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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left and taken up another post within the organisation. Ofsted was not notified of the changes to the management. A new manager has been appointed who is suitably experienced, and she has submitted an application to Ofsted to be registered. The manager demonstrates a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service, and is fully committed to improving practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have not always been able to live together positively in the home due to their individual needs and challenges; this has resulted in a placement change for one young person. Three of the young people have lived together for at least a year. However, the admission of a new young person has impacted on the stability of the home in recent months. During this time, several incidents of aggression resulted in some staff receiving injuries, requiring them to take time off. That said, clear and consistent boundaries mean that the incidents of challenging behaviour have significantly reduced and are now far less severe for this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since being in post, the new manager has made progress in addressing the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Improvements to individual risk assessments around substance and alcohol misuse ensure that staff have clear guidance that promotes a consistent response. The supervision matrix demonstrates that all staff receive regular supervision and staff confirm that they are well supported. A member of staff said, ‘The management has improved… they listen to our ideas… Natalie has brought a lot to the team and we are more settled as a team.’ The manager has also taken action to clarify whether qualifications held by individual staff members correspond with the diploma level 3 in childcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are clear arrangements in place for safeguarding young people in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Overall, allegations are handled in line with policy; however, the records of allegations are less robust. For example, the home does not maintain a full record of the action taken and the outcome of any investigation. This does not provide a clear audit from which to assess whether the appropriate safeguarding procedures have been followed. Individual young people come to live at the home with already established high levels of risk-taking behaviours in respect of going missing and child sexual exploitation. Staff work well with other agencies such as the police, including the Phoenix team, Sexual Exploitation and Missing Team (SEAM) to manage a young person’s safety concerns. A professional commented, ‘They [the staff] are doing the best they can. I get weekly updates and they always phone with any concerns

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they may have. We have a better angle on it and have a measured view of it. They always tell us where they picked him up so we can try to find out who he has been with. I think they go above and beyond.’ The young person is engaging with the specialist support available and the signs are that his risks in relation to child sexual exploitation and going missing have reduced in recent months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager notifies the appropriate authorities when significant events occur. However, there was one occasion when a notification was not received by Ofsted. This means that the regulator was not able to assess whether appropriate action had been taken to ensure the young person’s welfare and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is currently reviewing and improving the home’s records. There have been some improvements to the restraint records; however, at times staff have used correction fluid to erase their mistakes. This does not ensure that the records remain legible at all times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals are extremely complimentary about the staff and the progress of young people. Comments include, ‘He is doing absolutely fantastic… I can’t speak highly enough of Natalie, she is working very closely with me.’ Another said, ‘They are supporting him well… joint working to find the right move for him.’ Those professionals in regular contact with the home confirm that young people receive a good level of care and support.

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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 who may have emotional and/or behavioural and/or learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/06/2016 Full Good 05/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/05/2015 Full Good 19/03/2015 Interim Improved 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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Requirement Due date

The registered person must — (d) provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34) 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

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Requirement Due date

(a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation. (Regulation 40 (4) a) 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

(a) a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children’s home; (b) a person ceases to carry on or manage the home. (Regulation 49) 10/03/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to not using Tipp-Ex to correct errors in the records. (‘Guide to the Children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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 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 0300 123 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 children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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