Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 1 SC450728 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 and run home for up to two children between the ages of six and 17 years. The home specialises in caring for children who have experienced attachment disruptions and childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2017 and is also the registered manager of another home.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2022 Full Good 22/09/2021 Full Good 25/06/2019 Full Good 05/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s statement of purpose reflects the ethos of the home and the individualised care children receive. Children are supported to make their views known, and they contribute to the interior decoration of the home and the personalisation of their rooms. This helps them feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from staff who are trained in therapeutic methods and adopt a strengths-based model of care. Children’s needs and behaviour are clearly understood, and they have developed positive attachments with staff. This has given the children stability and consistency of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to undertake activities of their choosing, and they spend time away from the home on day trips and holidays with staff. Staff use these opportunities to help children identify new hobbies and interests, such as fencing and hair and beauty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusted relationships with parents and carers. Staff promote and encourage the importance of maintaining and developing family time and will supervise and support days out with individuals who are important to the children. Peer relationships are encouraged, and assessments are completed to enable friends to visit the home and have overnight stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to complain and have the confidence to raise any issues as and when they arise. All complaints are taken seriously and responded to appropriately. Children said that they feel listened to and have a voice in their day-to-day care. This gives children a sense of self-worth and promotes consultation and shared decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Much emphasis is placed on children’s learning and development. The in-house education supports individualised programmes that are adapted to support children’s learning needs. Concerted attempts are made to re-engage children in education through bite-sized learning and staff will support children in the classroom. This has seen improvement for some children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships with other professionals is a key strength and facilitates multi-agency decision-making and planning. Feedback from professionals and parents is very positive; they report being regularly updated and that communication is fluid. Close working relationships with partner agencies promote better outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Achievements and progress are celebrated, and staff work hard to improve the children’s sense of self and confidence in what they can achieve. Children are supported to develop their independence, tailored to their individual needs. This helps prepare children for the future, balanced against their presenting risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 4

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

The staff are mindful of, and attuned to, children’s needs and risks and this is clearly reflected in children’s risk assessments. Physical interventions to manage children’s unwanted behaviours have reduced as staff de-escalate and diffuse situations. Staff use a restorative approach to managing behaviour and the access to therapeutic support via the in-house clinical lead is a real asset.

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

The registered manager and staff have a wealth of knowledge about risks that children are exposed to through sexual and criminal exploitation, drugs and alcohol, and social media. The close working relationships with the police, social workers and parents help to minimise risk when children go missing. This means that multi- agency decision-making helps to inform placement suitability based on risk.

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

Risks for children do fluctuate. The registered manager and staff are mindful of how childhood trauma can impact on behaviour and how this can be triggered by external factors. Effective planning and practice result in improvements in the safety of the children.

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

Thorough checks are undertaken on friends, associates and boyfriends, either by the police, if these individuals are a potential risk, or by the home. Free time and the need to develop independence are balanced against presenting risks. At times, children respond well to welfare checks and staff do make every effort to protect children and keep them safe.

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

Children receive a lot of input from staff to help them develop their own sense of safety and to regulate their emotions more effectively. A great deal of work is done through key-work sessions on issues such as online safety, healthy relationships and exploitation. Specialist services also undertake individualised programmes of intervention. This helps some children make more informed choices.

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

Case records and care planning reflect the work undertaken with the children, and their voice and opinions are clearly recorded and acted on. Discussions with children in key-work sessions and focused work are aligned to the children’s presenting risks and vulnerabilities. This helps children manage their emotions in a more positive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is very dedicated and has excellent oversight of what is happening in this home. The registered manager successfully manages two homes and has good systems in place to provide effective leadership to ensure that children receive high-quality and safe care. The registered manager knows the children well and they are at the heart of the registered manager’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides detailed quality-of-care reports that evaluate and reflect on all aspects of the home and the care provided to the children. The development of the home and the staff is given priority and staff have Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 5 responsibilities that enhance their roles, skills and experience. This significantly improves the outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has created an excellent team culture, with all staff feeling accountable for their practice and able to input their own ideas. The registered manager has used research, clinical guidance and specialist services to help the children feel stable and secure. The registered manager understands the importance of seeing beyond the child’s behaviours to embed consistent practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager views children in their care as deserving nothing but the best, and challenges professionals appropriately to achieve this for them. The registered manager’s ability to maintain strong professional partnerships goes a long way in ensuring the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff spoke very positively about the registered manager, who they say is present, hands-on and involved with the children. The registered manager is fully abreast of everything that is happening in the home and with the staff, and the children feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Relationships with other professionals are excellent and the registered manager ensures that there is a true team-around-the-child approach. The registered manager has clear and strong expectations around behaviour, which are applied consistently by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings and supervisions are regular, with good attendance from staff. Training sessions are offered during team meetings, and these are in line with the needs of the children. The registered manager uses up-to-date research to inform how staff intervene to support children. The clinical team supports the staff to understand how children’s adverse childhood experiences can affect the behaviour the children display.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is good and new staff experience a well-coordinated induction and probationary period. Continuous professional development is encouraged. The home’s development plan reflects the skills and experience of the staff, and their strengths and areas for development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 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: SC450728 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dominic Macauley

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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