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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 1 SC356864 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 home is registered to provide care for up to two children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children who may have severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 17 December 2020.

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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

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2022 Full Good 18/12/2019 Full Good 15/01/2019 Full Good 23/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 3

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outstanding

The child living in the home is making exceptional progress in all areas of their life. They are happy living in the home and told the inspector, ‘I love being here.’ The child is supported to develop positive, nurturing relationships with staff who care.

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outstanding

The team works closely with other professionals to ensure the child is reaching their potential. They support the child to attend school, and with their learning. As a result, the child is enjoying education and their attendance and attainment have significantly improved.

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outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for the child. There is a consistent approach to using research-informed practice between the organisation’s home, school and clinical teams. This approach helps the child to make informed decisions and to better understand their emotions. Professionals are highly complimentary about the child’s progress and the level of care provided by the team.

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outstanding

Staff have developed exceptionally positive relationships with the child’s family. They support the local authority plans for the child and maintain family relationships well.

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outstanding

Staff proactively learn about things the child is interested in. This enables them to support the child to pursue a range of interests in the home and in the community. The child has opportunities to attend leisure activities and clubs to further develop their social networks and peer relationships. The team creatively captures these times, meaning the child has memories to look back on and cherish.

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outstanding

The child has been involved in the creation of a daily, game-based rewards system, where extra treats and activities can be awarded for positive behaviours. The child is invested in this creative incentive and takes pride in their achievements. This promotes the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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outstanding

The home is comfortable and well furnished. Adaptions made to reduce potential hazards in the home do not detract from the homely feel. The child’s bedroom is personalised and decorated with age-appropriate characters chosen by the child. Through extremely well-planned direct work, the child has been able to display family photos around the home. This enables the child to develop a sense of belonging in the home.

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outstanding

The child’s safety and well-being are at the centre of staff’s practice. The team has an excellent understanding of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Plans are detailed and include highly effective strategies for staff to follow to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 4 Staff know how to respond to the child. Practice in the home is underpinned by the secure base model. Behaviour management strategies are child-centred and focus on staff using supportive words and modelling positive behaviours and emotions. This helps the child to regulate their own emotions and make safer choices. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in incidents of staff needing to hold the child to keep them safe.

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outstanding

The innovative use of social stories and play therapy enables the child to feel safe in their environment and better understand their own emotions and experiences. The collaborative approach between the staff, the organisation’s therapy and education team and the child’s placing authority has meant risks for the child are continuing to reduce and further specialist assessments are no longer required.

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outstanding

Safeguarding incidents are well managed. The manager recently ensured that the child was sensitively supported to have difficult conversations with another professional. This enabled the child to feel safe and comfortable in discussing the issues with other people who could provide further advice.

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outstanding

The manager has clear oversight of incidents and there is evidence that the child is appropriately challenged and educated to respect others. Following any incidents, learning is implemented in practice in the home to ensure a consistent staff response.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is exceptionally committed, passionate and child-focused. She manages another home close by and divides her time between the homes well. The manager has made efforts to create a caring home for the child. She has high aspirations and strives to ensure that the team provides an exceptional standard of care to improve the child’s outcomes and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly motivated and enthusiastic. They are passionate about their roles and in ensuring that the child’s needs are being met. Staff feel valued and supported. They benefit from clear leadership and guidance from the manager. One member of staff said, ‘She continues to be a great leader and gives clear direction, which has been critical to our success as a team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Learning and development opportunities for staff are a key strength. Staff are encouraged to access training and to progress within the organisation. One member of staff has recently moved into a management position within the provider group.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular reflective supervision centred around the secure base model. They also benefit from consultations with the therapy team to further enhance their understanding of the child’s behaviours and needs. This model is reflected in the child’s records and linked well to the therapeutic approach in the home. Therapists attend team meetings, providing opportunities for further reflection and development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 5 Communication with partner agencies is highly effective. The team provides regular updates about the child’s progress to their family and placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent oversight of the home. She uses internal and external monitoring systems effectively to continually develop practice and is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. However, feedback from stakeholders is limited. This is something the manager is taking action to address. Inspection report for children’s home: SC356864 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that feedback is collated from a range of stakeholders to further enhance independent scrutiny of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 20, paragraph 4.1)

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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: SC356864 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

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for 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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