Children's Home run by Birtenshaw 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 receive highly individualised care and support to enable them to feel safe, secure and to make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Parents and social workers are confident in the support that the young people receive during their time living at the home.  Young people develop positive attachments with the staff team. This enables them to feel secure and comfortable within their home.  Staff have a good understanding of the complex needs of the young people. This enables them to provide effective care and support.  Young people are safe. A range of health and safety measures are implemented to ensure that risks are managed well. Staff are aware of individual risk and follow the detailed individual risk management strategies to continue to provide a safe environment and deliver care accordingly.  Multi-agency working ensures that the holistic needs of young people are addressed, including health. When specialist adaptations and equipment are

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The children's home provision is good because:

required, assessments are undertaken by professionals to ensure that the correct equipment is provided. Staff fully understand how this equipment is used and make sure that it is used correctly.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Areas of improvement noted at this inspection include the monitoring of physical interventions, which is not routinely robust. This with particular reference to ensuring that the duration of the intervention is recorded.  The home environment is warm and welcoming. However, one conservatory temperature is not regulated effectively to enable young people to relax in a comfortable area.

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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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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made that includes the duration of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)) 01/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person must maintain a homely environment. This is with particular reference to the quiet room having some soft furniture and a regulated temperature to enable young people to relax in a comfortable environment. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 four children and young people who have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/09/2015 Full Good 15/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness 08/07/2014 Full Good

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Good

Young people living within the home have a range of disabilities and complex needs, which staff demonstrate a good understanding of. They provide a nurturing and supportive environment for young people to live in. This enables them to make excellent progress in many aspects of their lives. This is a view shared by parents and professionals alike. One parent said: ‘I cannot praise the staff enough. Our son is settled and happy here. This means so much to me as a parent as well as seeing the progress he is making.’

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Good

Young people are fully supported to contribute their wishes and views to their care. The home uses a range of communication methods to facilitate this, including pictures, signing, and through observation of the young people. The staff work alongside school and speech and language therapists to provide consistent use of communication. This means that the young people are not confused by different and over-complicated communication systems which could hinder them from expressing their views clearly.

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Good

Young people have positive and strong attachments with the staff which have been built up through support. Staff know the needs of the young people well and this is demonstrated in the relaxed environment within the home.

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Good

Staff make sure that young people are provided with a range of opportunities to take part in activities, both within the home and the community. This includes games in the garden, riding scooters, using swings and outdoor play equipment, as well as going to community resources such as swimming, local parks and trips out. This helps the young people develop their social skills and provides them with opportunity to interact in a range of settings.

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Good

Healthcare needs are supported well. Many of the young people have a range of complex medical and physical healthcare needs. Healthcare plans are detailed and reflect the individual needs clearly. Staff work in partnership with healthcare professionals to ensure that these are effectively supported. This includes access to speech and language therapists, specialist nurses, dieticians and occupational therapists. Through this support, it is evident that the young people have access to appropriate resources to aid and improve their mobility, communication skills and strategies to manage behaviours. One parent commented: ‘My child’s mobility and communication has improved significantly. The support he receives from staff has really contributed towards this.’

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Good

Young people are supported to have a healthy diet. They are encouraged to try a range of foods which previously they may not have wished to do. Mealtimes are sociable and inclusive, enabling them to develop their interpersonal skills further.

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Good

All young people attend education on a full-time basis. They attend the organisation’s school and college in the local area. Strong and effective communication between the home and the school means that the staff have a good understanding of attainment and progress that young people make. They also support young people if necessary within the school, and teaching staff visit the home. This provides excellent links with education on both a formal and informal basis.

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Good

Effective transition planning ensures that young people are prepared for moving on to adult services. They learn skills in accordance with their abilities, to prepare them for adulthood. The manager and staff work with adult service providers to make sure that there is positive placement planning. This minimises the risk of future placement breakdowns, therefore promoting stability for each young person.

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Good

The home is maintained to a good standard, providing young people with homely accommodation, reflecting their individual likes and interests. When there is a need for specific adaptations to meet individual requirements, these are sensitively addressed and do not make the home feel anything other than homely. In addition to the lounge, dining area and kitchen, there are two small conservatory areas used as a computer room and a sensory room. These are used well by the young people. However, the temperature is not regulated effectively in the sensory area and this can sometimes limit the times that young people can access this area. Recent purchases of new sofas have made the living room a comfortable area for young people to relax in.

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Good

Young people’s safety and well-being are central to the running of the home and the practice of the staff. This is a view shared by parents and professionals. One parent said: ‘The staff look after our child very well. We know he is safe and they always inform us of any issues or concerns. They make sure he has the opportunity to take part in lots of things and provide appropriate supervision and support for him.’ Prior to placements being made at the home, the manager undertakes matching and impact assessments to make sure that the home can meet the needs of the young person alongside the needs of the other young people living in the home. This minimises the risk of placement breakdowns and instability for all the young people.

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Good

Comprehensive risk management support plans are detailed, providing individualised information for each young person. They are regularly reviewed, with any changes clearly identified and discussed in staff handover meetings. This makes sure that staff work consistently in accordance with the plans promoting robust safeguarding measures. Prior to the use of any specialist equipment that is required to maintain a young person’s safety, assessments are completed by qualified professionals and staff who have the required knowledge of their appropriate use. For example, this includes the use of vehicle harness or protective helmet. There have been no missing from home incidents, due to the high levels of staffing and support provided. However, staff demonstrate a good understanding of the procedures to follow in the event of this happening.

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Good

Young people demonstrate that they are relaxed and comfortable with staff and receive positive re-enforcement and praise. The focus and ethos of the home is on encouragement and praise. When young people demonstrate challenging behaviour, a range of de-escalation strategies are used, including redirection and distraction. Physical intervention is only used if there is a young person at risk of harm to themselves or others. All staff have received appropriate training, and when physical intervention is required, it is completed in a sensitive and appropriate manner. Records are maintained and information shared with professionals and parents. However, on one record inspected, the length of the intervention had not been recorded, as required by regulation, and on another, the area where the intervention took place. This information is required to enable the manager to have full oversight of incidents to establish possible reasons for the

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Good

Staff recruited to work at the home are subject to robust recruitment and selection practice and, along with monitoring of visitors to the home, this helps to protect young people from unsuitable adults in the house.

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Good

The manager and staff are committed to providing a safe and homely environment for the young people. However, the conservatory area used by young people is not suitably ventilated and can become very warm. This could make it uncomfortable for young people to use. The manager is seeking further advice regarding regulation of temperature in this area. Regular health and safety checks are completed and the area risk assessment is reviewed on an annual basis. Judgement grade

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Good

Since the last full inspection, the manager has registered with Ofsted. He is suitably qualified and experienced to undertake the role and is completing his level 5 in management. The manager and the staff team are all child-focused within their practice, have high aspirations for all the young people and are committed to helping them achieve positive outcomes.

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Good

Staffing resources ensure that there are a suitable number of experienced and committed individuals providing support to the young people. All staff receive regular supervision, attend team meetings and access regular training. This contributes to their developing and reflecting on their practice, ensures effective communication and contributes to consistency of care and support to the young people.

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Good

The manager ensures that there are clear lines of communication between the home, parents and placing social workers. One social worker commented: ‘The home always keep me fully informed of how [name] is. They provide me with regular updates and if there have been any incidents, these are also sent to me. They work in partnership with his parents and myself and this has enabled him to receive continuity of care.’ A parent said: ‘This home is like a home from home for my son. I am pleased with the level of care and support he receives. Staff always keep me informed of how he is doing and I know I can ring at any time to discuss his care.’

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Good

The manager undertakes regular monitoring of the home and documentation used. This is further underpinned by an independent person who completes monthly visits and raises points for further development of practice. However, there has been a shortfall of monitoring of the physical intervention documentation where incomplete information had not been identified by the manager. This has been raised by the independent visitor and discussed with the manager. This is to make sure that all areas of the home are safe and practice is robustly monitored. The manager has developed further systems to minimise the risk of an oversight of reports occurring again.

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Good

The manager responds effectively to any significant incidents, and appropriate action is taken. Notifications are made to the appropriate people in a timely manner. This makes sure that protection of young people is effective.

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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 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

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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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