Children's home run by ROC Family Time Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2517184 1 Registered provider: ROC Family Time Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

An acting manager has been in post since October 2025 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with and observed both children during 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 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: 2517184 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2025 Full Good 18/03/2024 Full Good 28/03/2023 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2517184 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting relationships with children. They do this by providing children with a place of safety, which enables them to express themselves openly. As a result, children feel accepted and valued. Staff also support friendships between children by arranging shared time in the home and in the community, increasing children's feelings of inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop their sense of identity. Staff do this by offering practical and reflective activities that support children to explore who they are. When children show identity-related needs, staff take time to understand and respond with sensitivity. Children gain confidence because they have safe opportunities to explore and celebrate their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are well supported. Staff work with other professionals to meet children's physical, emotional and psychological needs. Children have embraced the support available to them, and this is helping them to understand their feelings and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful consideration and support are given to children to help them return to education. Staff identify education provisions that can support each child's emotional needs. They speak up for children when the provision's approach needs adjusting. Children's access to activities during education hours is limited to encourage their attendance. Staff have begun to identify activities and resources children can partake in during these hours to maintain a focus on learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop independence skills from an early stage. Staff teach them practical life skills, such as cooking and following routines, that help to prepare them for adulthood. Leaders have reflected on a recent move after a child left due to escalating risks and concerns for their safety. They are focused on further developing staff practice to reduce the likelihood of other children moving earlier than planned.

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

Staff manage risk well. They do this by following clear risk plans that reflect each child's needs. Staff's behaviour management approach is mostly effective in helping children understand the risks they may face. Staff talk with children about incidents that lead them to the exposure of risk to help children recognise unsafe situations.

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

Staff respond to children's vulnerabilities effectively. They notice changes in behaviour and respond sensitively so that children feel understood. When children show distress, including self-injurious behaviour, staff adjust their approach to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing further upset. Inspection report for children's home: 2517184 4 Missing-from-home incidents are well managed. Staff follow each child's plan and keep in contact with professionals and people important to the child when children are away from the home. Records are clearly written, and children receive a return home interview. This helps them discuss their experiences and informs future planning.

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

Physical intervention is used proportionately when required to keep them safe. Staff use other approaches first to try and avoid behaviours becoming unsafe and children needing to be held. Staff record any holds in full, capture the child's views and offer children independent advocacy after each incident.

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

Children experience fair and predictable responses that help them learn from difficult situations. Staff help children manage their behaviour in positive ways through discussions and restorative resolutions. Since the last inspection, staff have improved how they respond to unwanted behaviours by reducing the number of consequences given to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager has had a positive influence on the team. Staff and children have welcomed them and respond well to their leadership. The deputy manager adds to the consistency and support that meets the needs of staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders monitor practice effectively. The manager has reviewed monitoring systems and adapted processes to better fit the needs of the team. This has improved oversight and supports a clear vision for improvement. Staff have been involved in the development work. Together, they have prioritised certain improvements and have acted on most findings from the last inspection. Leaders are aware that children's records require further development to ensure that the language used reflects the children's care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carefully assesses the children's needs before they move into the home. They seek further information when needed to ensure that decision-making is thorough. The manager's assessment considers whether staff can meet children's needs and that these needs will not have a detrimental effect on children already living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved links with the local community and external partners. Staff engage with community centres, the local police team, neighbours and other children's homes. Children take part in events such as a fundraising activity, helping them develop social responsibility and connections in the community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Notifications to the regulator have not always been timely. Leaders have reflected on this and acted to improve the process of notifying Ofsted. However, these improvements have yet to be embedded. Inspection report for children's home: 2517184 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they make timely notifications to Ofsted and other relevant persons if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child that the registered person considers to be serious. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information in a non- stigmatising way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector 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: 2517184 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: ROC Family Time Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Hope House, Burnhope, Newton Aycliffe, Durham DL5 7ER

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Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2517184 7 regulates 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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Inspector

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