Children's home run by Truly Timeless Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 1 Registered provider: Truly Timeless Care 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 run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has made an application to register with the regulator.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 3

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improvement to be good

There have been no children moving in or out of the home since the last inspection. Children have made some progress while experiencing a period of stability living at the home. However, shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home mean that children’s experiences are not always positive.

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improvement to be good

Children have developed relationships with core staff. Children were observed to have positive interactions with staff. Additionally, a social worker stated that staff have provided ‘stability and consistency for [name of child]’.

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improvement to be good

Children’s wishes and views are sought regularly, and one child has access to an independent advocate. However, when children have made complaints, they are not always appropriately followed up. This impacts on children’s ability to feel heard and listened to.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to have healthy relationships with family members. Staff have implemented appropriate boundaries to support positive relationships. One parent said that their relationship with their child is ‘stronger’ because of staff support.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported with their emotional well-being. Staff routinely explore children’s feelings and speak openly to them about their emotional health. When required, staff ensure that children have additional support in respect of their health and well-being. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is managing those big feelings a lot better.’ Additionally, a parent said that since living at the home, their child was not ‘heightened in the same way’.

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improvement to be good

Children are engaging with education providers. For one child, this is in its infancy. Staff recognised that incentives are effective for one child and have introduced them to encourage educational attendance. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘Staff promote education and encourage attendance.’

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improvement to be good

The home is well decorated. Children’s artwork and photos are displayed in the home, and this provides children with a sense of belonging. However, some areas of the home, including the bathroom, are worn and require maintenance work.

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improvement to be good

There has been a significant reduction in risks for both children. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs and their identified risks. This is underpinned by in-depth risk assessments, which outline individualised signs that a child may require Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 4 additional support, alongside de-escalation techniques that have been identified as effective.

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improvement to be good

When allegations are made, immediate safeguards are put in place to ensure children’s safety. However, formal processes are not routinely followed. On one occasion, although follow-up discussions with the child were held, there was a delay in completing the follow-up action after an allegation was made. Additionally, the regulator is not always informed of concerns about staff practice.

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improvement to be good

When a child’s whereabouts is unknown, the relevant authorities are notified. However, staff do not always actively search local areas. Additionally, children are not routinely offered independent return home interviews. Staff do make attempts to speak with friends or relatives who may be able to provide any information to support the children being located.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff communicate effectively with multi-agency professionals. One social worker stated, ‘We work together as a team.’ Professionals and parents say that the manager and staff keep them informed. This ensures that there is a multi-agency approach to safeguarding children.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used as a last resort when there is significant concern for safety. Staff have received the appropriate training. Children are spoken to following any measure being used. However, there is not always management oversight to support staff to reflect on their practice.

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improvement to be good

Staff carry out room searches when there is an identified need. Staff maintain clear documentation detailing the reasons for carrying out the searches. However, there is a lack of management oversight to ensure that searches are appropriate and necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a manager in place who has made an application to register with Ofsted. The manager is dedicated to improving outcomes for children. An external training provider expressed, ‘The care and progress of children is at the heart of what they do.’ The manager, however, does lack robust monitoring systems to support having full oversight of children’s progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff do report that there has been a ‘positive shift’ since the manager has been in post. The staff report feeling supported by leaders. One staff member expressed, ‘He likes to check in with staff and make sure everyone is OK.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose outlines that supervision sessions should be held every eight weeks. However, there are gaps in supervision records. The team also requires support from agency staff while recruitment is ongoing. The manager has taken appropriate steps to limit the number of agency staff to provide children continuity of care. However, agency staff are not given supervision sessions. This limits the manager’s oversight and limits staff’s ability to share any concerns and reflect on their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 5 The manager is committed to developing the staff team to improve the quality of care for children. He has secured appropriate training to develop the staff team’s understanding of specific risks. On one occasion, this has included working with an external professional to deliver training to the staff in respect of exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The statement of purpose has been updated to reflect changes in respect of supervision arrangements and staffing. However, this has not been sent to the regulator. Additionally, the manager’s quality of care report has not been sent to the regulator. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 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

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

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

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

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered manager ensuring that staff follow missing-from-home protocols and search local areas when children cannot be located.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that processes are followed when an allegation is made in respect of staff. 27 May 2025

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 27 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 7 promotes their welfare.

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that there is management oversight of incidents, consequences and room searches.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that staff, including agency staff, have supervision sessions in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that the home’s complaints policy is followed when a child makes a complaint.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that appropriate action is taken when a complaint is made and that any outcomes are recorded. 27 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 27 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 8 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that the regulator is notified of any serious incidents.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered manager ensuring that a copy of the quality of care review is sent to the regulator. 27 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 27 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 9 This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that when the statement of purpose is updated, a copy is sent to the regulator.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained to an appropriate standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2704313 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Truly Timeless Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2704313 11 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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