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

Assurance visit report: SC069293 1 SC069293

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately-run children’s home for two children and/or young people with severe emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers an integrated approach of therapeutic carers, education and clinical therapists. The aim is to support children and young people to have the skills to successfully integrate into society.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently has one active manager who was registered in August 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 18 December 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC069293 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children have positive relationships with staff and speak openly about any concerns or issues they have. This enables them to receive the support they need and for further work to be identified and delivered.

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The care of children

Children spend time with family and friends, and the risks associated with this are well balanced. However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it has been difficult for some children to have face-to-face time with their family. Staff have adapted to this and have encouraged children to maintain contact using technology, and where possible a separate indoor space in the home is used for family time. This enables children to have quality time with their family.

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The care of children

Education is promoted and children have made progress from their starting points. The staff work closely with teachers and the children to promote engagement and to manage risks. As a result, children have continued to engage in education and enjoy learning.

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The care of children

Staff work with children to help them understand their emotions and how to manage these in appropriate ways. When needed, additional therapy and clinical input are in place for the staff team and children. This means that children are learning to manage their emotions and process the trauma they have experienced.

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The care of children

The staff team is committed to the children, despite the challenges that have presented themselves. Staff provide a warm, nurturing environment for children to live in. This provides the children with the stability they need to progress.

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The safety of children

Both children who live at the home have made progress from their starting points and are learning to manage situations better. Staff work with the children to understand the reasons for their behaviours and develop new strategies. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in challenging behaviours.

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The safety of children

Missing from home incidents are minimal and children are supported to take part in return interviews. This gives children an opportunity to discuss why they went missing and identify ways to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.

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The safety of children

Risk management plans are in place for the children and offer guidance for staff to follow. However, not all information is included in these plans. For example, information about court-directed restrictions is not clearly recorded. Furthermore, staff have not received formal training to help them understand the process for Assurance visit report: SC069293 3 applying additional restrictions to a child’s liberty. Consequently, staff do not have the full knowledge to support children.

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The safety of children

Restraints have been used and these measures have been appropriate. However, records relating to restraints lack clarity. For example, not all records highlight the reason for the restraint or how long staff held the child. This hinders the manager’s ability to fully evaluate the measure used.

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Leaders and managers

A new manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2020. He is child centred in his approach and knows the children well. This enables him to implement plans and help children progress.

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Leaders and managers

There are shortfalls in the manager’s monitoring systems. For example, his recording does not show an evaluation of significant events, restraints or sanctions and does not document clearly that he has addressed any concerns. This prevents him from being able to make changes in a timely manner to improve practice.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision and feel supported by the manager. However, the records lack clarity and do not capture the discussions that have taken place. This means that staff do not have a written record of areas that have been addressed or strategies they could use.

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Leaders and managers

Regulation 44 reports provide a good oversight of the home. However, on occasions the manager has not responded to recommendations made in the report in a timely manner. This hinders the manager’s ability to make continuous improvements to the operation of the home.

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Leaders and managers

The manager recognises that there have been significant incidents and that he has not notified Ofsted. This does not allow Ofsted and other stakeholders to have full oversight of the home.

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Leaders and managers

The new manager is focused on developing his own role and that of the staff team to improve the quality of care children receive. He has clear plans in place and support from senior management to help develop his practice. Assurance visit report: SC069293 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)) In particular, to ensure that any restrictions of liberty or risk management plans are in line with agreements with the local authority and all staff are fully aware of their responsibilities. To ensure that staff have the relevant skills to understand and apply DOL orders.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 1 February 2021 Assurance visit report: SC069293 5 In particular, the manager to prioritise and evaluate documents and address any shortfalls. To ensure that this is recorded fully. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to

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Requirement Due date

a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e)) 1 February 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. In particular, all incidents to be fully evaluated and any issues addressed. Discussions with staff should take place and be recorded in detail. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59) Assurance visit report: SC069293 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Timeout Childrens Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Timeout Childrens Homes Ltd, Unit 2, Mill Fold, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge HX6 4DH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dominic Macauley

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Lauren Birkett, Oliver Kirk

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Inspector

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC069293 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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