Children's Home run by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in Blackburn with Darwen

Unique reference number SC372511 Inspection date 20/01/2011 Inspector Monica Hargreaves Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 02/06/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This local authority home is registered to provide a short-breaks service for up to five young people of either gender, who are aged between five and 17 years and who have a range of disabilities.

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Brief description of the service

The accommodation is all on one level and has been adapted to provide suitable facilities for children and young people who are wheelchair users. There are five bedrooms which are used by young people, all of which have sinks, call alarm systems, television and computer points. One bedroom has a ceiling track hoist. There is a large dining room and two lounges, both of which have ample storage space for suitable play equipment and toys and there is a separate fully-fitted multi- sensory room. There is one bathroom and two shower rooms which are all suitably adapted.

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Brief description of the service

The home is located in an established residential area. It is detached and set in its own grounds, with sufficient parking for staff and visitors. The grounds have been landscaped and have suitable play equipment for disabled and able-bodied young people.

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Brief description of the service

The home currently provides a service for 54 young people at different times. There were three young people present during this visit.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

At this unannounced interim inspection, all the key standards in the outcome area of staying safe were assessed. Recommendations made at the last inspection regarding transition planning and the arrangements for recording restraints were also reviewed. Information about the progress the home has made towards meeting these recommendations is given in the section below.

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Summary

Young people are cared for safely when they stay in the home. Staff have a very good understanding of their individual needs and they supervise and support young people very well. Young people are protected from abuse and from bullying and their right to privacy and confidentiality is respected. Challenging behaviour is well managed and with minimal physical intervention. There is good oversight of health and safety matters which ensures that the environment is kept safe.

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Summary

No actions or recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were made at the last inspection. These are both met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Staff work closely with families, young people and other professionals to ensure that plans are put in place for young people as move on from this service.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Incidents that result in physical intervention are appropriately recorded in a dedicated bound and numbered book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good systems in place to ensure that the privacy of young people is respected when they stay in the home. For example, staff deliver personal care in a way that promotes young people's dignity and they manage information appropriately to protect confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The service has a robust complaints procedure that ensures that any issues that are raised by parents and others outside the home are responded to promptly and investigated thoroughly. Staff have a very good understanding of the needs of young people and of the different ways that they communicate their wishes and dissatisfactions. This enables them to identify issues that affect young people and to resolve them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are effective arrangements in place to ensure that young people are protected from abuse when they stay in the service. Staff training in safeguarding is regularly refreshed to ensure that their knowledge is kept up-to-date and the home has a clear procedure for managing child protection concerns to guide staff practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying. The risk of this occurring is managed through appropriate staffing levels and good supervision. The booking system ensures that young people do not stay in the home with others who they do not get along with. This lessens the likelihood of young people being bullied.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff make sure that they know the whereabouts of young people at all times so that young people are not able to leave the home without their knowledge. The vulnerability of the young people who use this service ensures that this remains a high priority and staff know to make an immediate notification to parents and agencies in the event of a young person going missing. However, there have been no such incidents since the home opened. Young people are supported to develop socially acceptable behaviour. They benefit from having good quality individualised behaviour support and positive handling plans, which record the most effective strategies to be used. There are appropriate policies and procedures in respect of dealing with challenging behaviour and the use of physical intervention. Staff are trained and skilled in using strategies, such as distraction and diffusion, to manage young people's behaviour, which significantly

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

reduces the need for physical intervention. There is minimal use of sanctions, with the home placing a strong emphasis on rewarding positive behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from being cared for in an environment that is kept safe. Thorough risk assessments are undertaken on a range of issues, such as the care needs and behaviour of young people, activities and the environment. These systems ensure that potential hazards are identified and that strategies are put in place to remove or lessen them. All risk assessments are regularly reviewed. Fire and electrical equipment is checked at regular intervals. Staff are trained in evacuation procedures and young people and staff take part in fire drills so that they practice leaving the building safely in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The local authority has a robust procedure for the safe recruitment of staff, that is followed in this home. This ensures that all new staff are thoroughly vetted before they start work. The identity of all visitors to the home is checked. These systems contribute to the safety and welfare of young people ensuring that only suitable people have access to the home.

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