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

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care for up to four children who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This unannounced monitoring visit was undertaken on 21 July 2021. The purpose of the visit was to explore concerns raised by a member of the public. Concerns included the behaviour management of the children, damage to the home and whether children were safe living in this home.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was completed by Ofsted on 26 May 2021. The requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection were not assessed at this monitoring visit. Therefore, they have been carried over to the next inspection. An additional requirement has been made to ensure that damage to the property is rectified.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an unsettled period at the home which has resulted in a significant amount of damage to the property. The manager has taken suitable action to make sure that the home is safe for the children to live in. However, some repairs, such as the window hinges and door frames, have needed to be ordered from a manufacturer.

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This monitoring visit

As concerns escalated, the manager held several strategy meetings with the children’s allocated social workers. In addition to this, staffing was increased, and staff received advanced levels of training in safeguarding and restraint. Team meeting were held regularly to support the staff and to discuss strategies and information from the strategy meetings. However, the staff team was unable to manage the children’s behaviour which continued to escalate. Notice to end the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC373044 2 children’s placements was served to the local authorities. As a result, one child has left the home and another child is waiting for a suitable placement.

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This monitoring visit

Behaviour management plans demonstrate the actions that staff should take in response to specific behaviours. Records of physical interventions contain all the required information. Staff update children’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans following significant incidents in the home. Children are offered the opportunity to discuss their views, wishes and feelings through a debrief session. Initially, children rarely participated in these. However, good practice is shown in that the manager explored this again later with the child and this has led to some success in engagement.

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This monitoring visit

All significant incidents are clearly recorded and shared with the children’s social workers, their parents and the designated officer. When necessary, the manager has initiated strategy meetings. Extra safeguarding measures have been put in place, such as additional staffing, to try to meet the needs of all the children.

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This monitoring visit

Investigations, strategy meetings and disruption meetings are arranged quickly. Good records are kept showing the actions taken, the involvement of all agencies and the outcomes. This ensures that all procedures are strictly followed. All staff are trained in safeguarding procedures. This helps to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

The Assistant Director of Care told the inspector that the leadership and management team had come to a decision to temporary close the home. She said that this will allow time for the staff team to regroup, for repairs to be made to the home and for a review prior to taking new referrals.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/12/2018 Full Good 21/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC373044 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, improve the standard of the environment by ensuring that ongoing and planned improvements are completed in a timely manner. 1 July 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; and

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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 living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; and 1 July 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC373044 4 provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that all children have a bed in their bedroom, and encourage children to safely personalise their bedrooms to make them 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. 1 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 1 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 1 July 2021

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 30 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children refuse meals, the alternative offered is healthy and nutritious, and that children are encouraged to sit and eat together at mealtimes. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC373044 5  The registered person should ensure that controlled medication is stored in line with the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should thoroughly evaluate all incidents of restraint and use this information to improve staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that staff refresh their safeguarding

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Recommendations

training and that they complete training in working with children with epilepsy and children who self-harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should ensure that arrangements are made for all staff to complete mandatory qualifications within statutory timescales, including those who work part time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the home against regulations as a result of receiving a complaint. .

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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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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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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