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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 1 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 is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 24 April 2023.

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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: 21 February 2023

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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: 1244881 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good 06/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home. One child was in the process of returning to live with their family during the week that the inspection took place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment where the children live is homely and decorated to reflect that it is their home. There are photos of the children throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to show their interests. One of the bedrooms has a mural on the wall that is based on the child’s interest, which the provider commissioned an artist to draw.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about the home and the relationships that they have formed with the staff who care for them. Staff are complimentary of the children and their achievements, and let the children know that they are proud of them. For example, one child was praised for their ability to cook a particular dish, which all the team enjoyed eating. Another child was complimented on their dress sense. These positive discussions help children to feel valued and appreciated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders, managers and staff support children to leave the home in a positive way. They adopt a multi-agency approach, which is child-focused and takes into account the children’s views about when the move from the home should take place. In addition, leaders, managers and staff arrange for children to receive support from staff after they have left. This well-planned and sensitive approach contributes to the success of a child moving on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for children to succeed in education. They support children to understand the advantages of going to school and encourage them to attend. Consequently, children’s school attendance has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the significance of children remaining close to their network of family and friends, and consider the impact that this has on their identity. They identify any risks associated with these connections and work with professionals to facilitate these meetings in a safe way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to express their individuality. Staff listen to children about the way they want to live their lives, and support them to do this safely. In addition, children are supported to access their chosen activities. Staff take children to and from their activities and take an interest in what the children are doing. This helps children to build their confidence and self-esteem. However, the local offer is not considered, which means that resources for children with additional needs are not identified. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 4

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

Safeguarding procedures are good. Staff receive relevant safeguarding training and understand their role and responsibilities to keep children safe. Because of this, the response to children at risk of harm is effective.

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

There have been four incidents where children have gone missing from the home during the inspection period. Leaders, managers and staff demonstrate their commitment to children when incidents occur. They actively search for children and ensure that return-home interviews take place in line with statutory guidance.

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

The importance of maintaining the home is well understood by leaders, managers and staff. Checks of the home are routinely completed to ensure that any hazards are identified and quickly addressed. This ensures that the physical environment is safe for children.

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

Children’s plans identify their current and emerging risks. Staff respond well when concerns about children’s behaviour arise. Staff complete key work with children, which helps children to understand why the behaviour is harmful and measures that can be taken to protect them. This knowledge helps children to make informed decisions about their well-being.

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

Searches of children’s bedrooms are completed in accordance with legislative guidance. Staff talk to children about the reason for the search and obtain their consent. However, the manager does not review the records of the room searches.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager, who is dual registered. He is supported by a deputy manager, who has a good understanding of the children and their needs. During the inspection, the manager notified Ofsted of his intention to cease management of this home. The deputy manager plans to take over the role of registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported to access training that broadens their knowledge and skills around caring for children. Most staff are up to date with their mandatory training, with others scheduled to attend refresher courses. In addition, leaders and managers provide needs-led training in response to children’s emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and have confidence in the manager. They routinely receive formal practice-led supervision. Furthermore, there are opportunities for collective reflection and learning from practice through frequent team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager does not have good oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. There are monthly monitoring systems in place that are completed by the staff team. However, the manager does not demonstrate that he reviews the monitoring. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 5 Some local authority plans for children are out of date. For one child, a plan had not been produced. Leaders and managers are not proactive in challenging and escalating these issues with the placing authority. Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 6

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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, The 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when children’s local authority documents are not received in the required timescales, leaders, managers and staff should ensure that they promptly escalate this delay to placing authority senior managers. In addition, they must keep this under review until the documentation is received. 17 April 2024

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when a room search is carried out, leaders and managers should review the decision to complete the search and the way that the search was conducted. 17 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 17 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(h))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that managers and staff are aware of the local offer setting out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 26, paragraph 5.4)

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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: 1244881 8

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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

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1244881 9 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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