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

Unique reference number SC040723 Inspection date 29/05/2012 Inspector Lynn O'Driscoll Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 31/01/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This is a local authority children's home offering care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people's wishes and feelings are ascertained and taken into account in all aspects of their care. They also benefit from excellent relationships with the staff and genuinely enjoy spending quality time with them. Consequently, they feel and are safe, very happy and settled in this home. Comments include, 'I love it here because I know the staff really care about me', and, ‘I love the food. The staff are really good cooks. It is healthy and there is always plenty' and, 'I love it here. It's amazing. I feel so chilled and I can talk to staff about anything.'

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from highly personalised care and good staffing ratios to enable them to realise their full potentials. They are, therefore, all making very good progress behaviourally, socially and educationally despite their difficult past experiences.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

There are also good arrangements in place to safeguard and promote their welfare, including very effective collaborative working with all relevant agencies.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Placing authorities say, 'there is a really good level of communication' and, 'this is a strong team who have ensured stable and longevity of placements'.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

An independent reviewing officer wrote, 'I am very impressed by the high level of commitment and quality of care provided. The staff have managed to settle the young person into a routine which is very important. He clearly relates well to his key worker.'

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The managers and staff team are genuinely committed to providing a high standard of care and to improve young people's life chances. They all know the strengths and areas for development of the home and take appropriate action to continually improve on the services provided.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

They are particularly strong advocates. This has resulted in: appropriate education and employment opportunities; the provision of timely specialist services; and positive contact arrangements. An independent children's rights service confirm, 'very effective partnership working. It is clear that this home values interagency working. We are consistently impressed by their motivation to keep young peoples' rights central to care planning.'

p.4

Overall effectiveness

There are two requirements and one recommendation arising from this inspection. This is because some of the good and outstanding practices in the home are not always well documented. For example, the records do not clearly demonstrate the numerous consultations taking place with a variety of stakeholders and the frequent staff supervision sessions and timely annual appraisals. Also, although the staff team are very experienced, they have not had specific training in supervising contact and a recent refresher course in safeguarding. Some sanction and restraint records do not included all the required information.

p.4

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure each sanction and restraint record includes all the details specified in the regulations (Regulation 17) 31/05/2012

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all staff receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal of their work. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 31/07/2012

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 demonstrate that the views of young people's families, social workers and independent reviewing officers are regularly sought on the quality of care provided in the home. (NMS 1.4)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

The young people living at this home are treated and respected as individuals in their own right. They benefit from highly individualised care to address their unique needs and personal preferences. An outstanding range of appropriate specialist services are also provided in a timely manner to meet their specific needs. Consequently, they are developing a clear sense of identity and their self esteem and emotional resilience is significantly improving.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are very happy and settled at this home. Meal times especially are very relaxed and enjoyable social occasions. Young people really like their bedrooms which are highly personalised. They also enjoy regular constructive contact with their families commenting, 'I can see my mum and brother whenever I like.' Moreover, they benefit from excellent relationships with the staff. They feel extremely comfortable discussing any concerns with them, knowing they will be efficiently addressed. Consequently, they have never needed to make a formal complaint.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

There are excellent opportunities for young people to positively contribute to their daily lives and futures. They also understand the importance of, and benefit from, healthy lifestyles. This includes homemade healthy nutritious meals, which they actively choose and thoroughly enjoy, and regular physical exercise. This has resulted in, for example, appropriate weight loss.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people particularly enjoy the group activities they take part in, including fund raising events for charity and being part of a local football team. This gives them a genuine sense of belonging. Individual interests and talents are also actively encouraged and supported. Examples include, knitting, animal care, poetry, Thai boxing and fishing. This is significantly increasing their competence, confidence and self-esteem.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people actively engage in tailor made education programmes to suit their individual needs and abilities. They are also pursuing both academic and vocational qualifications to support their future employment prospects. Attendance and interest is excellent and they are making outstanding progress especially given their starting points.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Some significant risk taking behaviours including those of a sexual nature, smoking and drugs have completely ceased in this placement.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

The daily life within this home enables all young people to gain the practical and social skills needed for future successful independent living. Consequently they are already competent in a number of relevant areas. These include: using public transport; food shopping; preparing and cooking healthy meals; undertaking basic household tasks; and, positively engaging in the local community. They are very involved in maintaining the home and have learned to plaster, paint, wallpaper and garden. They are, therefore, rightly very proud of the accommodation and their vegetable plot. This gives them a strong sense of ownership. Visitors to the home describe the young people as, 'always respectful, polite and well mannered.'

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are very positive about the quality of care provided at this home. They are cared for in line with their up-to-date and individualised placement plans which are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. Unless, contrary to their best interests, young people's wishes and feelings are taken into account in all aspects of their care and positively acted upon. They have recently been especially influential in deciding on the décor in the home and in producing a range of complaint leaflets to meet different needs. This reinforces the fact that their opinions matter and are valued, which in turn increases their self-esteem and confidence. However, there is limited documentary evidence of consultations with parents, social workers and independent reviewing officers on the quality of care provided. This is unfortunate because the feedback that is received is extremely complimentary. For example,

p.6

Quality of care

social workers say, 'young people, who previously have never settled in any placements are now happy and settled. This is a massive milestone' and, 'the staff go above and beyond in respect to securing appropriate educational provision.' A head teacher said, 'this home does an outstanding job. The support to the young people is second to none and consequently attendance is 100% and they are making excellent progress.' Children's rights officers say, 'what this home is achieving is superb and a brilliant model for other homes. They have been at the forefront of bringing about positive change for particularly challenging young people.'

p.6

Quality of care

Staff have high aspirations for the young people and actively challenge barriers to ensure their full participation in the local community. All their achievements are celebrated and rewarded which increases their feelings of self worth.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff work exceptionally proactively and effectively with a number of other relevant agencies and professionals to secure excellent outcomes for young people. This includes 'excellent communication' between this home and all the schools the young people attend. A particular strength is their ability to adapt to different needs including sibling groups, sexualised behaviours and complex contact arrangements. Independent services particularly highlight that staff are, 'very supportive of children's rights.’

p.6

Quality of care

The staff are also excellent advocates in ensuring young people establish and maintain positive contact with family and friends, who often visit the home and stay for a meal. Highly experienced staff supervise contact when required. However, they have not had specific training in this particular and potentially complex role.

p.6

Quality of care

Good health and well being is actively promoted in close partnership with the specialist nurse for looked after children. She ensures, for example, that staff have a full medical history of the young people and liaises with school nurses. The staff ensure young people receive timely statutory medicals, attend routine eye and dental checks. Young people also receive an excellent range of appropriate specialist services to meet their unique physical and emotional needs. The arrangements for the storage, administration and recording of medicines are safe and effective.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are welcomed into the home and move on into independence in a planned and sensitive manner, in full knowledge of continued support from the staff. For example, writing curriculum vitae and successfully preparing for a job interview. This makes them feel valued and gives them skills for adulthood.

p.7

Quality of care

This service also provides a particularly wide range of constructive and stimulating educational and leisure activities every day over every school holiday.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people benefit from a clean, safe and very well maintained environment. It is decorated and furnished to a high standard throughout. It also provides an extremely homely and welcoming atmosphere which is particularly highlighted by visitors.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Overall there are good arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of the young people currently living at this home. Good staffing ratios are maintained at all times and young people benefit from a very stable and experienced staff team. Individual risks are clearly identified and well managed. Young people are appropriately placed, feel safe and settled.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

There are very effective joint arrangements in place with the local police to prevent young people going missing. This means there are few incidences. The police recognise the significant progress made and describe this home as, 'well run and open to suggestions and changes.’

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

All the staff are trained in safeguarding to ensure they respond appropriately in the event of any disclosures of abuse. However, some have not had a refresher course for sometime. Investigations are handled fairly ensuring effective protection and support for the young person, the person making the allegation and the person subject to the allegation. External agencies confirm that safeguarding matters always remain a priority to the staff whilst taking appropriate risks to promote young people's development. They write, 'this is not an easy route to take and much energy, motivation and creativity is required.'

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people enjoy exceptionally sound relationships with the staff. Good behaviour and effort is rewarded and is having the desired effect. Staff also have very good knowledge of the young people and are able to recognise potential triggers and successfully diffuse challenging behaviours. Consequently, there have been relatively few sanctions and restraints are rare. Young people always have the opportunity to talk through these incidents and record their views. This shows they are fair and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour. However, this good practice is not consistently reflected in the restraint and sanctions records.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The environment is kept physically very safe and secure and young people take part in regular fire drills so they know exactly what to do in the event of a real fire.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff files are held centrally. They have all recently been fully audited to demonstrate robust recruitment processes to ensure a safe and competent workforce. There is also an effective system in place for the renewal of criminal record checks every three years.

p.8

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

p.8

Leadership and management

A new manager is in post with an extensive background in social care and education. He has also commenced the required qualification for this position. An application for registration is with Ofsted. He is part of a wider senior management team who are suitably qualified, highly experienced and child focused. They exercise clear leadership and excellent support to the staff team. They ensure the home is always very well staffed to safeguard and promote the welfare of the young people and to meet their unique needs and personal preferences. They also ensure the few complaints about the home are efficiently resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by very experienced and competent staff who benefit from high quality training. 100 per cent of the team have successfully achieved the relevant qualification required of their respective roles. Of these, 40 per cent have also obtained a higher qualification. The service continues to fund individuals to secure higher qualifications to enhance their individual skills and further their careers. All the staff have completed all the internal mandatory courses and the vast majority have also completed refresher courses in a timely manner.

p.8

Leadership and management

This particularly stable staff team benefit from fortnightly staff meetings with very open and honest debates. This results in excellent consistency and continuity of care. Staff also say that managers are very accessible and approachable to discuss any matters at anytime. This includes excellent deputising arrangements. Moreover, staff confirm 'at least' monthly supervision sessions and annual appraisals. However, the records do not consistently demonstrate this established good practice.

p.8

Leadership and management

Robust monitoring systems are in place to ensure that any shortfalls identified are efficiently addressed. The managers are clear about the many strengths of their service and areas for development. Appropriate plans are in place to address the latter. They can also clearly demonstrate the very positive impact living at this home has on each young person.

p.8

Leadership and management

This home keeps Ofsted well informed of any significant events which evidences that appropriate action is taken. The one recommendation made at the last inspection on 31 January 2012 has been satisfactorily addressed. This was to forward to Ofsted a report following a six monthly review of the quality of care provided in the home.

p.8

Leadership and management

The home's Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the current aims, policies, practices and organisational structure. Young people are also given a user friendly children's guide during the admission process so they understand the services provided.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people's files are securely stored. They provide an accurate and positive account of their background, progress, achievements and future goals. Young people actively contribute to their records and sign to acknowledge their understanding and factual accuracy.

p.9

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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.10

About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

p.10