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

Unique reference number SC360599 Inspection date 14/01/2011 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 06/08/2010 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 adolescent support unit is one of a range of facilities provided for children and young people by the local council. The unit provides two main services. The first is to provide short and long-term intensive community-based support. The second is to provide respite accommodation from Friday evenings to Tuesday mornings only. Both are purposely flexible to meet individual needs.

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Brief description of the service

Each young person accessing the service lives at home with parents or carers who retain overall responsibility for them. Therefore, not all young people fall into the category of being looked after. However, they all have an allocated social worker.

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Brief description of the service

The overall aim of the service is to maintain young people in their own communities and avoid the need for long-term residential care. It is only the respite service that is registered with Ofsted and is the focus of this inspection.

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Brief description of the service

The unit comprises of two semi-detached houses which have now been made into one. It has four single occupancy bedrooms for young people as well as two staff sleep-in rooms. There is a lounge, dining room, kitchen and games room, as well as two bathrooms and two separate toilets. In addition, there is a separate office and a meeting room.

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Brief description of the service

It is situated in a residential area and is accessible via the motorway. It is close to a main bus route and other local amenities. Places of worship for all denominations are within easy reach. Transport is provided by staff who are designated as essential car drivers.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This short, unannounced interim inspection was used to follow up any recommendations that may have been made at the previous inspection. In addition, the key standards linked to staying safe have been reviewed. No change has been made to the overall rating attained at the previous full inspection, which remains as outstanding.

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Summary

Since the previous inspection, the management of the unit, along with the staffing, ethos, structure and working practices remain as they were. The unit is stable and continues to work flexibly in providing its designated range of services. It provides a safe environment and a high standard of care for young people.

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Summary

The feedback provided by young people regarding their experiences of the service, along with their views on staff and the steps taken to keep them safe, are extremely positive. They say they feel safe when in attendance at the unit and are well supported. They confirm that any cultural or individual needs they may have are fully met.

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Summary

No issues, concerns or complaints were raised by either young people or staff. No areas of concern have been identified as a result of this inspection and the report contains no new actions or recommendations.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No outstanding actions or recommendations were carried over from the previous inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety and rights of young people are protected. The organisation, working practices, links with external agencies and agreed strategies designed to keep young people safe, remain intact. The records detailing complaints, missing from home, additional measures and physical intervention are thorough, well maintained and kept up to date. They reflect the stability of the unit and the fact that behaviour management issues and incidents within it are almost non existent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Whilst young people say they have not had cause to make a formal complaint, they do understand how to access the complaints procedures and confirm they are provided with suitable information. They are confident that staff would deal with any issues or concerns they may have, quickly and fairly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The unit has retained its excellent links with the external agencies charged with specific safeguarding duties and works collaboratively with them in an effort to keep young people safe, when they are in the community. No issues of a safeguarding nature have ever been raised as a direct result of a young person staying at the unit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Adverse incidents linked to behaviour management within the unit, are extremely rare. Young people confirm they have never been bullied or intimidated at the unit and are confident that staff would intervene appropriately, should an incident occur. Those young people spoken with confirm they have never been sanctioned or involved in an incident of physical intervention. They speak well of staff, feeling they are approachable and fair. The relationships between young people and staff were observed as outstanding throughout the inspection. Although no new staff have been recruited since the previous inspection, the systems adopted by the unit to clear and recruit staff, meets with regulatory requirement and recognised good practice. Fire drills take place regularly and the necessary safety checks on appliances have taken place.

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