The staff are able to share their skills and knowledge in other homes in the organisation. They provide support to other staff, when needed, in managing other children’s behaviours. If needed, these arrangements take place when the children in this home are in school.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Systems are in place to monitor and review the progress of children, as well as any concerns. These monitoring systems, including the monthly report from an independent person, provide staff with a very good oversight of the care provided. This helps staff to look at potential triggers for children’s behaviours and supports them in addressing these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team knows the home’s strengths and weaknesses, and a working development plan is in place. The requirement and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC065072 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Time-Out Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Ripponden Mill, Mill Fold, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire HX6 4DH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dominic Macauley

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC065072 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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