Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC373044 1 SC373044 Registered provider: Birtenshaw

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

On 27 June 2022, Ofsted imposed a condition on the home which required the provider to give notice of their intention to accommodate children at the home. The provider contacted Ofsted on 5 July 2022, giving notice of their intention to move children into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home is currently having external work completed to change the fascia boards before children move in.

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This monitoring visit

Inside, the home is ready to accommodate children. One door has an internal lock which is not required and will be moved to a staff bedroom door.

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This monitoring visit

The provider is making plans so that children from another home move into this home in a carefully planned way. This will include the staff team and the manager, who will register for this home.

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This monitoring visit

The previous condition has been removed and a new certificate has been issued.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements made at the last inspection were not considered at this inspection and have been included in this report. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC373044 2

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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, 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 personalise their bedrooms safely 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 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC373044 5

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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)  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 training and that they complete training in working with children with epilepsy and

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Recommendations

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 action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since the home closed.

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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: SC373044 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Mark Broomhead, 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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