Children's Home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 1 SC484789 Registered provider: Birtenshaw Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children may have an autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home was registered in October 2021.

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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 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Good 19/02/2020 Full Inadequate 30/01/2019 Full Outstanding 05/12/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and welcoming. It is decorated well and is child-friendly. Each child has their own room and there is a comfortable sitting room that has plenty of toys and activities for the children. There is also a separate quieter playroom so that children can have their own space if they want it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have progressed very well in terms of their ability to communicate and their independence skills, and their behaviour has become more settled and calm. The inspector saw happy and peaceful children who have clear routines. There is a stable core staff team. The manager uses agency staff regularly but ensures that there is always a group of core staff on duty at the same time. Children know the staff who are looking after them and enjoy spending time with them. Children play alongside each other and can have their own space if they want it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child has their own individual plan and independence goals which are regularly reviewed and updated. The goals are openly displayed so that children know what their goals are, and staff help them work towards them. This means that the manager and staff are consistently supporting the children to progress and learn new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend school every day. Staff work with school staff and share information about the children. This enables them to provide the children with consistent care. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs. They take children to the necessary health appointments. Medication is managed well. All the permanent staff are trained in first aid.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families. This support has enabled the children to maintain family relationships. This is important for children as it helps them retain a sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are satisfied with the care that their children are given. They visit their children regularly and are made to feel welcome in the home. A parent said, ‘[Name of child] used to be aggressive, but with the support of school and staff at the home this has got better.’ Children benefit from seeing their family members very regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have weekly meetings. Staff are creative in how they communicate with children to ensure that they can choose what they will play with, where they will go out on activities and what food they will eat.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children’s rooms are individualised and some children’s rooms are very plain. The provider should consider whether rooms require personalisation. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 4

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

Children in this home are kept safe, and there are comprehensive risk assessments for each child. These assessments are live documents and subject to formal review twice a year. If a new potential risk emerges, it is analysed and added to the risk assessment. There is a system in place to ensure that all staff are kept informed of any changes to the children’s risks and records.

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

There have been a small number of physical restraints since the last inspection. These have been appropriate and recorded in detail. The manager has analysed each of these incidents and ensures that there is learning from each one. Staff understand children’s behaviours and their triggers.

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

The home has effective links with social workers, local authority designated officers and other safeguarding agencies. Social workers are pleased with the communication they have with the home. A social worker said, ‘There is very good communication. It’s a wonderful placement for [name of child].’

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place. Staff are carefully vetted to ensure that there are no known risks indicating they should not work with children.

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

Staff are offered training to help them understand and identify safeguarding issues and procedures. However, through discussions with staff, it was clear that some staff have not retained all the learning, particularly with regard to the use of the whistle- blowing policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the staff and the children in the home very well. He is clear about the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He is confident, and staff told the inspector that he is approachable and supportive. The manager has high ambitions for the children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager supports staff to enable them to carry out their work to a good standard. Staff are offered regular supportive supervision. They are given training to ensure that they are informed about how to meet the needs of the children in their care. Children benefit from being looked after by adults who understand how to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good relationships in the local community and there are plans to come together with the home’s neighbours to celebrate the upcoming jubilee. This will help to children to feel like they are part of their community and encourage a sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place to help ensure that the quality of children’s care, including the safety of the home, is checked regularly. The Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 5 manager ensures that children’s care plans are up to date and appropriate for each child. This ensures that children’s progress is understood and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Equality and diversity is promoted in this home. Children’s cultural needs are respected and promoted, including their diet, religious festivals, regular contact with family members and activities. When children’s upbringing and culture is respected, they retain a sense of self. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each staff member has a good working knowledge of the whistle-blowing policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.15)  The registered person should ensure that children have access to a homely domestic environment. This should include a bedroom that is homely, comfortable and personalised. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)

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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 for children’s home: SC484789 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484789 8 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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