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

Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 1 SC358349 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 privately owned and managed children’s home provides care for one child aged between six and 18 years old. The home aims to support the child to work through the trauma and difficulties they face in order to progress either to a dual-occupancy children’s home, or return to family or foster carers.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager oversees two homes. At the time of the inspection, Ofsted was informed that he had stepped down from post as of 27 August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2019 Full Good 03/09/2018 Full Good 29/08/2017 Full Outstanding 13/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged by staff to have high aspirations. Staff work with each child to understand the child’s goals and wishes and put plans in place to help them achieve these. This helps children to make significant progress, and has supported two children to move on in line with their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with information and guidance to help them to succeed. This is delivered in a way that meets the children’s needs, including activities, project work and direct discussions. As a result of this guidance, children have a better understanding of their own needs and risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are creative and resourceful in planning activities for children. They understand the risks and barriers that children face, and work with the children to remove and reduce these. This has enabled children to take part in experiences that were previously not possible, including trips to London and swimming lessons.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are understood. Staff are proactive and ensure that children receive medical attention when needed. This helps to reduce the risk of significant illness or injury.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at the home are supported to see family and friends. The home links with another home and the children regularly take part in activities together. This promotes positive relationships and prevents the children from becoming isolated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home lacks some personalisation due to the children’s current needs and risks. However, this is regularly reviewed, and new items introduced. Children have their bedrooms decorated in line with their wishes. This gives the children a sense of belonging and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is supported by a therapeutic team. The members of this team work together to support the children and staff. This has helped to give the staff strategies to use, and has reduced the children’s anxiety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Recently a child moved out of the home and another child moved into the home. These changes and the transition plans were fully discussed and evaluated prior to being made. This has enabled children to move into or out of the home in a positive way, and has ensured that support is in place for them.

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

Children’s risks are well known by the staff team. The staff work hard to ensure that they provide a safe environment for children and reduce risk as much as possible while supporting children to engage in positive activities. Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 4 Incidents of self-harm, going missing from home and aggression have reduced for children who have lived at the home during this inspection period. Staff provide children with alternative coping mechanisms and support them to engage with therapy to understand the causes of their anxiety and frustrations. As a result, children cope better with their emotions and seek support when needed.

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

Staff know the children well and can identify potential triggers for the children. Staff put plans in place to reduce and address these triggers, including working with the children to educate them. On the occasions when children have displayed anxious behaviour, the staff have taken immediate action. This has helped to ensure that children feel supported and protected by the adults who care for them.

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

A significant safeguarding incident was immediately identified by the provider and addressed. The quick action ensured that the child received the medical support required and that action was taken to prevent it from happening again.

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

The manager has not consistently ensured that staff are aware of what is recorded in a deprivation of liberty order and what they are permitted to do. This has now been addressed by the provider. That said, such practice could lead to inconsistent care.

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

Risk assessments are not up to date or in line with deprivation of liberty orders. Some records have not been completed to evidence the additional checks taking place. However, the staff know the children well and are consistent in their approach. As a result, this shortfall has not had a direct impact on the safety or well- being of the child.

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good

The registered manager has not had full oversight of the home. The provider has implemented plans to support the manager and has intervened when needed to prevent this from having an impact on the children.

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good

Staff do not always receive the support they need to meet the needs of the child. The manager did not put a support plan in place for staff who came from another home to help with the day-to-day running of the home. In addition, the manager has not been present at the home. This has prevented staff from having the support they need and has had the potential to affect their practice. The provider identified this and put plans in place prior to the inspection.

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good

Supervisions have been delayed at times or not recorded. Staff do not always have the support they need to learn from their experiences and discuss their development. Staff do not have a record to refer to which may provide them with guidance and some of the advice given to them has been incorrect. This has been identified and addressed as part of the provider’s checks. Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 5 Team meetings take place and offer an opportunity for staff to share their views. Discussion and consultation take place to ensure that staff are clear about the plans, and to allow them to voice any concerns so that these can be addressed. Staff are confident about escalating concerns to senior management, which has enabled them to receive support.

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good

Numerous documents are out of date or contain conflicting information. The provider is in the process of reviewing and amending these. A clear action plan is in place to prevent this from having an impact on the children.

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good

The manager’s audits have not been effective in identifying shortfalls in practice and recording. The registered manager’s absence from the home has prevented further shortfalls from being identified. Regulation 44 visits have also not identified these areas for development. This has hindered the manager and provider in identifying and implementing change. Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 6

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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(s) 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

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)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that: risk assessments are up to date and amended following significant incidents; risk assessments and care plans clearly highlight information in relation to deprivation of liberty orders and the current strategies used; staff are fully aware of what they are permitted to do in line with deprivation of liberty orders. 1 November 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 November 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must have full oversight of the home, including reviewing and updating any documents needed to promote consistency. The registered manager must ensure that plans implemented to support the staff are followed. Regular reviews of care must take place and actions must be completed by the manager.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) (5)) 1 November 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 8 In particular, the regulation 44 reports must evaluate the findings and identify any shortfalls, giving clear recommendations to address these.

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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: SC358349 9

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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: Time-Out Children’s 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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Inspector

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC358349 10 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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Inspector

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