Children's Home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Assurance visit report: SC484789 1 SC484789

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered to manage the home in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 19 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: inadequate

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC484789 2

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The care of children

Children and young people are well supported, and this is underpinned by the secure relationships that staff establish and maintain. Parents and professionals express confidence in the staff’s understanding of children and young people’s needs and that they respond appropriately.

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The care of children

Staff have ensured that children and young people maintain regular contact with their families, making good use of technology when face-to-face contact has not been possible. With support from staff, children and young people adapted well to these changes. More recently, managers and staff have progressed contact plans in line with government guidance.

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The care of children

During periods of school closure, maintaining the educational input for children and young people has been a priority for the staff. Staff have offered a creative and learning environment within the home, using a wide variety of resources.

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The care of children

Children and young people’s views are regularly sought and encouraged. Their understanding of choice and the exercising of this is explored through pictures, ‘social stories’ and regular exposure to shopping trips.

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The care of children

Staff offer fun and exciting activities to children and young people, such as boat trips, visiting safari parks and going to hydro-pools. Their individual hobbies and interests are also encouraged and nurtured.

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The safety of children

Staff provide a safe and nurturing environment through high levels of supervision. As such, there have not been any incidents of going missing from home or exposure to any other dangers that may pose a risk to children and young people’s safety and welfare.

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The safety of children

Overall, the need for staff to use physical intervention is low. When it has been necessary, managers have evaluated the measures and adjusted their approach to meeting children and young people’s needs. This has proved successful.

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The safety of children

Staff provide stable and predictable routines that offer children and young people the stability they need. Strategies and risks are clearly identified, and the low number of incidents is reflective of children and young people feeling secure.

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Leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the manager has introduced several changes that include improvements in staff recording, development of the staff team’s skill base, regular supervision and the streamlining of documents. Other improvements include the strengthening and expansion of the management team. Assurance visit report: SC484789 3 Since her appointment and registration, the manager has developed strong relationships with families and professionals. There are appropriate monitoring systems in place that inform the development plans for the home.

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Leaders and managers

Many of the requirements set at the last inspection have been met. However, the completion of some has been significantly delayed due to the restrictions regarding social distancing. In the main, these relate to the training of staff in areas such as sensory awareness, attention hyperactivity disorder and physical intervention.

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Leaders and managers

The number of staff in the home who are qualified remains low. Some staff have exceeded the expected time frame for completion of qualification studies by several years.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is aware of the shortfalls and has a plan to address these. The development of staff has commenced through using time at team meetings and regular supervisions.

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Leaders and managers

A requirement made at the last inspection regarding the recruitment of staff has not been met. The verification of references and seeking alternative sources of information lack rigour.

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Leaders and managers

Some young people do not benefit from a completed pathway plan and staff do not have access to relevant local authority documentation. This was a requirement made at the last inspection and therefore has been reinstated.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met. 31/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC484789 4 (Regulation 10(1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff are trained in order to appropriately respond to specific healthcare needs. 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13,(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 30/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 30/09/2020 Assurance visit report: SC484789 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton BL7 9AB

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC484789 6 to 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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