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

Unique reference number SC360599 Inspection date 03/02/2012 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 30/09/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

This adolescent support unit has two main functions. The first is to provide short- and long-term intensive community-based support. The second is to provide overnight 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 support 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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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

At the previous full inspection this service was judged as outstanding. Since then, the service has continued to progress by introducing a number of new initiatives. They include an improvement to the way consultation with young people is evidenced and the inclusion of young people's stated food preferences into the menus created, when those young people reside at the unit. This helps to ensure that young people are provided with food they like and also meets with any specific dietary needs they may have.

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Progress

The way the service supports and works directly with young people and their families has been extended. For example, an intensive, innovative and flexible package of support, which takes place both in the unit and at a family's home, has recently been put into place. This package improves the chances of the family being able to remain together, along with improving the outcomes for young people both socially, emotionally and educationally.

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Progress

Work has concluded on the development of a new, short-term planning format, which has received the approval of senior staff and is due to be introduced imminently. The planning format focuses on the information required when a young person first enters this service. This ensures a young person's specific, individual needs are identified and addressed quickly.

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Progress

Positive outcomes continue to be achieved by young people using the service. A well- organised, highly motivated staff team works flexibly with young people, which allows them a break from the pressures of home life. This helps to stabilise their place within their own home and allows for other areas of their lives to improve. Relationships between staff and young people are strong with individual differences accepted by all using and working in the service. Young people say they feel safe during the time they spend at the unit and feel they are able to influence certain aspects of its operation. Young people reflect on their progress regularly with staff, which helps to keep them keep focused and well motivated.

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Progress

The aims and objectives of the service are being fulfilled. Excellent quality assurance systems are in place to monitor the operation, management, young people’s welfare and the services records. No requirements or recommendations were carried forward from the previous inspection and no new ones have been made as a result of this inspection.

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