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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection this home was judged to be outstanding. The home continues to be exceptionally well managed and young people are extremely well cared for in a particularly nurturing environment by a stable, qualified and highly experienced staff team. Moreover, this home continually looks at ways of improving their service, so there are consistent positive new developments. To this end, a team day held in July 2015 explored ways of improving communication internally and with other stakeholders from current research and effective models. This resulted in the revision of some recording formats used. In particular, this has improved the detail of staff handovers to ensure consistency of care. Also, supervision sessions are now in line with the quality standards so all the team are getting to know them better. This home has experienced significant changes since the last full inspection in May 2015. At that time all the young people had lived together for many years, since

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

then there have been three discharges and three admissions. Two young people have moved into independence, which was carefully planned over a long period. This enabled them to choose their accommodation and the décor and furnishings. They both appreciated and benefitted from the excellent practical and emotional support from the staff during and after this major transition. One young person was admitted with a significant history of going missing from previous placements. These decreased both in frequency and duration at this home, due to effective partnership working with the police. However, he is now on remand accused of committing a serious crime. This competent staff team are strong and effective advocates for the young people. As an example they successfully ensured that one young adult, at his request, remained at this home beyond his 18 th birthday so he could successfully complete his college course. He therefore now has a qualification which will give

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

him more job opportunities. To his credit, prior to discharge, he was commended and rewarded for his bravery. He intervened in the local community when a vulnerable adult was being assaulted and secured an arrest. Staff helped one young person to move into a new and fully furnished flat of her choice, but she did not like living independently. She is now back home with her family and is continuing her college course so is very happy. This home provided extensive support in partnership with other relevant agencies to empower her to end an abusive relationship and to help the police secure a long term custodial sentence. The three new admissions have all experienced several previous placement breakdowns due to the complexities of their needs and the significant challenges they present. However, compatibility impact risk assessments have only been completed for the most recent referral prior to placement. Additional support was

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

put in place prior to admission to try to sustain the placement with a clear plan in place for her to live independently within the next three months, which is her expressed wish. She says, ‘I really struggle with communal living.’ The main focus over recent months has been on building sound relationships with the new young people. This has proved successful in that they have just come back from an all- inclusive holiday abroad and they all had a great time. One young person was happy to move here having previously lived within an emergency placement, and he already knew one young person from school. He says he ‘loves’ his highly personalised bedroom. He is gradually learning to trust staff following adoption and foster care breakdowns. He benefits from a good relationship with his keyworker and they enjoy playing pool and golf together. One young person is settling into the home in the knowledge that it is a long term

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

placement until he feels ready to move into independence. He is in good physical health and the staff have secured additional specialist support to help meet his complex emotional needs. They have also successfully negotiated alternative educational provision to meet his specific behavioural and learning needs. The one young person who has happily lived at this home for five years is continuing to flourish into an emotionally mature young adult. This is outstanding progress from her starting point. In the preceding 12 months before admission she had nine previous placements. Moreover, h er school attendance is excellent and she is on target to achieve all her expected GCSE grades. This is within a context of extensive missed education prior to being admitted to this home, which meant that her literacy levels were extremely limited.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s wishes and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home and all appropriate requests are positively responded to. For example, they felt staff were spending too much time doing paperwork. In response, this is now completed before the end of the school day or when the young people have gone to bed. Another young person asked to have orthodontic work which has demonstrably improved her confidence and self-esteem. Monthly meals out have proved to be a relaxed and effective way of ascertaining young people’s views. They are particularly pleased that they now have wi-fi in the home. An ongoing programme of redecoration and refurbishment ensures that this home is always maintained at an excellent standard. Most recently the young people have been actively involved in developing the second lounge into a gaming room. This indicates their investment into their surroundings. A key strength of this home is their proven ability to ensure that young people can

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

exercise genuine choice in respect to family contact and successfully support them to re-establish positive relationships. As a result, one young person was thrilled to see his brother at Christmas after a long period of time. Another young person now has contact with his previously estranged dad. Young people continue to enjoy a range of constructive leisure activities. Two staff members in particular, frequently arrange interesting day trips which are enjoyed by all. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which further increases young people’s competences and confidences. One young person chose to go on a golfing holiday with two staff before he was discharged. One young person is very talented at card tricks and another at drama. The only concern expressed by young people and staff is the number of young people needing the emergency bed at night and disturbing their sleep. This then

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

impacts on young people’s behaviour the following day. This was also raised at the last full inspection and assurances made by senior managers that this would be addressed, but no decisions have been made. Comments from young people include, ‘It’s still the same. One of them stole my Christmas present which was really annoying, even though staff replaced it the next day’ and, ‘It’s like you letting a homeless stranger into your home. It’s scary.’ A member of staff said, ‘No matter how many times we remind social workers of the need for all the required paperwork so we can provide appropriate and safe care , they will still arrive in the middle of the night with no information. It’s wrong, but we cannot turn a young person away who has nowhere to live.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Robust internal monitoring processes are firmly established and the evaluation of patterns and trends has been strengthened since the last inspection. This has resulted, for example, in one young person being prescribed medication to effectively regulate her intense emotions. The manager’s review report on the quality of care provided is an accurate and honest reflection of the many strengths of the home and areas for continued improvement. The two requirements and one recommendation made at the last inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. Consequently: all the staff are now trained to act as appropriate adults at the police station; a revised statement of purpose was forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner and there is now a more efficient system in place for ensuring independent return interviews are undertaken. Moving forward, a dedicated individual has been contracted to undertake monthly independent monitoring visits from April to further strengthen the monitoring

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

processes in place. Social workers are consistently extremely positive about the quality of care provided at this home. For example, ‘My young person sees this as her home and has strong bonds with the staff who advocate well on her behalf. They are particularly good at facilitating contact and supporting young people when they are let down by family.’

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Information about this children's home

This home is maintained by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people at any given time, of either gender, who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. One bed is only to be used in an emergency and for a maximum of three consecutive nights.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

31/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 To meet the care planning standard, the registered person must demonstrate that they only accept placements for young people when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to their needs as recorded in the relevant care plans and after fully considering the impact the placement will have on the existing group. (The Guide, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 To meet the care planning standard, the registered person must challenge any placing authority who asks them to accept a child without any information. It is essential that the home understands what is required of them before they accept responsibility for any placement to avoid instability for the child and the other children in the home. (The Guide, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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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