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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 1 SC357468 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

The home provides care for one child who has experienced early childhood attachment disruptions, which may have a negative effect on their behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2021 Full Outstanding 29/05/2019 Full Outstanding 12/06/2018 Full Good 11/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 3

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outstanding

The child is exceptionally well cared for. The child is supported to build strong and positive relationships with staff. The child has a strong stable team of staff who work with them. Any changes to staffing are managed sensitively, with new staff introduced very gradually. This helps the child to feel safe and secure.

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outstanding

The child has made substantial progress from their starting point. Staff have very high aspirations for the child and support their engagement in education. Staff have regular meetings with teachers to ensure that the child’s specific needs are met and challenge the school if they do not feel the right support is in place. As a result, the child is making excellent progress with their learning. A head of education said: ‘[Name of child] has made phenomenal progress; they are a success story. The difference in their behaviour and academic progress is amazing.’

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outstanding

Staff communicate effectively with each other and are reliable in their approach to caring for the child. There is a strong emphasis on using a ‘secure base’ model of care. Staff implement this in a consistent way that provides good boundaries and clear routines. This provides the child with a strong sense of safety and stability.

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outstanding

Positive behaviour is encouraged and achieved. Individually tailored and realistic incentives, which are agreed with the child, are in place. The child is helped to understand that they have something positive to aim for daily. Long-term goals are displayed in the home. This is a visual display where children can express what their goals are. As a result, they feel ownership for their own positive behaviour and outcomes.

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outstanding

Staff place a strong emphasis on providing children with opportunities which expand their life experiences. Children have access to a wide variety of different educational and enjoyable activities in the home. In addition to home-based activities, children are encouraged to attend local activities, such as horse riding, swimming and gymnastics. The child has been on holiday and enjoys visiting farms and parks. The new opportunities that the child has been offered have helped them to develop their social skills. Developing these skills will help them communicate and improve their relationships with their peers and adults.

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outstanding

Staff offer genuine warmth and acceptance to the child in their care. Because of this, the child chooses to spend time with staff and enjoy that time having fun. The child has developed strong, trusting relationships with staff, which have helped to increase their feelings of confidence and self-worth. An independent reviewing officer said: ‘The home has given [name of child] an anchor. They are in tune with their needs.’ The child feels safe and valued. Staff provide the child with effective strategies to help them increase their ability to manage their feelings better, which will help to improve their resilience. Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 4 The home is comfortable and homely. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste. The kitchen is due to be replaced and refreshed. The manager has a plan for when this will take place. Communal areas have photos of the child and staff

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outstanding

spending time together and taking part in enjoyable and exciting activities. A significant amount of care and attention has been taken to make this a welcoming home with a family feel.

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outstanding

The child is kept safe. The staff understand the child in their care extremely well. There are detailed risk assessments which are regularly updated to reflect any changes for the child. The risk assessments capture all the known risks and identify strategies for staff to follow that are effective in reducing risks.

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outstanding

Staff take a supportive approach to helping the child manage their behaviour and emotions. The child has a clear and simple age-appropriate strategy that helps them bring their emotions to a level where they feel calm and safe. As a result, the need for physical restraint has significantly reduced for this complex and traumatised child.

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outstanding

Managers and staff have a detailed and well-researched understanding of child development and the effects of early life experiences. The model of care provides children with a sense of family membership and belonging.

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outstanding

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of the child, their complex history and their needs. They offer lots of nurture and support to ensure that their emotional needs are met. This has meant that there have been no episodes of going missing from care.

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outstanding

Staff work alongside therapists to understand what the child needs individually, and they put measures in place to support their positive behaviours. The child has regular access to therapeutic support, which builds their self-esteem and helps them manage their feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is very passionate about providing an environment which is like a supportive and caring family home. The manager is very child-focused. She knows the children and the staff team extremely well. She is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and uses highly effective monitoring systems to identify when change or improvement is needed. The child thrives in this environment and is extremely well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to regular, reflective supervision with the manager or senior staff members. They also have access to biannual appraisals to support them to identify any learning needs or development opportunities. The organisation supports staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 5 development with a structured career pathway. Having this in place motivates staff, keeps them engaged and helps them to remain enthusiastic about their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places a strong emphasis on ‘psychological safety’. This is a model which encourages and supports staff to communicate effectively with each other and feel safe to raise any issues they may have. The home has a stable, consistent team of staff who communicate very effectively. Staff trust the manager and feel secure in their role and in the excellent quality of care they are offering the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff express their genuine love for the job and get a great deal of satisfaction in their caring role. They feel that the manager is an organised and supportive leader. A member of staff commented: ‘She [the manager] strives for the best from the staff and for the child.’ As well as regular supervision, staff have access to regular therapeutic consultations which assist them to offer thoughtful, intelligent and informed care to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have excellent working relationships with partner agencies. A social worker said: ‘They are proactive and well organised. I receive regular updates and I know parents are updated through regular reports.’ Agencies who work with the child are kept well informed about their well-being, which contributes to joined- up working and ensuring that all aspects of the child’s needs are met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are homely and in good working order, such as the kitchen and kitchen equipment, which require updating. (‘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 for children’s home: SC357468 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dominic Macauley

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC357468 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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