Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 1 SC483533 Registered provider: Birtenshaw Full inspection 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. It provides care for up to three children who may have learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 8 September 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Over time, young people make progress through living at the home. This progress is reflected in their increased abilities to perform independent self-care tasks and contribute to household routines. They also begin to make active choices, such as the clothes they wear, activities they want to do and the food that they eat.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer a patient and consistent approach to the care of young people. This enables young people to develop greater autonomy and reach their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to understand young people’s means of communication and they regularly promote young people’s input into the home. Staff are sensitive and nurturing in the care they offer young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from placements that are stable and last many years. This offers them a sense of belonging and safety. Parents and professionals express confidence in the care that young people receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Based on young people’s choices, staff offer a variety of fun activities that enrich their lives. These activities include swimming, days out at the beach, activities in the gym and visits to local parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, the home is relatively well maintained. However, young people are not provided with good-quality outside play equipment. In addition, there is damaged paint and plaster work that requires addressing, and one young person’s wardrobe is damaged.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

High staffing levels and appropriate vigilance ensures that young people are not exposed to adults or activities that may pose a risk to them. Staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding and understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people build trusted and secure relationships with the staff. Dependable support from the staff team has helped young people to improve their relationships with their families.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Professionals and families consider young people to be safely cared for.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are sensitive to young people’s emotional presentation and seek to prevent young people from becoming distressed or anxious. There are times when staff must physically restrain young people for their safety or the safety of others. However, the records relating to these incidents do not always provide sufficient detail. In addition, the young person is not offered a debrief by a member of staff who was Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 4 not involved in the incident. The manager is aware of this shortfall and has appropriately amended practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been one significant medication error relating to the method of administration. Appropriate liaison has taken place with professionals regarding this, and staff have been advised of correct administration procedures. However, the response by managers has not included additional safeguarding measures to prevent a reoccurrence of a similar error.

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good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is supported by a deputy manager and a committed staff team.

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good

There are six staff vacancies. As a result of the vacancies, permanent staff cover a large number of additional shifts. There is also reliance upon staff from other homes and agency staff.

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good

Staff report that they are fully supported by the manager who ‘leads from the front’ and by example. Her presence in the home ensures that staff understand their roles and the expectations regarding young people’s care.

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good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. However, these processes do not reflect discussion about young people’s progress, nor are they reflective in nature.

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good

Staff have access to a range of training that supports their skills base and the care offered to young people. However, several staff have not renewed their knowledge base in key areas, such as autism spectrum disorder and communication awareness, for a number of years. A limited number of staff have completed sensory awareness training. In addition, some staff have exceeded the timescales for the completion of relevant qualifications.

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good

The manager and staff develop and maintain strong working relationships with other agencies and parents. Regular meetings and liaison ensure that there are cohesive and meaningful plans for young people. Care management plans and young people’s goals are regularly reviewed.

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good

Although the statement of purpose has been updated, it includes details of the young people placed. Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 5

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff complete qualifications within the timescales set out in regulations. 30 September

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive up-to-date training in autism spectrum disorder, sensory awareness and communication awareness. The registered person must ensure that staff vacancies are filled. 30 September Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 6 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 aim and 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 (10 requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purpose 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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of the outside space reflects children’s sensory needs and that children are provided with good-quality play equipment. In addition, ensure that children’s furniture remains in a good state of repair. 31 August 2021

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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. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that details of children living in the home are not included in the statement of purpose. 13 August 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are afforded opportunity in supervision and team meetings to reflect on their role and the progress of children living in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that suitable learning and additional measures are in place to prevent re-occurrence of medication errors. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC483533 9 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

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