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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people report that they feel safe and supported by staff. Staff work hard to help young people to settle in and are good at establishing strong and nurturing relationships with them.  Staff demonstrate a commitment towards helping young people to address their risk-taking behaviour, and every effort is made to help individuals to make positive choices about keeping themselves safe.  Effective partnership working promotes the welfare and safety of young people.  All young people attend full-time education and have excellent attendance.  Staff promote regular and positive contact with young people and their families. This helps them to maintain important attachments and to retain their sense of identity.  Young people are encouraged to engage in a wide and varied range of social and recreational opportunities.  Risk assessments undertaken by staff are detailed. However, one young person’s risk assessment in relation to substances misuse does not reflect

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The children's home provision is good because:

his current risks.  All staff receive regular supervision. However, there were no records in the home to demonstrate that the manager has had regular supervision.  There are recording shortfalls in relation to the physical intervention records and the legal status for one young person.  The registered person should establish whether the existing qualifications for the registered manager and a member of the care staff are equivalent to the level 5 diploma in leadership and management and the level 3 diploma for residential childcare.

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What does the children's home need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should continuously and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect the child. When there are concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps that the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The term 'equivalent', as used in the regulations in relation to qualifications, will be a judgement for the registered person, based on whether the content of any qualifications held by an individual closely corresponds with the qualifications set out in regulation 28(2)(c) (for managers) or regulation 32(4) (for those in a care role). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.13)  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  All children's case records must be kept up to date, signed and dated by the author of each entry. This specifically relates to the restraint records and to ensuring that the correct legal status is entered on each young person's records.(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional or behavioural and/or learning difficulties. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

5 January 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19 March 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Staff work hard to build positive and trusting relationships with young people. The young people benefit from consistency and stability, which gives them a strong sense of security and belonging. Consequently, most young people have made good progress from their starting points in their physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. However, staff have experienced some difficulties with a small number of young people’s challenging and risk-taking behaviours, including sexual exploitation. Staff have demonstrated perseverance when supporting these young people and have made every effort to help them to reduce these behaviours. One young person said that he is more settled now and it is ‘ok’ living here. Another young person commented, ‘This is one of the best… I’ve enjoyed my time here.’ Staff value the importance of education for the future life chances of all young people and make every effort to promote regular attendance. One young person

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Good

recently received an award for achieving 100% attendance. Young people are proud of their achievements, including one young person who achieved several GCSEs. He is now attending sixth form because he wants to develop his skills and knowledge further. Furthermore, he has secured a part-time job working in a café. Such achievements provide young people with opportunities to build confidence and to develop their skills to manage their lives successfully as adults. Young people are offered and supported to take part in range of activities both at home and in the wider community, which enables them to develop their individual hobbies and interests. For example, one young person is learning to drive and is an active member of the Voice 4 U group. Some young people and staff have been involved in a local project to regenerate a piece of waste ground into a communal area for the local community. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of each young person’s individual needs

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Good

and provide good-quality care and support. Young people, their social workers and family all confirm that young people are well cared for and like living in the home. A family member said, ‘As far as I’m concerned, they are fabulous… I can’t praise them enough.’ A social worker commented, ‘The team are very patient with [Name]… They are much more confident with him and have a good understanding of him.’ Young people live in a healthy environment that promotes their physical and psychological well-being. They have access to specialist services for their emotional health, smoking, substance and alcohol misuse and sexual exploitation. However, one young person has resisted engaging fully with these services and continues to place himself at risk of exploitation and offending. Young people are supported and encouraged to share their views on all aspects of their lives. They engage in house meetings, key-working sessions and informal

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Good

discussions with staff. Staff encourage them to complete a consultation form each month so that they can voice their opinions on the quality of care. In recent months, one young person has improved his interactions in the home, and he is more accepting of the staff efforts to help him to manage his anger and frustrations in a more constructive way. A social worker said, ‘He was very muddled about behaviour and expectations… The staff are very clear and firm… He says he wants to stay here and likes it. This is the best place he’s been.’ Staff provide young people with good support to maintain contact with their families and friends. This means that they sustain close relationships with the people who are most important to them. One relative confirmed that communication is ‘fantastic… The staff are very welcoming.’ Young people are encouraged to learn a range of practical skills, which will assist in their transition to adult life. They are supported to keep their rooms tidy, plan,

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Good

shop and cook their own meals, depending on their ages and abilities. Furthermore, they are prompted to travel independently using public transport. As a result, they become more self-assured in their own abilities.

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Good

Young people say that they feel safe and that they can discuss any issues or concerns that they may have with staff. Staff have undertaken key-work sessions with them to help young people to understand about keeping themselves safe. Risks are identified as part of the care planning process, with appropriate strategies in place to minimise these risks. These risks are well known and understood by staff. However, one young person’s risk assessment in relation to substance misuse is not clear, as it states that he ‘might use it’. It is evident that he is using substances on a regular basis. Staff work well with other safeguarding agencies, such as the Phoenix team and youth offending service, and with an emotional health worker and drug and alcohol workers, to promote the welfare and safety of young people. However, despite the best efforts of staff and other agencies involved, this is having little impact on one

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Good

young person, in particular, who continues to engage in risk-taking behaviours. Staff understand the missing-from-care protocol. The number of incidents can fluctuate for one young person in particular. When a young person’s missing behaviour is a cause for concern there is a specialist team linked to the police that carries out preventative work with young people. Independent return interviews are always undertaken, which gives young people opportunities to talk to someone independent of the home about the reasons for being missing, and identifies any potential risks. Staff provide a positive and supportive environment. There have been incidents of bullying, but young people confirm that staff respond immediately to intervene and to promote their welfare and safety. Work has been undertaken with young people to highlight the stress caused to those who are subject to bullying. This approach has led to improved relationships in the home.

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Good

Positive behaviour is encouraged by staff in the home. Individual behaviour management plans provide staff with clear guidance on how to manage young people’s challenging behaviours. Personalised rewards enable young people to increase positive patterns of behaviour. However, one young person has taken some time to accept the expectations of behaviour. Staff are more confident managing his negative behaviours because they are implementing clear and consistent boundaries. A social worker said, ‘Staff are much more confident. They have a good understanding of him and I’m a lot more reassured.’ The use of sanctions and physical interventions is kept to a minimum. Staff make every effort not to criminalise young people and they use a more restorative approach that encourages young people to reflect on their negative behaviours. There is a shortfall in relation to the recording of physical interventions. A new

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Good

physical intervention record was introduced in March 2016. Staff have struggled with the layout and there are a number of crossings out which makes it difficult to read. Furthermore, there has been no senior management oversight of a physical intervention that involved the registered manager. A higher level of scrutiny would assure senior management of safe practice. This minor shortfall has not had an adverse impact on young people. Robust recruitment practices are well established. This ensures that new staff are suitably vetted to make sure that young people are protected. Safeguarding training ensures that the staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe. The manager has good links with the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and any concerns or allegations are appropriately raised with the board.

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Good

The home is managed effectively by an experienced and qualified manager who has been registered with Ofsted since December 2012. There is also a qualified and experienced deputy manager who supports the manager in the management of the home. They work closely together to ensure that young people receive the support and care that they need to meet their needs. The manager has a social work qualification and a residential support worker has an education/social work degree. However, senior managers have not clarified whether these qualifications are equivalent to the level 5 diploma in leadership and management and the level 3 diploma for residential childcare. Staff support and supervision make them feel valued and highly respected. They work effectively as a team, which is reflected in the positive care that young people receive. Young people benefit from a team that is stable, experienced and competent. Staff are enthusiastic, caring and committed to delivering good-quality

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Good

care. They have access to good-quality training to help them to meet and understand the specific needs of young people living at the home. A member of staff said, ‘I love this job. [Name] is encouraging me to do my level 5.’ However, despite the manager confirming that she receives regular supervision, there are no records in the home to demonstrate this. The home meets the aims and objectives set out in its statement of purpose. The one requirement and three recommendations made at the previous inspection have been addressed and met. There is a detailed development plan in place to secure the home’s continuing development and improvement. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Care planning is of a good standard. Detailed placement plans reflect the needs and progress that most young people have made since coming to live at the home. Records show that young people are encouraged to contribute to their plans.

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Good

However, there is a minor recording shortfall in relation to a young person’s legal status. Despite the young person being on a full care order, some records state section 20. This has the potential to cause confusion for staff. Independent visits take place each month and provide rigorous scrutiny in relation to the quality of care. In addition, the manager undertakes monthly monitoring to identify shortfalls in practice. Professionals confirm that there is good communication between them and the staff, which promotes good quality care practice.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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 that 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 whom 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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