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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff operate a short-break service that offers complementary outreach provision and parenting classes. The service aims to support young people to remain in the care of their families or to maintain their placement in foster care. The service has up to 40 children and families accessing support at any one time. Since the last inspection, staff at the home have completed a very wide range of intensive work packages with young people during their stay at the home. Young people have engaged in direct work which has reduced risk-taking behaviour significantly. One young person has considerably reduced their episodes of being missing from home. Some young people have learned how to regulate their emotions, which has resulted in improved behaviour and a more harmonious environment at home. Other young people have learned to build positive relationships and maintain healthier lifestyles, which has increased their self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work very collaboratively with parents and carers to improve relationships between families. One parent said, ‘I have learned to listen more.’ Another reported, ‘I have more assertive ways of making myself heard.’ Young people also report positive experiences at the home. One young person said, ‘I would like to come here every day.’ Another said, ‘Staff listen and are nice.’ Another young person said, ‘Staff take an interest in me.’ The home has received recent commendation from senior managers within the local authority for the good outcomes that young people achieve as a result of accessing the service. The manager works well in partnership with other services, and there is considerable evidence of constructive challenge when resource-based decisions have been taken that may have impacted negatively on families who use the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been only one recent instance of a young person going missing from the service, and staff responded to this appropriately. The manager was very proactive in ensuring that an independent return interview took place and reviewed the circumstances in order to safeguard the young person in future. He now accesses the service on an outreach-only basis in line with his wishes. There have been no incidents of physical restraint, sanctions or complaints since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager of the home has met the requirement and recommendations made at the last inspection. She has introduced a new protocol and provided staff with the training that they need to ensure that they routinely notify all incidents of significant concern to Ofsted. Staff now update risk assessments regularly and, in particular, following any incidents of challenging behaviour. The recording of visitors arriving and leaving the home has improved, and there are no shortfalls in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two other local authorities have recently visited the service to gather information on best practice to use within their own short-break service model. This is indicative of the innovative and intensive programme of support that staff are providing, which is resulting in highly positive outcomes for many families. Evidencing the detail behind those outcomes is a key area of focus for the manager. She is developing more detailed reports, which demonstrate a broader overview of the impact that the team is having on the lives of children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor to the home does not provide a clear opinion on the safeguarding arrangements and whether the conduct of the home promotes the well-being of the young people in their care.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home operates as a short-break service and is provided by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/12/2016 Full Outstanding 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/12/2015 Full Outstanding 23/03/2015 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 independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 30/04/2017

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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 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

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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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