Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1233310 1

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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

The home is part of a large charitable organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was completed off site. The purpose of the visit was to ensure that children are safe and that their needs are being met. The home has not been inspected since 16 April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

Suitable action has been taken to address the three requirements from the last inspection. The home continues to use a ‘locked-door policy’. This is proportionate to managing the risk of children exiting out onto a road. Use of this measure is reflected in children’s plans and recorded appropriately. The team is much more stable than previously reported. This has provided children with better continuity of care. Copies of statutory documents are now on file.

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This monitoring visit

A recommendation from the previous visit is carried over. This recommendation relates to medication management and was not considered during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Children are cared for by a dedicated and competent team of staff. The staff are led by a manager who is child focused and ambitious for the children living at the home. A parent described him as being ‘solution focused, and always wanting to improve opportunities for the children in his care’.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from parents and professionals is very complimentary about how children are supported and the progress they make. One social worker said, ‘The staff take a really joined-up approach and make sure everybody that needs to be involved in care planning is.’ The social worker also said, ‘I am more than happy with the care Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1233310 2 and support offered to [name of child]. [Name of child] is very settled and making very good progress.’

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This monitoring visit

The inspector was given a virtual tour of the home. Communal areas have been decorated in a way that provides a stimulating environment for children with sensory needs. This theme continues in children’s bedrooms, which are personalised and child friendly. One social worker said, ‘The home is lovely and [name of child] is free to move around her home. [Name of child] especially likes the sensory room and spends lots of time in there. The home is geared up to care for children with complex needs.’

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This monitoring visit

Children’s safety is given a high priority. High staffing ratios provide children with the necessary support to keep them safe. Detailed risk management plans are understood and implemented by staff. These are kept under constant review to ensure that the strategies being used are effective in reducing risk. For example, staff have supported a child to better manage and reduce sexualised behaviour, despite not being trained in this area.

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This monitoring visit

There has been one allegation since Ofsted last visited the home. Suitable action was taken including referral to the designated officer. However, in-house records were incomplete and did not provide evidence of the decisions made by external safeguarding professionals or the outcome of the incident. This information was acquired later during the visit from elsewhere in the organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/04/2019 Full Good 23/01/2019 Full Good 31/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1233310 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, 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 registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(d)) 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. 6 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive training in working with children who display sexually harmful behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure that a detailed record of when medication is transferred between home and school and that records include the time that medication is administered to the child. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 7.15, page 35)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1233310 4

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1233310 5 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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