Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people receive care and support from dedicated staff who support and enable them to achieve and exceed their individual identified goals through creative care planning.  Education is supported well. Care staff work in partnership with teaching staff to provide consistent support and encouragement.  Staff use a range of methods to enable young people’s views to be gathered. This includes use of electronic aids, picture exchange, and signing. The views of young people contribute towards their day-to-day plans and experiences.  Robust safeguarding practice is in place and underpins the care provided. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place and followed by staff. These are reviewed on a regular basis to make sure they reflect current issue.  Staffing levels are high, ensuring young people with complex needs have equal opportunities to take part in activities and experience general daily living experiences.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The Registered Manager and staff have consistently high aspirations for the young people.  Through accessing research and examples of innovative practice, the Registered Manager and staff promote positive outcomes for young people. They have an excellent understanding of the service and the way they wish to continue to develop.

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Information about this children's home

This is one of a number of children's homes operated by a charitable organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people with physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/01/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Children and young people benefit from living in a home which places their health, education, safety, and well-being central to all practice. They have developed highly positive relationships with staff who provide nurturing and supportive individualised care.

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outstanding

Staff make sure young people’s views contribute to their care planning. A variety of communication methods enable this to happen. For example, picture story boards reflect goals and achievements. This visual aid is successful in reflecting progress. For example, one young person’s goal was to learn to clean and care for their teeth. The use of a visual aid enabled this young person to successful achieve this goal. Electronic tablets provide young people with additional resources to make choices and communicate their wishes well.

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outstanding

Young people are supported to lead healthy lifestyles and access health care professionals to meet their medical needs, this includes community based health care professionals and specialist services. The manager has developed excellent links with the local health centre to make sure the practitioners have a good overview of the complex needs of young people. Additionally, specialist resources, including learning disability nurses and children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) also have excellent links with the home. The Registered Manager advocates for bespoke health care resources where this may be help with overall health. This ensures positive promotion of children and young people’s physical and emotional health care.

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outstanding

All young people attend education. Staff have high aspirations and work in partnership with teachers and teaching assistants to help them achieve good educational outcomes. Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of educational targets and support this well. Some young people are completing tasks within the home contributing towards gaining AQA qualifications. These achievements are recognised and celebrated.

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outstanding

Effective planning supports young people when they move into the home. Consideration is given to their needs and those currently living there. Staff work in partnership with parents and carers to gain information to assist in the development of care plans. Introductory visits meet individual young peoples’ needs and are not rushed. This enables transition into the home to be a positive and reassuring experience. Staff support young people to have positive and agreed contact with their families. One parent said: ‘the staff always welcome me and make me feel at home. It gives me opportunity to observe how well my child is cared for and I can see for myself (name) is happy and the care is of a high standard.’

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outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the needs of young people, including known and potential risks. Staff consult with parents and social workers to gather information regarding behaviour. This information contributes to individual behaviour management plans and comprehensive risk assessments. This enables staff to implement strategies which are consistent to support young people, minimise risk and manage challenging behaviour with reassurance to aid young people be calm and remain safe. Behaviour management strategies and risk assessments remain under review to reflect changes and patterns. Comprehensive daily handovers enable information sharing to make sure staff respond to any changes made. This means young people’s needs are met effectively.

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outstanding

Young people are encouraged to lead full and fulfilling lives. Effective planning supports this. Their complex needs do not inhibit their opportunities, for example; young people take part in a range of activities both within the home and in the community. Comprehensive risk assessments provide clear guidance for staff to follow without unnecessary restriction.

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outstanding

High staffing levels ensure effective levels of support. However, staff are aware of the importance of allowing young people appropriate space in which to relax and while making sure they are safe, provide them with the opportunity to do so.

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outstanding

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care. Staff remain vigilant and demonstrate excellent understanding of procedures to follow. Young people living at the home are not at risk of child sexual exploitation. However, staff awareness of the signs, symptoms and knowledge of procedures further ensures safeguarding is robust and thorough.

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outstanding

Effective links with the Local Authority Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) are in place. Consultation and sharing of protocols means the home works in accordance with the requirements to maintain safety. The manager consults with the police and LSCB in relation to the home’s locality assessment. This further enhances multi-agency working in the promotion of safety.

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outstanding

Recruitment and selection of staff follows robust procedures to minimise the risk of unsuitable people being recruited who may present a risk of harm to children.

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outstanding

The home is located within a residential area. It is in good decorative order, with maintenance and safety checks completed. This means young people live in a homely and safe environment.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager has been in post since October 2014. She is suitably qualified, with a BA in Social Work and is currently working towards the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. Her practice is extremely child-focused and through effective analysis of care, monitors progress and outcomes for young people. She uses research to inform practice and works in partnership with specialist practitioners to further promote overall outcomes. A deputy manager who has an in-depth knowledge of safeguarding and working with children and young people supports her within her role. Together they provide inspirational leadership to a dedicated staff team who know the needs of the young people well.

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outstanding

Care planning is comprehensive, reflecting the individual needs of young people. The manager reviews and discusses plans with staff and looks at original and creative ways to enable young people to thrive. Examples of this include using personalised incentive charts to record and demonstrate progress in achieving planned achievable goals. Sensory stimulation engages young people well. The lounge is not only a sitting area but also a sensory room with lighting and tactile equipment. Hand held electronic tablets enable young people to communicate choice and wishes, and gain their views.

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outstanding

Weekly progress reports provide parents and social workers with an overview of achievements and areas of ongoing support. Information about behaviour, incidents, or concerns are recorded. This enables a true and accurate reflection of each young people’s week. Parents say communication with the home is very good. One parent said: ‘the manager has been exceptionally supportive in advocating on behalf of my child to access additional professional resources to support her needs.’ Another parent said: ‘my child is very happy and the care provided is excellent. The assessment and transition planning supported my child to move at the pace they needed and minimised unnecessary distress or anxiety.’

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outstanding

The manager has positive links with a range of professionals to promote cohesive multi-agency working to provide effective support while ensuring the child is central to all aspects of care. One social worker said: ‘the young person I support receives an excellent level of care. The manager and staff have high aspirations and strive for outstanding experiences and outcomes for all of the young people.’

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outstanding

Staff speak highly of the support, training and guidance they receive to fulfil their role. They receive regular supervision to discuss, reflect, and develop their practice. Annual appraisal further enhances this. This ensures young people receive care from staff equipped with skills and knowledge to meet needs and support their ongoing development.

p.8

outstanding

The home works in accordance with the Statement of Purpose. Regular reviewing makes sure information provided is accurate. This document is available to all parents, social workers, and interested parties. Children’s guides are accessible and personalised for each child taking into account their individual method of communication.

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outstanding

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place, with additional external oversight from an independent visitor. This enables her to act on any shortfalls in a timely manner.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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