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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 1 SC450728 Registered provider: TimeOut Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and was spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since May 2025. This inspection was supported by the responsible individual.

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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: 3 September 2024

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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: SC450728 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Good 15/08/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good 22/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. They spoke of liking the staff and the activities that are offered. The child spoke about positive relationships with the staff and said that with staff’s encouragement they have achieved many milestones, such as finishing school and taking their exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted with on a regular basis through formal questionnaires and meetings. Their wishes and feelings are also recorded regularly in individual discussions. Children receive feedback regarding actions taken by the team as to whether their wishes can or cannot be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move on from the home, this is done in line with detailed plans to support the transition. Managers form relationships with the new home’s staff team and provide an in-reach package to help the children get to know their new staff. Children leave the home having experienced a celebrated, positive ending.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to progress in education and to meet their goals of finishing secondary school and taking their exams. Children are prepared to identify and interview for higher education through attending mock interviews and gaining work experience within the company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers advocate the wishes of the children to other professionals and family. Children are supported to develop and maintain relationships with family members. The use of alternative methods, including video calls, is encouraged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to learn and develop independence skills. However, when older children are working towards independence, they often lack detailed plans to guide them. This can affect their understanding and can leave children and staff unprepared and disorganised.

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

When children go missing from the home, the staff carry out detailed local area searches. There are detailed care plans for staff to follow. When children return home, they are supported with nurture and receive supportive conversations. All children are offered independent return home interviews from the local authority.

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

Children’s incidents have reduced significantly. Children are offered individual discussions to encourage self-awareness and self-reflection. When significant incidents do occur, staff follow children’s plans to make decisions regarding their actions. Children receive supportive conversations, and if allegations by the children are involved, always receive updates and feedback from managers. Managers have oversight of incidents Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 4 and provide detailed feedback to the children and staff. Children are only physically held when de-escalation techniques have not been effective.

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

There are clear systems in place to ensure the monitoring and review of health and safety in the home. The checks are completed in line with planned reviews and schedules. Children are encouraged to participate in fire drills, and when this is declined, the staff support and educate children around fire safety in other ways.

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

Consequences are used in the home to support learning. Consequences for children are proportionate to the incidents or events that have occurred. There is clear reasoning and work with the children regarding the measure that is given and there is detailed manager oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two managers have left during this period and cover management arrangements are currently being used. The home has been without a registered manager for four months. The introduction of the regional manager role has provided some additional support and stability to the home alongside the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working in the home. They feel supported and encouraged to develop their own skills, benefiting them and the children in their care. They spoke of turbulent times recently, with the changes in managers, but have been able to identify consistency and continuous support from the regional manager and responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a detailed package of training offered to the staff. Staff are up to date with training or are booked onto training to maintain currency and completion. There are clear processes in place for managing and arranging training. Training is also delivered via the therapeutic team in relation to the specific needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are carried out in line with the statement of purpose. Supervision is provided to staff by the manager and senior members of staff. Staff are supported to recognise their own development needs in their role. Staff’s well-being and work–life balance are detailed areas of discussion. Managers receive detailed supervisions and attend support meetings to explore additional learning and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are recorded well, with detailed action plans identified. Staff attendance is high, as is their involvement in discussions. Managers identify clear action plans for the team and joint plans for the children, using their wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s health needs are monitored closely, and appointments are arranged by staff to support this. New recording plans have been introduced and training has been provided to staff, following two medication recording errors. Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records are kept of the administration of all medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that a child’s plan forms the basis of their care. Children should have a plan linked to their independence. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 11.1)

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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: SC450728 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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Inspector

Rachel Moore, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC450728 7 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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