Children's Home run by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in Bolton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 1 SC040723

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Registered provider: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to care for up to four children. The home provides support for children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2018. She also manages another home owned by the local authority that is in close proximity to this home.

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Inspection date: 28 February 2024

Date of last inspection: 11 October 2023

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Inspection date: 28 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 February 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a warm and well-maintained home. Since the last inspection, new carpets have been fitted throughout the home and redecoration is taking place. Children are contributing to the decor and have been supported to personalise their bedrooms.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have developed trusting relationships with the staff. The staff team provides a positive balance of structure and nurture. Children are supported to take part in activities and groups that they enjoy. This promotes their interests and helps them to develop their self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with their education and ensure that all children attend their necessary health appointments. Children have been supported to undertake direct work and smoking cessation to improve their health.

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Findings from the inspection

Care-planning is not robust. Leaders and managers had not identified that cancelled meetings had not been rescheduled. This does not support children’s progress or give them the opportunity to share their views and wishes regarding their care.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations have been responded to promptly; however, there has been a delay in sharing concerns with the relevant professionals. The outcomes of allegations and complaints made by children have not been shared with children once concluded. This does not support children in feeling safe or confident that their concerns are taken seriously.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities well and know how to keep them safe. Individualised risk plans provide staff with useful information and guidance.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are trained to meet the specific needs of children living in the home. Overall, children’s behaviour is managed safely and effectively. However, there has been one occasion since the last inspection when the police have been called to the home to manage children’s behaviour. The manager took action to support staff in understanding their roles and responsibilities and reflecting on the incident to reduce the likelihood of this happening again.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of children going missing from the home are rare. When incidents do occur, staff take appropriate action and the child is given the opportunity to engage in a return home interview. These established practices help to reduce risks for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 3 Locks on the internal doors have been removed and children now have access to the kitchen and dining room. However, children continue to be unable to independently leave the home due to locking systems on the external doors. The provider had taken action to address this prior to this inspection; however, the electronic system installed still does not allow children to leave the home independently. These practices are restrictive and do not provide children with a positive home environment. The requirement issued at the last inspection has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken action to ensure that there is now a clear record of the hours they spend in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s oversight of practice in the home is not always effective and does not identify areas for improvement. In her evaluation of an allegation being made by a child, the manager had not identified that there had been a delay in sharing information with professionals or that an outcome had not been shared with the child. Similarly, when children have made a complaint, there is no evidence that the outcome is shared with them or that they are informed throughout the process. This does not support children to feel valued and listened to. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/01/2023 Full Good 10/11/2021 Full Good 26/06/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 5

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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 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are informed of the outcomes of allegations and complaints. In addition, ensure that monitoring and review systems are implemented effectively to identify practice shortfalls and improve the service. 8 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 8 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 6 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is appropriate challenge to a child’s placing authority when a child’s statutory review does not take place within timescales.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the external doors do not restrict children’s movement and prevent them from independently leaving the home throughout the day.

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Requirement Due date

The requirement was issued at the last inspection and has been restated 8 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Victoria Square, PO Box 29, Bolton BL1 1RU

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040723 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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