Children's home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 1 Registered provider: Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited 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 who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living at the home, who has lived at this home since it opened in July 2018, is making good progress in many aspects of her life. She benefits from staff who care about her well-being and work tirelessly to ensure that her needs are consistently met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has formed strong and purposeful attachments with some of the staff team. These relationships have been a major factor in providing the child with a sense of stability, belonging and improved self-worth. The child clearly regards this as her home and is engaging positively with her care plan. A professional wrote, ‘Staff have a loving and warm attitude towards [name]. They have built stable and safe relationships that are helping her to progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have been successful in supporting this child to re-engage with education. This support has continued, with the child maintaining excellent attendance and making suitable progress that is relative to her individual ability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are good at ensuring that the child maintains a healthy lifestyle. They promote good diet and exercise and ensure that she attends all her health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages in regular therapy sessions that improve her emotional well- being. The staff follow the guidance provided by a qualified therapist and use this information to create a nurturing ethos of care. A professional wrote, ‘The therapeutic support and care from the staff has supported [name] to make significant changes, not least her behaviour.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff do not let distance get in the way of family contact. Transport and supervision arrangements are in place, with staff going to great lengths to ensure that the child can visit the key people in her life. A professional wrote, ‘It is because of the supportive work they have done with [name] over the last 18 months that we are now able to consider her moving back into her home area.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views are considered when making decisions about the running of the home and when planning her care. She is encouraged to plan her recreation time, and is given opportunities to take part in a wide range of fun, exciting and new activities. Memories of these experiences are captured in colourful memory books that can be taken with the child when she leaves the home, an important reminder of her positive experiences in care.

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

Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities to keep this child safe. They provide the right examples and have been effective in helping the child to reduce risk-taking behaviours, such as self-harm and going missing from home. However, Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 4 some risk management strategies do not reflect this progress or test the child’s decisions about keeping herself safe.

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

There have been no safeguarding concerns, allegations or complaints since the last inspection. Effective links have been established with external safeguarding agencies and professionals to ensure the effective management of any future emerging concerns.

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

Staff demonstrate a positive approach to influencing behavioural change. They ensure that the child understands the expectations and boundaries that are in place in the home. Incentives and rewards for positive behaviour have helped to reduce incidents of negative and challenging behaviour.

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

Staff use de-escalation and distraction techniques to good effect. This means that, usually, staff can help the child to calm down and it avoids the need for physical restraint. When restraint has been necessary, it has been done in a caring way and for the minimum amount of time. The manager analyses these incidents and acts to adapt practice when trends and patterns are identified.

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

Recruitment practice is thorough, and all staff are suitably vetted before working in the home. Changes to the recruitment process have enhanced the organisation’s ability to test each candidate’s knowledge, skills and aptitude prior to employment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is run effectively by a qualified and experienced registered manager. The manager is also responsible for a second home. This arrangement has worked because of her commitment to the children and the good support from some experienced and competent staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Achieving consistency of staffing has been a challenge recently. This is due to key staff leaving and staff sickness. The manager is aware of how changes to the team can impact on the current child, who struggles to form new relationships. The manager developed a plan that uses staff from the other home in the organisation. However, this plan has not been implemented in a way that introduces staff to the child or supports familiarity. Consequently, this has caused unsettlement for the child and has resulted in some very difficult and challenging shifts for some staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision at a frequency and level that appropriately reflects their knowledge and experience. They have their performance reviewed every four months to ensure that they are on track to meet their individual development targets. This competency-based approach highlights the organisation’s commitment to developing a competent and effective workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a good range of mandatory and needs-led training. A therapeutic model of care has been adopted in the home, and staff are at various points of being trained in this model. There is some evidence of research-informed Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 5 practice being used to meet the current child’s needs, although there is not enough evidence to judge how this is impacting on this child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and review systems are effective and ensure that care is being delivered in line with the child’s plans. An independent person visits the home each month and reports on their findings. Areas for improvement are addressed quickly. This includes acting on the recommendation from the previous inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Detailed records are maintained in the home. They provide good evidence of the child’s journey, experiences, and the positive progress that she has made while living at the home. Links with partner agencies are strong and support a cohesive approach to care planning. A professional wrote, ‘The school, therapist and care staff all work closely together. I am very happy with the progress [name] has made.’ Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should respond to children’s views about changes to staff and be aware of the potential impact this may have for the child’s stability and emotional well-being. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.12)

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Recommendations

Specifically, ensure that new staff are introduced to the home in a planned way that considers the child’s difficulties in forming positive attachments.

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

Specifically, consider how external risk management strategies can be safely reduced to empower the child to take more responsibility for their own safety. Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1280371 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1280371 9 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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Inspector

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