Children's Home run by Birtenshaw 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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to thrive because of the consistent care that they receive from staff, who have an excellent knowledge of their highly complex needs. They are provided with a stable environment in which they are nurtured and supported to progress in all aspects of their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff value young people’s education and support them to reach their full potential. They take an active interest in young people’s educational progress, attending school events such as parents evening. They communicate daily with educational staff to ensure that both disciplines are working together to ensure that young people receive consistent approaches and responses. This collaborative approach means that young people are safe and receive consistent care. This has resulted in young people achieving AQA awards for staying in class for longer periods and participating in the school’s Christmas play, for example. Staff support and teach young people how to manage their anxieties and frustrations in a positive way. Staff are creative in the way that they support young people to manage changes in their lives. For example, staff use social stories with young people who are anxious about forthcoming transitions to adult placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This helps them to understand their future plans and provides a tool for them to share any worries with staff. This method is effective in helping young people to make positive transitions to other placements. A social worker said, ‘The manager is consistently proactive and always looking for new ways to support the young people.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use de-escalation strategies really well, reassuring and praising young people for positive behaviour. Staff work closely with placing social workers and other agencies, such as GMap, to ensure that young people receive bespoke behaviour management plans for their individual needs. This positive approach has significantly reduced the number of physical restraints, which are used as a last resort, to ensure that the young person, other young people and staff are safe. A social worker commented: ‘Incidents have reduced. Staff work closely with GMap to ensure that everyone is working together to meet [name’s] short- and long-term needs.’ Young people’s safety is given top priority. High staffing levels and safe recruitment arrangements ensure that young people’s welfare is promoted. The manager ensures that all safety checks are routinely carried out to provide a safe environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are highly child focused and proactive, and prioritise the needs of the young people at the home. Their knowledge of the young people is excellent. Staff are appropriately supported by their manager to provide a high standard of care. Staff report that they receive suitable training, and thorough and regular supervision. A staff member said: ‘I feel supported by the managers and team. I have supervision monthly and I have completed all safeguarding training, including ‘Prevent’ training. Our young people are vulnerable, even though they receive constant staff supervision, and keeping them safe is very important.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff welcome family members to the home and ensure that they are fully involved in all aspects of their child’s life, such as inviting them to attend medical appointments. Staff understand the importance of family contact and support young people to see their families on a regular basis. They ensure that contact is safe and assist young people to enjoy time with their families both inside and outside of the home. This ensures that young people feel supported by staff to keep up family relationships and is in line with their individual care plans. A social worker said, ‘Staff work closely with parents to enable them to have regular contact with young people’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendations raised at the full inspection have been suitably met. The manager has ensured that all records that are stored electronically are secure and fully accessible to staff. The home has recently had a new kitchen. This improvement has transformed the kitchen and dining area into a useful space where young people are able to learn independence skills in preparation for adult placements, such as preparing light meals.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a charitable organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/07/2016 Full Outstanding 07/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/09/2015 Full Good

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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 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 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

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

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