Children's home run by Truly Timeless Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 1 Registered provider: Truly Timeless Care Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for two children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home currently does not have a registered manager. A new manager has been in post since August 2023 and has made an application to become the registered manager.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved in to the home. Managers assess children’s needs before they move in to the home. This means that only children whose needs can be met live in the home. Children moving to the home are welcomed sensitively by the staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Children and staff involved in physical interventions are spoken to after each incident. This means that practice in this area remains safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Risks for some children in the home are reducing due to the care that they receive from the staff. Children’s missing-from-home incidents are also reducing.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to attend education. Since the last inspection, one child, who was not attending school, is now attending school and has completed some work experience. The child’s independent reviewing officer identified that staff share updates with them about the child and they are pleased with the care that the staff provide.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers work closely with external professionals to inform care planning decisions. Managers advocate for children effectively. This ensures that children’s views are considered in decisions that are made about their care.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to maintain relationships with family and connected persons. This enables children to maintain important relationships and promotes their sense of identity.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Management and leadership arrangements in the home are poor. One child and several staff have made allegations. Managers have not always investigated or responded to allegations about staff. This does not ensure that staff practice is safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers do not keep clear records of children’s complaints. Managers do not always recognise children’s complaints or respond to children’s complaints in a timely way. This does not support children to feel listened to, or enable children to understand how their views have been acted on.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers’ monitoring and auditing tools did not identify delays by the staff in clarifying with health professionals whether a child needed specific medication. While there was no impact on the child from not taking the medication, this does not ensure that children’s health needs are met. Errors in medication administration records have also not been identified by managers. As a result, it is not clear if one child has been given medication as prescribed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 3 Managers are actively recruiting permanent staff to work in the home to cover staff vacancies. Managers arrange for agency staff to work in the home to ensure that there are enough staff to meet the needs of the children. However, there are shortfalls in the management oversight of new staff working in the home. Managers do not make arrangements for children to meet new staff before they start working

p.2

Findings from the inspection

in the home. Children say that they do not always know who the staff working in their home are.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Some staff feel overwhelmed and unsupported by managers. Some agency members of staff working in the home do not have the experience, skills, or knowledge to meet the needs of the children. This has meant that staff do not always know how to keep children safe. As a result, some incidents have escalated unnecessarily.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders took immediate steps during this inspection to address the shortfalls identified in the management of the home. Senior leaders provided further assurances about steps that would be taken to ensure that children’s needs are met.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Three requirements made at the last inspection have not been met and have been repeated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been repeated. 29 March 2024

p.5

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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the homes workforce provides continuity of care to each child; and 29 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been repeated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medications received into the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and no other child. (Regulation 23 (2)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and has been repeated. 29 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Truly Timeless Care Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Truly Timeless Care Ltd, Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Billinge, Wigan WN5 7XX

p.7

Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8