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

Inspection report children's home: SC356864 1 SC356864 Registered provider: Time-Out Childrens Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home which provides care for up to two children. The provider’s statement of purpose states that children may have severe emotional and behavioural difficulties (emotional and social difficulties).

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 4 Feb 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 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 outstanding

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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: 18 December 2019

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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: SC356864 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2019 Full Good 15/01/2019 Full Good 23/05/2017 Full Good 18/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC356864 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children progress well from their starting points. They are offered a range of activities and experiences and have fun with staff. Staff know the children well and are committed to supporting their progression. A child told the inspector, ‘It’s amazing here.’ Children are supported to build secure relationships with the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to children’s views, wishes and feelings. Weekly meetings take place to discuss meals that the children like and activities they would like to take part in. Staff carefully gather children’s views by using creative ways of communicating, such as ‘social stories’. This helps children to feel empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school and have good attendance. They are making progress at school. The communication between school and home is effective. A child’s teacher told the inspector, ‘We speak twice a day and meet with the home manager once a week. She really fights [name of child]’s corner.’ This frequent contact ensures that the children receive consistent messages both at school and home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicate well with each other and are consistent in their approach to caring for the children. There is a strong emphasis on using the secure base model of care to support the staff in offering consistent and reliable responses to children. This means that staff provide stable routines and clear boundaries. Positive behaviour is encouraged. Individually tailored and realistic rewards are in place. As a result, children have something to aim for each day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, careful and sensitive planning helps them prepare for moving in. Visual plans are shared with the children, and they are made to feel very welcome. Staff compile ‘journey books’ with the children during their time at the home. This is a record of all of the exciting activities they have participated in. When children move out of the home, they take these books with them, which helps them remember and understand their time in care as part of their life journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home appears worn, and the decor needs to be updated. The manager has a development plan for the home and garden. Work is required to ensure that the home environment improves.

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

The staff know the children in their care very well. C hildren have detailed risk assessments that are regularly updated to reflect any changes for the child. The risk assessments are realistic and effective and discussed with each child. As a result, Inspection report children's home: SC356864 4 the number of physical interventions with children has reduced significantly over time. Children feel very safe, well supported and happy in this home.

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

Staff challenge any discriminatory behaviour, and children are supported to understand how to treat others with respect. Children are protected and helped to keep themselves safe from homophobic behaviour, racism, sexism and any other forms of discrimination.

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

Managers have a good, research-based understanding of child development and the effects of early life experiences. The secure base model encourages children to have a sense of family membership or belonging. Other therapeutic models are employed when it is felt necessary to support children with individual issues.

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

There have been several physical restraints in the home. These have been necessary and appropriate. Staff and children debrief with the manager or senior staff member following these incidents, and each incident is recorded and monitored. The number of physical interventions has reduced over time as therapeutic measures have been used to build trusting relationships with children to de-escalate situations quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is positive and has high aspirations for the children. Children thrive and are well supported. The manager knows the children and the staff team extremely well. She is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and uses effective monitoring systems to identify when change or improvement is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to regular reflective supervision with the manager or senior staff member. They also have access to bi-annual appraisals to support them to identify any learning needs or development opportunities. The organisation supports staff development with a structured career pathway. Staff speak very positively about their manager. Staff said that the manager is a calm and present leader who is supportive and child focused. Staff have access to regular therapeutic consultations, which assist them to offer thoughtful, intelligent, informed care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children’s home has a stable staff team. Staff trust the manager. They feel secure in their role and in the quality of care they are offering the children. Children know the staff who are caring for them extremely well and are aware of who is going to be there for them all the time. The stable staffing arrangements and consistent rota system provide a predictable environment and help children feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have excellent working relationships with partner agencies, schools and family members. This ensures the very best possible experiences and futures for the children in their care. The inspector spoke with a parent who commented, ‘They speak to me regularly and support my contact with [name of child].’ Promoting positive family time will help children to maintain a sense of self and to maintain family bonds. Inspection report children's home: SC356864 5 The children respond very positively to the calm family environment, which is staffed by qualified, skilled, and very positive carers. Children have access to a safe, stable home life and activities, ideas, and opportunities that increase their aspirations, resilience and confidence. Inspection report children's home: SC356864 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the homes decor is updated to make it feel more comfortable and like a family home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC356864 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Time-Out Childrens Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 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

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC356864 8 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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