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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 1 SC369857 Registered provider: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority and originally provides short-break care and outreach support for children and families who may be experiencing a period of difficulty or crisis. The primary aim of the service is to help children that are on the edge of care to remain living at home.

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Information about this children’s home

In October 2024, the local authority made the decision to provide full-time care and support for up to five children who may have experienced emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

During this inspection period, three children have moved into the home full time. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Good 01/03/2023 Full Good 01/12/2021 Full Good 28/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the service has undergone some change. Six children have enjoyed short breaks, and three children have received full-time care. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from children and families was overwhelmingly positive. Children like spending time at the home, they are supported with focused work and can engage in a range of activities, interests and hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals praised the support delivered to families and the positive impact of the service. Positive relationships with family members are an integral feature of the programme. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within each child’s family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are now living in the home and making good progress. One child is completing a hairdressing apprenticeship and preparing to move into supported accommodation. The other child’s care plan is to remain in the home and continue with training and education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are rewarded when they have done well, and their achievements are celebrated. This supports children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently undergone redecoration throughout, and children have been a part of this, choosing colours and items to personalise the space. This supports children to feel safe and valued in their home.

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

A great deal of thought goes into considering whether the service can meet the needs of a particular child and their journey, and progress is well captured. Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are clearly detailed, and plans are regularly discussed and reviewed by the team.

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

There have not been any instances of children going missing from this home. Children have clear missing-from-home plans that are detailed and understood by staff in the event of an incident.

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

Children are supported to manage their feelings safely. When incidents have occurred, staff have followed children’s behaviour support plans. As a result of this consistent level of care, there has not been a need to hold children to keep them safe.

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

Professionals shared how children feel safe and have made good progress. However, it is not always clear that staff support children to understand the risks posed to them. When Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 4 direct work is completed with children, this lacks detail and does not evidence children’s response or understanding. This is a missed opportunity to develop children’s knowledge of important topics.

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

Children are encouraged to become involved in the home and invest in the service. Children have played an integral role in the interviewing and selection of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to the children they provide care and support for. They want the best for children and the staff team. Staff are supported through regular supervision and training. There is a clear induction pathway, and the training assists staff to understand how best to support children and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are extremely enthusiastic about their work and feel supported by their manager. They take ownership of what they do and are passionate about making a difference. The effectiveness of this service is evident from the positive feedback shared by professionals and the number of children who have avoided long-term care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are regular team meetings, but these have not always been well attended. The manager has taken action to address this. The meetings are a forum for staff to discuss children, caseloads and reflect on staff practice to support each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and oversight of the home continue to improve. A deputy manager and senior residential worker have now been appointed to support the leadership, and acknowledged the need to address shortfalls such as ensuring that children’s records are better organised and to consistently detail the name and signature of the author. Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; 11 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 6 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child is provided with regular, proactive direct work that is planned and based on children’s presenting needs and feelings.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1) (a)(b)(c)) 11 March 2025

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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: SC369857 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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC369857 8 and inspects 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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