Children's home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 1 Registered provider: Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 16 July 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 7 June 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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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

Dates of last inspection: 17 and 18 December 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: 1280371 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Good 02/03/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1280371 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living at the home have lived there for three years and one and a half years, respectively. This has provided them with stability. Although there have been some staff changes, a core group of staff has ensured that children continue to benefit from consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care and support that meets their individual needs. Staff are knowledgeable about the children’s strengths and areas where additional support is required. This enables them to have a good understanding of the children’s previous life experiences and how these impact their day-to-day lives. Children say that they feel happy and safe at the home. They have a good understanding of their current and future care plans and recognise that, due to their ages, they will soon be preparing to take their next steps towards adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and promote this effectively. Where children experience difficulties with educational attendance, staff work in partnership with education providers and adopt creative approaches to support children’s learning. This has included arranging for one child to sit school examinations away from the main school site, which enabled them to feel confident enough to participate in exams they had previously felt unable to attempt. The other child is on track to achieve the required examination results to follow their chosen future career path.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs, including their emotional health, are well met. They have access to community healthcare professionals and are supported to make and attend appointments, helping them develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage this independently in the future. In addition, children have access to an in- house therapy support team, whose members work directly with children and alongside staff to provide appropriate emotional support tailored to individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved in planning and preparing meals and are provided with healthy and nutritious diets. Activities are planned around individual interests, and children are encouraged to take part in healthy walks and other physical activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals involved with the children report that the level of care and support provided is consistently good and enables children to make progress. One professional stated, ‘Staff have an excellent relationship with the child, and communication between the home and ourselves is excellent.’ Another commented ‘Staff understand the child’s needs well, and I have definitely seen positive and tangible progress.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1280371 4

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

Staff have a clear and detailed understanding of the children they care for and their identified and potential risks. Staff work consistently with the children to help them understand risk and how to keep themselves safe. As a result of this, children say they feel safe and feel confident in sharing potential concerns with staff, who can then help the children manage risk. Risk management plans are updated regularly and clearly outline what steps to take to manage incidents effectively.

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

All staff are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a child missing from the home. Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of a child going missing, and all relevant procedures were followed to ensure the safety and welfare of the child.

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviour effectively. When consequences are applied for negative behaviour, these have typically involved the removal of mobile phones or other technology. The manager has reflected on this approach and is currently undertaking a review to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.

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

The home’s recruitment procedures follow safer recruitment guidance. Appropriate vetting checks and references are completed before staff begin work at the home. These measures help to ensure that children are safeguarded from unsuitable individuals working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced manager, who is supported in his role by two senior staff members. The management team is passionate about care for children and have high aspirations for children, supporting them to achieve positive current outcomes as well as preparing them effectively for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Other professionals involved in the children’s care speak highly of the manager and staff, particularly in relation to their effective communication and strong partnership working with external agencies to provide consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children say they have a genuine voice within the home and feel that their views are listened to wherever possible. This includes being actively involved in decisions about the décor and environment of the home, planning meals and choosing activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been some staff turnover since the last inspection; however, a core staff team has remained in place, providing consistency for the children. The staff team has since been further strengthened, with a committed and dedicated workforce now established.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager takes his responsibility for staff development seriously and ensures that staff receive appropriate training, supervision, support and guidance to enhance Inspection report for children’s home: 1280371 5 their skills, knowledge and practice. This includes ensuring that all mandatory training is completed within the agreed timescale. In addition, bespoke training tailored to meet the individual needs of the children is sourced and provided. This further supports the staff practice in supporting children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective monitoring systems in place, enabling a clear and comprehensive overview of all aspects of care provided. Where shortfalls are identified, these are addressed promptly and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken action to address the requirement made at the previous inspection to ensure that significant events are notified to relevant agencies in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 1280371 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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 1280371 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Time-Out 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

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1280371 8 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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