Children's home run by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in Bolton

Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 1 SC059853 Registered provider: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority short-break children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have physical disabilities and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 September 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2017 Full Outstanding 13/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/12/2016 Full Outstanding 17/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, risk management must consider all factors relating to risk, including risk of missing from home, and put in adequate measures to minimise the risks. 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to monitoring all records maintained on the computer to ensure that they are filled in accurately. 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in 31/12/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 4 schedule 4; and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)(b) Schedule 4 (3)) In particular, make sure that copies of staff rosters are accurate and clearly reflect the actual hours worked.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people accessing the short-break service are happy and enjoy their stays at the home. The staff work in partnership with parents, guardians and other professionals to help achieve individual identified goals. This contributes to young people’s overall experiences, development and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy spending their time with friends and take part in a wide range of activities. This includes activities both within the home and in the community. For example, the home has a range of games, toys and craft materials, which young people enjoy, as well as using local community facilities and clubs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the individual healthcare needs of young people and work in partnership with parents and professionals to ensure continuity of care and support provided. Medication is stored, administered and recorded, as required, by staff who have the necessary training to undertake this task. In addition, all staff are first aid trained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s views are central to their stay, with staff using a range of consultation methods to make sure they can contribute their views and opinions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment, with young people consulted about the bedrooms they wish to have during their stay. They are also encouraged to bring in some items to personalise their room during their stay. One young person said, ‘I like this room because of the colours and pictures.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people said, and indicated, that they feel safe during their stay. Individual risk assessments are in place which identify known and potential risks. However, one risk assessment in relation to missing was not clear and, following an incident of missing, this had not been fully reviewed and updated to reflect the measures and supervision to be implemented.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Individual behaviour management plans are in place for all young people. These include information on strategies to de-escalate behaviours and provide reassurance to the young person. Physical intervention is only used when there is risk of harm to either the young person or others. Staff maintain records of when a restraint has been required. There has recently been a new system implemented for the recording of restraints and Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 5 one record had not been completed as required on the computerised system. Because of this, the manager did not have clear oversight and evaluation of this incident. Further training on recording is planned to address this shortfall.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Consequences in response to negative behaviours are rarely used, due to the insight of the young people. However, when implemented, these are recorded as required. This enables staff to develop strategies to support young people effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Health and safety checks within the building are completed by the manager and staff to support the safety and welfare of all people within the home. Further work is being carried out to secure the rear door of the property using a fob system, to provide additional security.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Suitable recruitment and selection processes are in place, contributing to safeguarding young people from adults who may pose a risk to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has been in position since July 2007. He holds the relevant qualification, along with the necessary experience, to fulfil his role. He is supported by a qualified and experienced team leader. The second team leader post is currently vacant, and recruitment is ongoing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been a recent change of staff within the team. However, the manager has sought to maintain consistency for the young people by permanent staff working additional shifts and, on occasions, a reduction in waking night staff to one staff member, with a further staff member sleeping in for additional support. This measure was only implemented following a review of the needs of the young people currently staying at the home. While there was adequate cover, the duty rota lacked clarity to demonstrate this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff spoken with during the inspection said that they enjoy their role, receive regular supervision and are supported by the manager and team leader. They also attend a full week’s training programme on an annual basis to make sure all mandatory training is up to date. Additional training is also available, and staff use team meetings to discuss current issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Audit systems are in place to support the monitoring of the home. However, with the introduction of new online recording systems, the recording and monitoring of some documentation has been missed. This has been identified and the manager is acting to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Additional monitoring of the home is carried out by an independent visitor. Reports are completed and provided to the manager to provide further scrutiny of the service and areas for ongoing development. There had previously been a delay in these reports being received by the regulator. However, this has now been addressed, with all reports now received. Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Victoria Square, PO Box 29, Bolton BL1 1RU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bernadette Brown

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Inspectors

Sarah Oldham, social care inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC059853 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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