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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 1 SC069293

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Registered provider: Timeout Children’s Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

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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

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

19/03/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 18/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s meetings take place regularly. The meetings are informal and encourage the child to participate and share their wishes and feelings. The meetings provide staff with the opportunity to have reflective discussions with the child. Previous discussion topics have included bullying and the safe use of technology. Praise is given to the child for their achievements and engagement in the meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child goes to school and is making good progress. The staff remain on the school site to provide the child with additional emotional support. Communication between the school and home staff is strong, and clear plans to further increase the child’s attendance have been developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have strong relationships with the child, and they understand and know her. It has taken time for staff to develop this familiarity and respond effectively to the child’s presenting needs. The child spoke about liking her time spent with staff and the enjoyable activities that they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive reward systems help the child. The child is aware of how they can earn additional things, including increased pocket money. Rewards are linked to developing independence skills. Staff focus on praising the child for their efforts and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff frequently have focused discussions with the child. However, the written record of these supportive conversations is brief, and the child’s voice is regularly missed. The quality and content of these records could affect how the child understands and sees themselves and the actions taken by others.

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

There has been a reduction in the number of incidents. Plans and interventions developed by the staff team are meeting and supporting the needs of the child. Incidents are recorded clearly, and the records evidence when staff have physically held the child to keep them or others safe. Supportive conversations are completed with staff and the child after incidents to help understand what has happened and address any concerns.

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

The child’s care plan and risk assessments are up to date and reflect their current needs. The use of technology is a high-risk area for the child. Safeguards are in place with clear and defined plans for staff to follow. The plans support the locking of the internal kitchen door when the child is distressed. However, door alarms are used to alert the staff of the child’s movement in or out of her bedroom. There are no care plans, risk assessments or professional agreements for this method of monitoring. Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 4 The manager takes complaints and allegations seriously, and their response is timely. There are clear processes for the management of allegations, and they reflect the needs and risks linked to the child. There has been a significant reduction in allegations made against staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about their role and the support that they receive from the manager. The manager has a development plan for the home and team and provides a framework to improve the quality of care and deliver positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager undertakes regular auditing. This ensures that internal care plans and risk assessments reflect the needs of the child and provide staff with clear and concise information and guidance. However, a lack of documentation from the child’s placing local authority means the staff have fragmented information. The manager has not challenged the local authority effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions and team meetings are completed monthly. This time is used for individual and group reflection on topics including practice development and the use of therapeutic approaches. The skills and knowledge of the staff is the focus of these meetings as the manager aims to create a skilled and experienced team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Significant incidents involving the child have been appropriately managed. However, the manager has neglected to notify Ofsted of all significant incidents. As a result, Ofsted has not had the necessary oversight to ensure that appropriate action has been taken by the staff to maintain the safety and well-being of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they work in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child. When the child’s placing authority fails to share care planning documents and supporting records, the registered person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement, including any actions taken to escalate concerns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3)  The registered person should ensure they gain consent to use any monitoring or surveillance equipment from the child’s placing authority in writing at the time of placement. The use of monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of the child. This includes the use of bedroom door alarms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that information about the child is always recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure they notify Ofsted and other relevant persons of significant incidents relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Timeout 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

Rachel Moore, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC069293 7 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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