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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 1 SC069293 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 experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022, and holds the registration of this home and another home, which is in the same area.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child 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 requires improvement to be 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: SC069293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 18/12/2019 Full Good 18/12/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children come to live at this home it is managed with sensitivity and planning. Children can visit, choose their bedroom, and personalise it to their taste. When children move on from the home, they are well prepared; transition plans are in place and practical support is offered. When there is less time to do this, the manager ensures that time is used effectively to facilitate the move to be as smooth as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The wishes and feelings of the current child are sought regularly and in a variety of ways. If the child does not wish to attend their reviews, staff will ensure that they are represented so that their voice can be heard. Staff are willing and prepared to advocate for the child should they feel that this is appropriate and necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has previously been out of education for a significant period. They are now accessing education through a tutor every day, which was initially done in the home but has moved to a school setting. There is a plan in place for the child to integrate back into the classroom, which is being regularly reviewed by relevant professionals. This is considerable progress for the child and, although in the early stages, this is progressing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment. There are spaces where the child can relax, and their room is decorated according to their wishes. Adaptations have been made to the interior of the home at the request of the child and to keep the child safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between the manager, staff and the wider professional group is good. There was positive feedback from the child’s social worker, who has worked with the home for several years. Their view was that the staff are good communicators, they ensure that the child’s needs are met to a good standard, and they are committed to this being a long-term home for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staffing situation in the home is changing to meet the needs of the child. However, this means that staff from other homes come to support their colleagues. This has led to inconsistency in the parenting approaches used with the child, which does not align with the therapeutic model of the home.

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improvement to be good

There are risk assessments in place that identify known risks and how to reduce them. However, the main risk assessment document contained inaccurate and conflicting information. The staff change and adapt their response to the needs of the child, but this is not reflected in the staff guidance. Any new staff coming into Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 4 the home would not have accurate information provided to them before they commenced caring for the child.

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improvement to be good

The home’s safeguarding policy has not been followed when allegations about the conduct of staff have been made. Information has not been shared with all appropriate professionals, including the local authority’s designated officer. Staff practice has now changed, and the registered manager ensures that this now happens straight away. The designated officer has reviewed all allegations and supports the action taken by the home.

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls were identified in the home’s fire safety measures. A means of escape was blocked both inside and outside by furniture. The internal doors did not appear to be compliant with fire safety regulations and concerns were raised about the fire risk assessment. This was addressed by senior management during the inspection; remedial work was completed, and a plan was implemented to ensure that the child and staff were safe in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children do not go missing from this home. Staff know what to do should this happen, and all the relevant documents are ready to be used if needed. This shows that the staff are prepared, and there would be no delay in sharing the relevant information if the child was missing.

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improvement to be good

Incidents in the home are managed well. Staff use de-escalation techniques to calm any difficult situations. This means that the child has not needed to be physically held, neither have the police been called to manage behaviour. Staff offer emotional warmth and hugs as a way of soothing the child, which is often successful.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are used to manage some behaviours. Staff discuss the measure with the child to help the child’s understanding. When consequences are used, they are fair, proportionate, and relative to what happened. They are also restorative in nature, so the child can learn from what has happened.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager, her supportive nature, and the way that she has helped them to develop in their roles. She models good and positive practice and behaviour for the staff in the home. She takes a consistent approach to the way that she speaks to the child and the way that she will challenge poor behaviour, and praises the child when this is warranted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good relationship with the child and a good understanding of the child’s needs. The child seeks out the registered manager for attention and conversation when they are in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for all children in her care. She speaks warmly about them and wants this home to be a safe and happy environment for them to thrive in. Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 5 Staff have regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals with the manager. Feedback from staff in relation to the support that they are provided by the leaders and managers is very positive. The manager is seen as the ‘glue’ that holds the home together. Staff value their relationship with her, and her visibility in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not had sufficient oversight of the medication dispensing records. Two errors have been found since the last inspection. Learning from the first error has not been carried out in a timely way, and decisive action has not been implemented until after the second incident. Since the medication incidents, additional training has been completed and practice has changed to reduce the risk of future errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has not had sufficient scrutiny of several documents in the home. This includes the child’s risk assessments. This means that errors in them have not been found and dealt with in an effective way. There is a risk of incorrect information being shared across the staff team that could affect the way that they respond to the child, which could place the child at risk. Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 6

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Statutory requirements

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

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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— that staff—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed in line with the provider’s policies for keeping children safe.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that staff understand and follow all risk assessments for all children. 15 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 7 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they have sufficient oversight and scrutiny of all areas of practice in the home. 15 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that all means of escape are clear and can be accessed safely.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered manager must ensure that all appropriate fire safety precautions are taken. 15 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have a consistent approach to the expected standards of behaviour in the home. This should be clear and unambiguous, with poor behaviour being challenged and discussed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11) Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 8

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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: SC069293 9

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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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Inspectors

Gail McGann, Social Care Inspector (lead) Ed McCallum, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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