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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 1 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 home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place.

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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: 16 December 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/12/2021 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and homely; a significant effort has been made to give it a family feel. Children’s rooms are personalised and there are photos of children around the house. This helps children feel comfortable and relaxed when they are at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun and they enjoy a range of activities. This includes activities in the community, such as going to the local youth club, after-school clubs and football. This means that children have a sense of being part of, and belonging to, their school and local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school. They are learning and making good progress from their starting points. Staff are ambitious for children and support them to attend and do well in their education. There is effective liaison with school staff. A member of school staff said, ‘Staff are proactive in informing the school of any changes. They have attended all meetings and share relevant information.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have regular meetings with staff, both together and as individuals. They are supported to actively participate in day-to-day decisions about their lives, such as what they would like to eat and what activities they would like to do. Children are consulted about more complex decisions in their lives and helped to understand when change happens. This means that children have a sense of taking ownership and control of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been some significant changes in the staffing arrangements in the home over the last year, which have been unsettling for the children. The new acting manager and staff have invested a lot of time in getting to know the children and supporting them with the changes. This has helped children build a sense of permanence and belonging.

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

Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any of their worries. A child said, ‘Staff are really nice. They are kind and they listen.’ Having safe adults around will help children stay safe and feel safe.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted. Children earn rewards for all their positive behaviours. Staff learn de-escalation techniques that help prevent incidences of challenging behaviour. Staff help children learn strategies to manage their big feelings.

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

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff know all the children’s risks, which helps keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 4 Allegations have not always been thoroughly recorded, or promptly acted on, by staff. Management oversight of the conclusions and decision-making around allegations is not always clearly recorded. This has been recognised by leaders and staff training has taken place. This learning is not yet embedded into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted. The manager knows the children well and ensures that the plans for individual children identify their needs. The plans consider the local authorities’ plans for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New members of staff said that their induction has been helpful and effective. Induction activities focus on ensuring that staff can keep children safe and meet their specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work positively with other agencies, professionals and parents and have built effective working relationships. This contact helps to secure positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the staff have regular, supportive supervision. However, some part-time staff members have not received individual supervision or a performance-related appraisal for some time. This means they may have missed out on development opportunities and have not regularly had the opportunity to reflect on their work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are some gaps in the manager’s monitoring of the home, including out-of-date paperwork and children’s records evidencing the manager’s review. There was some rubbish in the garden, which was removed before the inspection ended. Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 5

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(a) (2)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any allegations are thoroughly and promptly recorded and acted on, and that management oversight of decision-making and conclusions is clearly recorded. 19 February 2023

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Recommendations

 The responsible person should ensure that all staff, including staff who are on temporary or zero hours contracts, receive regular reflective supervision of their practice and have the opportunity to have their practice and job role appraised in line with the company’s policies. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The responsible person should ensure that they thoroughly monitor all aspects of the children’s care, including the premises and children’s records, to ensure that children are kept safe and that the correct procedures are followed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 6

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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: 1280370 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, Ripponden Mill, Mill Fold, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire HX6 4DH

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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Kathryn Grindrod, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1280370 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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