Children's home run by Birtenshaw in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 1 SC483533 Registered provider: Birtenshaw

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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 part of a large charitable organisation. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 29 October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2024

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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: SC483533 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Good 11/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of each child’s needs. Staff are child centred and speak enthusiastically about each individual child and the progress they are making. One parent said, ‘Staff are fantastic and they keep me updated with everything. They go above and beyond.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child recently moved from the home, after living there for four years. The manager ensured that there was a well-planned, collaborative approach that was tailored to the child’s needs. Using social stories and through visits to the new home on several occasions, the child was prepared and moved on successfully. They are settling into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of each child’s method of communication and always consider their views. By using the picture exchange communication system and social stories, the children are involved in their day-to-day care. Children express how they are feeling and what they want, and actively choose their meals and the activities they would like to do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built trusting relationships with staff. Staff sensitively support children to start learning essential life skills, such has attending to their personal hygiene or helping to prepare their meals and snacks. This supports children to develop the skills required to become less dependent on adults for their day-to-day care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. This includes working with other health specialists and parents. This helps children to manage their lifelong conditions. Medication is managed appropriately. There is good management oversight to ensure that staff are trained and have the skills for the safe administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school regularly. Staff work closely with education staff to ensure that there is good working relationships and daily communication. One teacher said, ‘Staff at the home mirror some of the activities we do at school; this is helping the child to make progress with their educational targets.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly spend time with people who are important to them. Staff support children’s family time and have a good relationship with the parents. There is daily communication between staff and the children’s parents, and this enables them to be fully involved in the child’s life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in activities both in the home and local community. These include swimming, walks in the park, visits to a local farm and trampoline park. Children are willing to try new activities, and this is developing their confidence in being out in the community. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 4 Staff celebrate the achievements of the children; photos and certificates are displayed around the home. Additionally, staff have created photo books that capture important experiences, such as birthday celebrations, enjoying new activities, going on holiday to a caravan park and learning new skills. The manager sends monthly letters to both social workers and parents so they can share the positive experiences and achievements of the children.

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

Children receive a high level of supervision and support that is in line with their assessed needs. Keeping children safe is a priority for staff and is integral to daily practice. Staff support children and respond extremely well to any behaviours that challenge.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s risk and underlying needs. Risk assessments identify the children’s vulnerabilities and include comprehensive guidance and strategies for staff to follow. There have been no complaints, allegations or incidents of children going missing.

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

Staff are calm and caring in their approach to providing care for the children, and they have a good understanding of the behaviours that children exhibit due to their needs. Physical intervention has only been used when necessary to prevent children from causing themselves or others harm due to their needs. Children are supported to express their views after an incident using a child-friendly communication aid.

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

Restrictions are in place, with the external doors being locked to prevent children leaving the home without staff and putting themselves at risk due to their understanding and vulnerabilities. These measures are based on comprehensive assessments of each child’s needs and are carefully documented. These restrictions are agreed with parents and professionals involved in children’s lives. The manager ensures that restrictions are frequently reviewed to ensure that the minimum restriction is used to keep children safe.

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

The home is maintained to a good standard. Children have access to a wide range of toys and play equipment. Bedroom furnishings and decoration are carefully planned around children’s individual needs. This includes sensory toys in the home and garden. As a result, the home environment is nurturing and safe.

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

The manager ensures that robust checks are in place when recruiting new staff. This ensures that only suitable people are recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in management of the home. The deputy manager has held responsibility for the management of the home for the last 12 months, in the long-term absence of the registered manager. The new manager has applied for registration and is child centred, dedicated, committed and knows the children well. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 5 The manager has robust systems in place to ensure that she has clear management oversight of the day-to-day practice. The manager has completed a detailed review of the quality of care, which includes feedback from the children, parents and professionals. However, she has not included the feedback from staff to give her a full overview of the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children. A stable staff team provides children with continuity of care to ensure that they have stability and consistency in their lives. Staff all said that they receive support from the manager. One staff member said, ‘The manager is an outstanding leader, consistently demonstrating professionalism, compassion, and dedication to both staff and children. She ensures that all team members are well supported, trained and motivated to provide a high quality of care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a comprehensive training programme available to staff. This starts from induction and continues with staff having regular, ongoing training. The manager has ensured that staff have completed additional training around the specific needs of children, ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills they need to work with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and provide an opportunity for staff to reflect and share information. Supervision sessions take place in the appropriate timescales. This gives the staff an opportunity to reflect on their practice and gain further guidance and support to develop their knowledge and skills. Appraisals take place annually. However, the staff’s input into these is not recorded and it is unclear whether they are supported to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed good working relationships with other professionals. However, she has not ensured that she has challenged others when they have not provided an up-to-date health assessment or education plans. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 6

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that she actively challenges the local authority when she has not received the children’s up-to-date health assessment and education plans. 5 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place that allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulations at least every six months. This should include feedback from staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are given an opportunity to have their performance appraised each year to address any practice issues, and the staff member is given an opportunity to reflect on their practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for 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 for children’s home: SC483533 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483533 9 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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