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 judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has experienced a rise in the levels of disruption in recent months, with some young people displaying challenging and aggressive behaviour. Since April 2016, nine young people have been admitted to the home on an emergency basis for a maximum of three nights; however, one young person was supported to remain living in the home on a more permanent basis. His placement ended prematurely due to his bullying behaviour compromising the emotional well-being and safety of others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At times, relationships between young people have not always been positive, resulting in some young people experiencing bullying. Young people have colluded in targeting one young person in particular, culminating in him telling his social worker that he no longer felt safe and wanted to leave. Records show that young people and staff have at times been subject to intimidation, physical assault and verbal abuse. For example, on one occasion, a young person was taken to hospital because he felt unwell, and he told staff that another young person had forced him to smoke cannabis. Another young person told staff that he was being forced to do things he didn’t want to do by the same young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records show that staff have tried to address young people’s immediate concerns in relation to the bullying, but there is little evidence of work being undertaken with the perpetrator to assist them in understanding the impact of their behaviour on others or how to improve their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments in relation to bullying behaviour are poor and do not promote the welfare and safety of young people adequately. For example, these assessments have not been updated regularly enough in the light of further incidents of bullying. Furthermore, the risk assessment for one young person only identified his level of risk as medium, despite his being subjected to further incidents. This does not fully promote the welfare and safety of young people. One young person had to move out of the home temporarily because he no longer felt safe. At the last inspection, a recommendation was made in relation to only accepting placements where the home is satisfied that it can respond effectively to the young people’s needs, as recorded in the relevant care plans, and after fully considering the impact the placement would have on the existing residents. One young person’s impact risk assessment highlighted concerns about his behaviour,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

including bullying younger or weaker children. It was felt that the current arrangements could meet the needs of all the young people and that no additional resources were required. However, incidents of bullying escalated to the point where young people have felt unsafe in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a mixed picture in terms of progress and experiences for young people. For example, young people are attending education and making some progress. In one instance, there has been an improvement in attendance levels. Staff have also supported two young people through their key exams and in securing college places. However, the unsettling period has had a negative impact on the quality of relationships between young people. For example, staff were unable to address the power imbalance between young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both the registered manager and her deputy accept that they have had a difficult few months and that the mix of young people has not been good. In response to this, the registered manager did take her concerns to senior managers, resulting in steps being taken to remove one young person to a temporary placement out of the area. The change in group dynamics has meant that the home environment has been more settled in recent weeks and young people feel safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Shortfalls were found in the management oversight of the records of incidents and bullying. Paperwork does not provide a clear and accurate record, and for example, several records had the same incident log number despite each entry relating to a different incident. Furthermore, it is not always easy to read some records because the information is handwritten and not always legible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent person routinely visits the home to review the quality of care. Ofsted regularly receives copies of their monitoring reports, which provide a good overview of the home between inspections. A number of requirements have been raised to address the shortfalls identified at this inspection and to secure the necessary improvements for the home to move forward.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties, and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities. One of the five beds is used as an emergency placement for up to a maximum of three nights (four working days).

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

31/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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11: The positive relationships standard

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults.

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11: The positive relationships standard

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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11: The positive relationships standard

(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (vii) help each child to develop understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; (viii) strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is

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11: The positive relationships standard

unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and 02/10/2016 (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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11: The positive relationships standard

In particular, the home should ensure that children are helped to understand the impact of their behaviour upon themselves and on the safety and well-being of others.

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12: The protection of children standard

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the provider must ensure—

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12: The protection of children standard

(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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12: The protection of children standard

(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm, and specifically that risk assessments are up to date and reflect young people’s current risks and vulnerabilities; in this case bullying. 02/10/2016

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14: The care planning standard

In order to meet the care planning standard, the provider must ensure—

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14: The care planning standard

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 02/10/2016

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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 whom 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, work- based 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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