Children's home run by Timeout Children’s Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 1 Registered provider: Timeout Childrens 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 provides care for two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020 and is the manager of this home and another home in the same area.

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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: 1 February 2023

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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: 2612735 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full Outstanding 15/02/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 3

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in this home. They are cared for by dedicated and resilient staff who are invested in the children’s welfare. Despite some challenges, the staff work tirelessly to build positive and trusting relationships with children. Children respond well to the boundaries the staff put in place. This consistency of care has been recognised internally, and the staff team received an excellence award in October 2023.

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outstanding

The registered manager is a staunch advocate for children’s education and recognises how this can increase opportunities and life chances for children. She and the staff are committed to ensuring the children can access the curriculum and can reach their full educational potential. One child now attends school every day, where previously they had a very limited timetable. Another child has maintained a specialist placement, which staff transport them to, as this school is best placed to meet the child’s needs.

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outstanding

The most recent child to move to the home experienced a meticulously planned move over an extended period of time. This was done at a pace to suit both the child moving in and the child already living in the home, who was given ample time to adjust to a new peer moving in. The registered manager fully considered the potential effects on both children, and their needs were thoroughly considered.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff are committed to the children having wonderful new experiences while living in the home. Children have full access to the extensive grounds and woodland to play in and explore, and there are animals to care for, which teaches children responsibility for other living things. Children are also encouraged to have experiences outside of the home, such as one child having their first holiday abroad. Children also engage in many extra-curricular activities that they enjoy, which helps them thrive.

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outstanding

Staff use therapeutic and creative learning materials with children to help them understand difficult concepts. This is done in an interactive way so the children engage and remain interested in the subject matter. Topics are revisited to help embed the children’s learning. This helps the children to process difficult experiences they have had previously and to move on.

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outstanding

The children are supported to have meaningful relationships with people that are important to them. Friendships are encouraged, and family time is supported and facilitated by the staff when appropriate. One social worker said that the team has gone ‘over and above’ to support one child to maintain their cultural heritage and understand their family identity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 4

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outstanding

The registered manager puts safeguarding children at the centre of everything she and the staff do. She is keen to ensure all staff have an increased level of safeguarding knowledge, which is underpinned by specialist training. Staff know what steps to take to keep children safe and can identify all the risks associated with each child.

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outstanding

The children have individualised risk assessments that are regularly updated. Risks are well identified by staff, and specific risk assessments are completed for certain activities. Staff understand the risks for children and have regular development sessions to ensure their knowledge is up to date. The staff are skilled and can anticipate risks as they develop and happen, and they respond appropriately.

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outstanding

Children have sometimes gone missing from the home. The response is thorough and in line with the home’s missing-from-home procedures. Staff do everything they can to try and locate children and return them home safely. Children are offered return home interviews to try and understand why they have gone missing and reduce the risks of repeated incidents.

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outstanding

Staff only physically intervene with children as a last resort when they have exhausted all other de-escalation methods. All staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to keep children safe if holds need to be used.

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outstanding

There has been a significant reduction in incidents that include aggression towards staff. The registered manager and staff have worked hard to ensure that staff practice is consistent. There are firm boundaries in place that staff adhere to, and as a result, children learn to manage their emotions, which is reflected in their behaviour. Any incidents that happen now are shorter in duration with less aggression. Clinical input into how incidents are managed is described as 'invaluable' by the registered manager and has increased the skills and knowledge of the staff.

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outstanding

The children have incentives in place that help them make positive choices. Natural consequences are used rather than punitive measures, which the registered manager feels strongly about. Children are supported to learn from their behaviour, which promotes their long-term growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers at the home share a highly ambitious vision. They have high expectations of each other and high aspirations for each child they care for. The children receive care that is of the highest quality. The care is personalised to their needs and delivered by a highly motivated team of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is well liked and respected by the children, staff, professionals and family members. She is described as dedicated, knowledgeable, Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 5 child-focused and always available. She is a well-established, experienced manager who has recently had her high-quality leadership acknowledged with an internal award for ‘manager of the year’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is driven to develop herself and the skills and knowledge of her staff. She uses research and learning from case reviews to improve her knowledge and shares this with the staff, which in turn informs their practice. She has been able to progress and develop several staff members by enabling them to have the reflective space they need to learn and grow. This in turn benefits the children as they receive high standards of care from staff that are skilled and knowledgeable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager strongly believes in multi-agency working and the importance of good relationships. She feels that the whole team of people working with a child should support each other, which in turn results in positive outcomes for the child. One family member expressed gratitude towards the registered manager for how accessible she is and how she ensures a quick response to any questions or requests for information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff supervision is reflective in nature and is of the highest quality. Staff have commented on how effective supervision is and how, along with team meetings, they have a safe space to communicate and share ideas. The senior staff have responsibility for the supervision of the rest of the staff team, which helps their development and increases their skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager challenges local authorities and other professionals if she feels there are shortfalls in the care of children. She has escalated matters further when needed and does not hesitate to advocate on behalf of children in her care. She ensures that staff share this ethos and that all staff advocate on behalf of the children. She has also advocated for a change of care plan when she recognised a child was not progressing in the home. There has been significant learning within the team from this situation as it did mean the child left the home, which was felt to be in their best interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager consults with parents and professionals regularly as a mechanism for gathering feedback about the home. However, the registered manager does not consistently record these views. This is a missed opportunity for the registered manager to use rich information when considering the quality of care the home provides. Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date. Any consultation that takes place with children’s families or professionals concerned with the children’s care should be recorded accurately. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3).

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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: 2612735 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Timeout Childrens Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Ripponden Mill, Mill Fold, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge HX6 4DH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dominic Macauley

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Inspector

Gail McGann, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2612735 8 regulates and inspects 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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