Children's home run by Underley Schools Limited in Bolton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s Registered Manager is ably assisted by two deputy managers to direct and oversee the smooth running of the home. She shares with her staff a clear vision for development of the home and her expectations for young people to receive the highest possible standard of care. She is ambitious to ensure that young people reach their full potential, enjoying a wide variety of experiences and opportunities that will promote their independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements and three recommendations were made at the last full inspection of the home in October 2015. These have all been suitably addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s development plan now clearly reflects the management’s agenda for change and improvement that is intended to enhance the quality of care young people receive. Notably, there has been considerable investment in the home to refurbish many of the bungalows occupied by young people. This has included new carpeting, redecoration and new furniture that has considerably improved the homeliness of the accommodation. Staff have encouraged young people to personalise their bedrooms to their own taste and decorate their living space with soft furnishing of their choice. Young people are delighted with the changes made and have a strong sense of belonging in this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has also successfully secured additional funding to develop the homes sensory and play equipment resources. This includes a new sensory room, swings and other outdoor play equipment that provide young people with essential stimulation and fun. Staff and managers encourage young people to contribute their ideas and wishes during regular house meetings. This supports them to participate in planning further developments and ensures their voices are heard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has been proactive in scrutinising and challenging behaviour management practice within the home, reviewing monitoring activity and providing additional training and guidance to staff. Success has been achieved in significantly reducing the occasions when restraint is used. Staff share positive relationships with young people and show improved skill in de-escalating potentially challenging situations, avoiding the use of physical intervention that can increase the risk of harm or injury to a young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and their families speak highly of staff and the home. They report to feeling very re-assured that staff actively promote their safety. For example, since the last inspection, the home has improved fire evacuation practice and addressed some minor shortfalls in recording to ensure that documentation is comprehensive in addressing young people’s safety and guiding staff practice. The home has also updated its location risk assessment, appropriately reflecting further measures identified to protect young people in their immediate environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff report that they are well supported in their roles with all staff now receiving regular supervision that is appropriately documented. This ensures that they have clarity of management expectations and provides them with a good opportunity to explore and develop their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people thrive in this environment, making good, and at times excellent progress in many areas of their development. Staff are particularly attentive to young people’s health care needs and work closely with a variety of health professionals to ensure they provide highly individualised and appropriate care. Managers are staff are able to identify measurable success in many cases that highlights some very positive outcomes for young people. For example, one young person has continued to maintain regular weight loss as deemed necessary for his good health. This has not only improved the young person’s physical health but has increased his personal confidence and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff remain focused in optimising young people’s independence in day-to-day life, supporting them to experience new opportunities and learn new tasks that will assist their development. For some, this means focusing on learning basic self-care tasks and at the other end of the spectrum, assisting with driving lessons. The Registered Manager has strengthened arrangements for monitoring and progressing plans for those young people moving towards adulthood. She has initiated a six-weekly programme of meetings to bring together all relevant professionals involved with a young person’s life. This aims to ensure that planning remains highly focused, avoiding any drift in decision-making and moving forward with arrangements for their future care and support.

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Information about this children's home

 The home may only provide care and accommodation for up to 48 children  The home is privately owned  The home may provide care and accommodation for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities (LD)  The home must reduce the number of children by the number of people aged 18 and over for which it also provides care and accommodation  The service is also registered with the Care Quality Commission for young adults accommodated on site post 19

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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