Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 1 SC373044

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Birtenshaw

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a charitable organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager, who has been in post since August 2020, is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This on-site visit was carried out in response to an anonymous complaint received by Ofsted. The complaint raised concerns about staffing, staff training, restraint practice and the measures in the home for managing COVID-19 (coronavirus). In addition, matters arising from safeguarding notifications and monthly monitoring reports have been considered. These include fire safety, restriction of liberty and the management of allegations.

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This monitoring visit

Suitable precautions are being taken to minimise the risk of COVID-19 in the home. Guidance is available for staff and includes the wearing of surgical-grade masks and aprons while on duty.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, the home was accommodating two children. They were being cared for by a suitable number of experienced staff, made up of a core team and individuals who children know from within the organisation. Both children appeared happy and relaxed in the company of staff. One child told the inspector that he was happy and felt safe, and that this was the best home he had been in.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made a concerted effort to ensure that mandatory training is brought up to date for all staff. Records confirm that gaps identified at the assurance Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 2 visit in October 2020 have been addressed. Consequently, all staff are now trained in physical intervention and emergency first aid.

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This monitoring visit

There have been two allegations made since Ofsted last visited the home. Both have been suitably investigated in liaison with the placing authority and local authority designated officer. However, in-house records did not include the details of strategy meetings or the outcome of the investigations. This information was acquired later during the visit from elsewhere in the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Each child has a personal emergency evacuation plan that identifies the support they require in the event of a fire. However, these have not been updated following a child refusing to leave the home during a fire drill. As a result, it is not clear what action staff should take if this occurs in a real fire, which potentially compromises the safety of children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

The home is using a ‘locked door policy’ to ensure the safety of the children living in the home. Detailed risk assessments and procedures for recording when the front door is locked are in place. Given the needs of the children, this is a suitable measure to stop them running out onto the road. Children can freely exit the home into a secure garden if they choose.

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This monitoring visit

Staff show patience and resilience when managing challenging behaviour. They are alert to changes in behaviour and make every effort to support children without using physical restraint. When restraint is used, detailed records are kept and provide evidence that the intervention was necessary and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Risk-management plans are generally detailed and highlight what actions staff should take to keep children safe. However, the self-harm risk-management plan for one child does not make it clear why items in the bedroom are restricted, other than those associated with ligatures. Consequently, the child’s bedroom is sparse and unhomely.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed training in responding to incidents of self-harm, including the use of ligature cutters. Incident records are detailed and affirm that staff are taking a supportive approach to keep children safe when they present a risk to themselves.

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This monitoring visit

Some areas of the home feel unhomely. There is a lack of personalisation in communal areas. Several areas need redecoration to cover damage and dirty marks on the walls, and a few items of furniture need replacing after being damaged. At the last visit, the manager spoke about plans to make improvements to the decor and modernise areas, such as the bathrooms. There is some evidence that this plan is being implemented. However, the plan needs expediting if the manager’s aspiration of a therapeutic home is to be achieved.

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This monitoring visit

One recommendation from the previous visit is carried over. This recommendation, which relates to the home’s records, was not considered at this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/12/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Good 20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the planned improvements to the environment are completed in a timely manner. 30 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(viii)) 30 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 5 Specifically, assess what items the child who self-harms can safely have in the bedroom, and provide these items to make the bedroom less austere.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

provides for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the home’s records are organised and include a full account of what action was taken and the outcome of any allegation. 30 March 2021

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Specifically, ensure that each child’s personal emergency evacuation plan contains guidance on what action staff should take if a child refuses to leave the home in the event of a fire. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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. 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. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.5) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373044 8 W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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