Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Assurance visit report: SC373044 1 SC373044

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a charitable organisation and it provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a condition on this home that it must reduce the number of young people aged 18 and over who are provided with care and accommodation in the home. The registered provider failed to meet the wholly and mainly rule due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. The assurance visit confirmed that action had been taken to address this.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in October 2019. A manager has since been appointed and is ready to submit their application to be registered.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 29 October 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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. 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 Assurance visit report: SC373044 2 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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children and young people living at this home have experienced longevity of care, having lived at this home for a number of years. This meant that the home operated outside its conditions of registration, and in breach of the wholly and mainly rule. Transition plans for the young people were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager and the provider continued to be proactive in working with adult services to prevent further delay. This has seen three young people successfully moving to supported living.

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The care of children

The children and young people living at this home have developed a sense of belonging; it has become their home until they have reached adulthood. Families are involved and continue to play an active part in their children’s care.

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The care of children

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, family time has continued to be promoted and facilitated through telephone and video calls. For some young people, overnight contact has been sustained. For children and young people with complex learning disabilities, this has been a stabalising factor during these challenging times.

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The care of children

The children and young people’s views, wishes and feelings are captured through a range of communication methods and tools. The home is decked out with pictures, pec symbols and posters to aid the children in their communication. The staff have developed a pictorial ‘my social distancing story’. This means the children and young people are better able to understand the world around them.

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The care of children

Staff and the manager place much emphasis on the children and young people’s education. Most of the children and young people attend the company school and college. This provides them with continuity and consistency in care through the close working relationships that have been established.

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The care of children

When specialist help and support is required, appropriate referrals are made. For one child, early identification of needs has resulted in a pre-emptive referral to the child and adolescent mental health service. This will provide additional guidance to staff in meeting the complex behavioural needs.

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The safety of children

The risks and vulnerabilities of each child and young person are well documented. This underpins the strategies used by staff to manage known risks and hazards that support them in their day-to-day lives. Assurance visit report: SC373044 3 Behaviour support plans are detailed and highlight the specific actions and methods needed to manage challenging behaviour. For one child, this has seen a significant reduction in physical interventions since moving into the home. Staff are attuned in their engagement with the children and young people. This consistent response has seen a positive change in behaviour.

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The safety of children

Carefully planned transitions into and out of the home are individualised and undertaken at a pace that ensures the well-being of each child or young person.

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The safety of children

The children and young people thrive on the consistent routines and boundaries that give them a sense of security and stability in their lives. Staff are able to tailor their care and approach that helps the children and young people to make progress and have fulfilment in their lives.

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Leaders and managers

The home has experienced some instability in its management. There has been no registered or permanent manager in post since October 2019. A manager has now been appointed and is ready to submit her application to Ofsted.

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Leaders and managers

Due to the lack of consistent managerial oversight, and to some extent, the COVID- 19 pandemic, some staff have not completed mandatory training. This includes training in physical intervention, emergency first aid, health and safety, and administration of medication. This shortfall impacts on staff developing their skills and experience to assist them in their day-to-day care of the children and young people.

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Leaders and managers

Staff do work collaboratively; discussions on the individual needs of the children and young people take place during team meetings. Outcomes for the children and young people are better, as they can rely on the same consistent response. This has embedded a culture of consistency and stability of care.

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Leaders and managers

All complaints and allegations are robustly investigated. Action is taken to minimise or mitigate against it happening in the future.

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Leaders and managers

The provider has been proactive in addressing the requirements made at the last inspection. In particular, the recruitment of permanent staff has seen a significant reduction in the use of agency staff. It is now very rare that the provider uses agency staff to cover shifts.

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Leaders and managers

The environment of the home is much improved. Overall, it is homely and well furnished. There remain some areas in the home that require maintenance and repair, such as the shower, wall panelling and the second lounge. The manager has recognised this, and plans are in place to address this.

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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, the 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that all staff are up to date with their mandatory training. 15/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff complete accredited physical intervention training during their induction and prior to applying restraint on a child or young person. 15/11/2020

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Recommendations

 The home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. Children and their parents should be supported to understand the nature of records kept by the home and how to access them. Staff should understand their important role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Assurance visit report: SC373044 5 In particular, staff should ensure that they have signed, read and understood risk assessments, behaviour support plans and any other documents pertaining to the care of the children and young people living at the home.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

The manager should ensure that the home is maintained to a standard that meets the needs of the children and young people. This is with particular reference to repairing the shower and upgrading the bathrooms and maintaining good decor in the second lounge.

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC373044 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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Inspector

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