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 living in the home continue to make good progress. They receive excellent care from an experienced and established staff team whose members know the young people well. This provides continuity of care, enabling them to form strong attachments with their carers built on trust and understanding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard young people effectively while enabling them to have opportunities to enhance their day-to-day experiences. Staff understand the importance of providing care taking into account young people’s needs and potential risks associated with their individual disability, but do not see this as being a restrictive barrier to enabling opportunity. As such, young people take part in day-to-day tasks within the home; for example, helping to tidy their bedrooms, getting simple snacks and baking. They also take part in a range of activities within the community, including use of leisure centres, swimming, going for walks to local parks and ‘wheels for all’ bike club. Young people take a full and active part in planning the activities, and one young person said, ‘I like going out on the bikes.’ Detailed risk management strategies are fully recorded within individual care plans. Where there is a need for adaptations and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

specialist protective equipment to be used, for example harnesses, helmets or splints, these are fully included within individual plans and detailed records maintained of when they are used. This makes sure that young people’s safety is maintained effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work in partnership with parents and a range of professionals to make sure that young people’s current needs and evolving needs are identified and met. This includes specialist healthcare professionals, such as learning disability nurses, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), occupational therapy, and speech and language services. This multidisciplinary planning and working means that young people receive the support they need to continue to make excellent progress as a result of robust planning. It also means that when there is change in behaviours and engagement, intervention strategies are implemented to support the young person at an early stage.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the young people have education placements and attend the organisation’s school. The home maintains excellent links with the school. This means that staff have a good understanding of the young people’s education programme. Consequently they can further support the educational outcomes within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager actively sources research to help to inform practice within the home. Examples include attending external courses run by national specialist organisation in relation to autism. This information is shared with staff and helps them to develop their practice. Staff say they receive excellent levels of support through supervision, both on a formal and informal basis. Regular team meetings also enable them to reflect, as a team, on the progress that young people are making and identify further ways to support them. Parents speak positively about the home, the support their child receives and the progress they have made. They feel welcomed into the home and say it is homely, nurturing and they are confident in the care and support provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, it was identified there is not a specific sleep-in room for staff to use and they have a put-up bed in the young people’s lounge. To address this, agreement has been made to create a sleep-in room to minimise the impact for young people. The work is due to start in the near future and demonstrates that the home responds in a timely manner to recommendations made.

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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 three 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 18/10/2016 Full Outstanding 08/12/2015 Full Outstanding 06/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/04/2014 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 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 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.

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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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