Children's Home run by Birtenshaw 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 improved effectiveness . This home provides care and support to four children and young people who have complex needs. Since the last inspection, there have been no young people admitted to the home, with the four young people currently resident benefiting from stable and planned long-term placements. There has been a change of manager and deputy manager. However, the core staff team has remained, with the addition of two staff to provide continuity of support to the young people. This has minimised the impact of change, providing stability in day-to-day care. Additionally, both the new manager and the deputy manager have transferred from other services within the organisation and therefore have knowledge of the young people as well as how the service operates to support them. Young people attend school on a full-time basis. Three of the four attend the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

organisation’s school. The manager has further developed the links with teaching staff to have a detailed plan of each young person’s educational goals and attainment. This has supported staff to fully understand targets and these have been enhanced with a structured plan to support young people’s learning and development within the home. This cohesive approach is further promoting excellent outcomes. Comprehensive care plans underpin support provided to each young person. Linked in are individual healthcare plans and detailed risk assessments. These are kept under review and updated to make sure that the care provided is reflective of current need. These plans are developed in conjunction with placing social workers, parents and the young people. The ‘What is important to me’ document is the young person’s version of the plan and is in an appropriate format, using symbols and pictures. The voice of the young person is reflected within all documentation

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and is discussed and shared with them. Regular key-worker sessions and individual one-to-one time further support the young people to be fully involved in their care. Monthly key-worker reports are shared with family. They reflect progress made and identify ongoing goals. Since the new manager has been in post, she has introduced training and reflection of practice as part of the weekly team meetings. Staff who spoke with the inspector were highly motivated and passionate about their involvement in supporting young people. They all confirmed that the manager is approachable and knowledgeable and has shared research-based practice to enable them to learn and develop their practice. This means that young people are supported by staff who have high aspirations and place the best interests of young people at the centre of the care delivered. Staff have a strong understanding of safeguarding, ensuring that any concerns are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

addressed by following agreed protocols to minimise risk of harm to individuals. The home works in partnership with other professionals, including a specialist learning disability nurse and psychologist from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), to implement agreed strategies to support individual young people when their behaviour is heightened. The use of restraint is only used when a young person is at risk of harm to themselves or others. Detailed records of any incidents are maintained. These reflect the consistent practice by staff of using agreed strategies to de-escalate and redirect young people, to help minimise the need to be held. The requirement at the last inspection in relation to the records of restraint has been fully addressed. Following a review of documentation, the manager identified shortfalls and addressed these through training with staff. This included revisiting the organisation’s internal policies and procedures and the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

relevant legislation. Staff said that the training has supported their practice and that the management oversight of the records is robust. The home has been redecorated, and young people contributed by choosing the colours for their bedrooms, which are personalised to reflect their individual interests. The accommodation is spacious, providing young people with a range of areas to relax in. Communal areas include a sensory room, relaxation area, games room and computer area, as well as the lounge, dining room and kitchen. At the previous inspection, the temperature in the relaxation area could not be regulated. This reduced the time that young people could use it. An air-conditioning unit has been installed to address this, making the area safe and comfortable for when young people wish to have some time and space to relax. The statement of purpose has been updated. It reflects the aims, objectives and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

practice of the home, providing interested parties with relevant information. The young people’s guide has also been updated and is in a format which is suitable for the young people for whom it is intended. Young people’s records are stored securely. The level of recording is of a high standard and reflective of the progress that young people are making.

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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, learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

15/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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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