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

Unique reference number SC040723 Inspection date 28/03/2014 Inspector Lynn O'Driscoll Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 12/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

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

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

Overall, this home was judged to be good at the last full inspection on 12 April 2013. The quality of care provided was outstanding. Since that time the service has continued to develop under the leadership of a new manager who has submitted a timely application to Ofsted for registration.

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Progress

In particular key documentation has been revised and is now particularly child focussed. Young people have had a lot of input into their individual positive handling plans. Staff appraisal formats have been developed to better capture young people's views. One young person has recently chaired her own statutory review. Consequently young people know that their views and opinions are genuinely listened to and positively responded to. This demonstrably increases their self- esteem and confidence.

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Progress

Separate questionnaires for parents and professionals have also been devised since the last inspection. The feedback is very positive. Parents are very happy with the quality of care provided and the progress their child has made. They confirm that the staff are always very helpful and keep them well informed. One dad said 'I have an excellent relationship with the staff and really appreciate the support offered to me and my daughter.'

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Progress

Comments from independent reviewing officers include 'There is good management of this home and the staff are genuinely committed to the young people. They always attend relevant meetings and support young people in those meetings. They prepare them well for their reviews' and 'The staff have a good understanding of young people's needs and wishes and produce excellent reports for statutory reviews. They liaise well with professionals and work well with parents.'

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Progress

The two requirements made at the last inspection have been addressed. Consequently restraint and sanction records now provide much more detail about the young person's behaviour leading to the use of the measure of control. This better demonstrates a fair, relevant and proportionate approach. Negotiations with young people about the sanctions imposed and their views and opinions about each incident are also clearly recorded. Moreover, the records now clearly cross reference to a timely individual key worker session to explore ways of avoiding a re-occurrence. The new manager is very clear that the use of restraint is the absolute last resort and then staff must use the least invasive technique. However, this practice is not clearly enough evidenced in the records. Restraint records do not give detail about the de-escalation methods attempted to try to avoid any physical intervention.

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Progress

The main staff files are held centrally so following the last inspection the previous manager scrutinised them as part of his monthly monitoring. They were found to be satisfactorily maintained. Details of the legally required recruitment checks are also now available in the children's home to provide evidence of a safe and competent workforce. All the staff at this home have completed the qualifications required of their respective roles and responsibilities. All mandatory training is up-to-date. The whole team are also now specifically trained to facilitate and supervise contact.

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Progress

Two recommendations were also made at the last inspection. In response missing from home records now detail any reasons given by the young person for running away and any action taken in the light of those reasons. Each sanction record is now recorded on a separate page. This ensures young people do not have access to third party information when they are reading and commenting on their own records.

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Progress

Young people live in good standard accommodation, so they are proud to invite their friends back. All the required health and safety certificates are in place and internal safety checks are undertaken at the required frequencies to ensure a safe and well- maintained building. One young person particularly enjoys developing the garden.

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Progress

Young people really like living at this home. They are happy and settled and feel safe and secure. Consequently incidents of going missing have significantly decreased since moving to this home. Young people enjoy sound relationships with the staff and the other young people living at the home. They have also made and sustained friendships in the local community so they have established a strong sense of belonging. All the young people enjoy constructive contact with members of their family in line with any legal directions and personal preferences. Staff made sure they all had visits over the Christmas holidays. This helps to maintain their unique identities.

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Progress

Young people enjoy taking part in a wide range of meaningful and challenging activities. This includes regular charitable events. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which significantly boosts young people's self esteem and confidence.

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Progress

Comments from young people include 'Everything is okay here. I get on with the other young people and I feel safe. I like the meals and the trips out. I love playing football and I'm good at it' and 'I like it here. It's friendly and I feel safe. All the staff are nice and I have no problems with the other young people. It feels and looks homely and I have a nice bedroom. The food is good. I go on the bus by myself to see my friends and am happy with my family contact arrangements. I would like to stay here until I am 18 because it will give me better options.'

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Progress

Staff ensure all young people have timely health checks and annual statutory medicals to promote their continued good health and well-being. Young people also benefit from, and thoroughly enjoy, homemade nutritious meals and plenty of physical exercise. Specific and complex dietary needs and young people's favourite meals are particularly well catered for. Some older young people are now making their own health appointments. This is good preparation for future independent living.

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Progress

Staff actively promote and support appropriate education and work opportunities which best meets the unique needs of each young person and thereby maximise their full potential. Consequently, some young people now have very positive future career ambitions. One young person is now surpassing the school's expectations in respect to behaviour and achievement. Comments from teachers include, 'Young people are always clean and well presented and have excellent attendance' and 'I am impressed how young people's dietary needs are met by the staff at this home and the wide range of activities provided.' A social worker is particularly impressed with the excellent school attendance of one young person since moving to this home, especially given his starting point. An independent reviewing officer said, 'Staff worked hard to secure an education package for one young person following a very long gap without schooling prior to moving to this home.'

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Progress

Staff ensure gradual and sensitive admission and discharge processes so young people settle quickly in this home or their new placement with the assurance that they can visit at any time. They are also given a memory book of all the positive experiences they have enjoyed and benefited from while living at this home. It is testament to the significant positive impact staff have had on a number of young adults who still come to see them despite leaving care several years ago. A member of staff said, 'One young person comes all the time for meals. He left three years ago and another young person who regularly visits us left 10 years ago.'

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Progress

However, the admission and discharge register does not satisfy legislative requirements. There are no sections for detailing each young person's statutory provision and placing authority. Addresses prior to being accommodated and discharge addresses are also not always fully recorded. This shortfall has no impact on the welfare of young people.

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Progress

Young people are very well cared for by a particularly stable and experienced staff team. A wide range of specialist services are also involved to meet more specific and highly complex needs. External stakeholders confirm very good collaborative working with this home to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the young people living here. This has included staff supporting young people to be credible witnesses in court proceedings against perpetrators, thereby securing convictions.

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Progress

This is a highly motivated staff team who feel well supported to continue to improve young people's life chances. Comments include 'Its a brilliant staff team' and, 'The new manager has brought some great ideas and is really moving us forward and improving outcomes for young people.'

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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.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure each restraint record details any methods used to avoid the need to use the measure of control (Regulation 17B(4)(b)) 30/04/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the admission and discharge register includes all the details specified in Schedule 4(1). (Regulation 29(1)) 30/04/2014

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

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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