Children's Home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Unique reference number SC397344 Inspection date 23/02/2011 Inspector Stella Henderson Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 13/12/2010 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

The home provides care and accommodation for children and young people who have learning and physical disabilities. It is situated in a residential area and has access to a wide range of local amenities. The property is domestic in size and adapted to meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this visit was to undertake an unannounced interim inspection and assess progress against recommendations made at the last inspection. Outcome areas for staying safe, economic well-being and organisation were inspected.

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Summary

Young people at the home continue to receive good quality care from staff. Safeguarding is given the utmost priority, and the manager continues to provide good leadership to the staff team who work closely with young people and are well- attuned to their needs.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection recommendations were made in relation to providing further opportunities to make young people aware about how to complain, improving the content of transition plans and ensuring that the views of children, their parents and placing social were reflected in monitoring visits.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Evidence from this inspection demonstrates that these recommendations are now met. The manager and staff team continue to be pro-active in seeking innovative and creative ways to improve outcomes for young people at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safeguarding young people continues to be effective, with all the standards within this outcome satisfied at a consistently good level of practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are good at providing consistency and stability for young people, ensuring their right to privacy and dignity is upheld at all times. As at the last inspection bullying and 'missing from home' are not areas of concern. Practice has improved in that young people are made better aware of the complaints procedure, and behaviour management plans are tailored to meet the individual needs of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The day-to-day safety of young people is also promoted through the regular updating of risk assessments and through general 'good parenting'. Young people have frequent contact with management and other professionals which are in themselves effective safeguarding measures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical safety of young people is paramount, and routine checks on equipment are made, as well as regular fire evacuation procedures. Again staff have been creative in finding ways to better explain these procedures to young people in a way which meets their communication needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Personnel records were for new employees were checked and found to be compliant with the regulations. This ensures that young people are protected from those unsuitable to work with young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The progress that young people make in making the transition to independence is now reflected in a 'stand-alone' document prepared by the home. In the absence of formal local authority transition plans, this ensures that young people are equipped, to the best of their ability, to deal with day-to-day life both within the home and outside in the community.

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Organisation

The manager has made good progress in amending the content of the regulation 34 audit. This now ensures that the views of, and any concerns raised by young people, their parents and placing social workers are considered to drive forward further improvement.

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