Children's Home run by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in Bolton

Unique reference number SC040723 Inspection date 30/03/2011 Inspector David Martin Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 05/10/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to accommodate up to four young people of either sex between the ages of 10 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home is two connected three bedroom semi-detached houses. It provides two lounges, a separate dining room, kitchen and utility room on the ground floor and two bathrooms both with bath and shower upstairs. All the bedrooms are single and there are two staff sleep-in rooms also used as offices during the day.

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Brief description of the service

One young person participated in the inspection.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced, interim inspection was carried out to assess the home's performance in meeting the requirements of the national minimum standards under the staying safe outcome.

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Summary

The home has well established policies and procedures to promote the safety and well-being of young people. The young people's right to make complaints is well publicised and young people confirmed that they have been provided with this information. The home has a strong anti-bullying ethos which is well understood by the young people and incidents of bullying are infrequent. Staff have completed safeguarding training and are familiar with the reporting procedures. Young people have individualised behaviour management plans which form the basis of the home's promotion of socially acceptable behaviour. The staff are skilled in minimising the potential for confrontation. The premises are safely maintained and have been fully refurbished which has created additional office space and created a pleasant, homely environment. The staff are vetted prior to starting work in the home and are subject to ongoing checks to ensure their suitability to work with young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has taken action to comply with the one recommendation made at the last inspection. It has provided all young people with information about making a complaint. This was confirmed by young people and ensures that they are familiar with the procedures and are aware that their views are taken seriously.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy and dignity of young people is a high priority for the home. The young people have individual bedrooms to which they have their own keys. All bathing facilities are private. The staff have completed data protection training and have a good understanding of issues of confidentiality. One of the lounges is used to carry out meetings and reviews in private. All records are held securely in newly created office space. This ensures that information about the young people is kept securely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home actively promotes the right of young people to raise their concerns and to make complaints. Young people are provided with information about making a complaint in the children's guide. This includes the details of outside agencies to whom young people can turn. Young people confirmed that they had received this information on admission to the home. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Additional complaints information is available on the notice board in one of the lounges. The young people have had an introductory meeting with the local authority complaints officer and further sessions are planned. They also have access to a local advocacy service and have been given a charter of rights. The young people have regular house meetings in which they can discuss any issues about the running of the home. Keyworker sessions allow the young people to address concerns on an individual basis. This ensures that the young people are actively involved in decision making in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people are protected from harm. All staff have completed mandatory safeguarding training and have access to the child protection procedures in both hard copy and electronic formats. The staff on duty were able to confirm this. The home has established good links with the local safeguarding board. There have been no child protection concerns in the period since the last inspection. Young people are effectively protected from abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home strongly promotes an anti-bullying ethos. Bullying and its consequences are regularly discussed with the young people through house meetings. Information in the children's guide clearly sets out the way in which young people can expect incidents of bullying to be dealt with. There have been no recent incidents of bullying. Young people confirmed that they have not experienced bullying in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual records provide strong evidence that the current group of young people are rarely absent without permission. Risk assessments have been completed to identify and manage any incidents of young people going missing. These are held on individual case files and are specific to each young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is successful in managing challenging behaviour in a positive way. There are individualised behaviour management plans in place for each young person. Any incidents of anti-social behaviour are discussed with young people on a one-to-one basis. The staff have undertaken training in managing confrontation behaviour which has provided them with a range of skills and techniques to intervene without the use of restraint or physical intervention. Sanctions are used infrequently and, on the whole, consist of the fair use of financial reparation. Each young person has an individualised incentive plan to earn addition rewards. The home supports the young people in learning how to behave in a socially acceptable way.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The premises are safely maintained. Environmental risk assessments are in place and no hazards were noted during the tour of the home's communal areas. Routine maintenance of fire fighting equipment and fire safety systems is up to date. The premises have been fully refurbished and provide a homely and stimulating environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No new staff have been employed in the home in the period since the last inspection. The staff are subject to periodic checks, such as three yearly clearance through the Criminal Records Bureau. This ensures that staff remain suitable to work with young people.

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