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

Unique reference number SC360599 Inspection date 21/03/2013 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 26/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home owned and run by a local authority. The home provides short break accommodation for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home can accommodate up to four children and currently provides a service to approximately 44 children and their families. The 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 short break care from Friday evenings to Tuesday mornings only.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last full inspection in October 2012, the overall judgement of the home was outstanding. Since then, there has been continued improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for young people. The home is making good progress and provides invaluable support to young people and their families. The manager affords effective leadership of the home and has addressed the one recommendation made at the last inspection.

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Progress

The wardrobes in young people's bedrooms have been repaired and now have a clothes hanging rail. This means young people can hang their clothes in the wardrobe and keep them in good order. Young people benefit from the significant support of the staff team. Young people who contributed to the inspection said they 'like the staff' and 'like to spend time at the home'. During the inspection a young person thoroughly enjoyed a cake-baking session with staff guidance.

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Progress

Staff are very well informed and are fully aware of the individual needs of the young people who use this service. The home environment is warm, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. A number of refurbishments to the home have taken place. All bedrooms contain new beds, some have new carpets and there are plans to decorate and refurbish communal areas. Young people have a voice and are listened to so that their views make a difference. At a recent young people's meeting they made a request for a tropical fish tank in the home which management have agreed to.

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Progress

Young people benefit from an enthusiastic, consistent, qualified and experienced staff team. Staff understand the need to keep young people safe from harm. They continue to receive training appropriate to their work, for example, child protection and first aid. They successfully work with professional agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of young people. Missing from home episodes are few and far between and dealt with in line with local safeguarding protocols.

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Progress

Young people's positive behaviour is encouraged and managed very well. This has meant sanctions and physical interventions have not been necessary. A girls' group run by staff and held at the home discusses health-related issues and this has proved to be a great success. Following each session, as a means of achievement and encouragement, the young people are rewarded for their efforts with items of their choice such as toiletries.

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Progress

Young people who use this service are all in education and staff are very supportive of their school attendance. Staff maintain strong links with local schools to promote all aspects of young people's learning. Young people are taught independence skills in accordance with their age and ability. This includes learning to cook, bake and undertake general household tasks so that they gain skills to support themselves in adult life.

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Progress

The manager has a good overview of how the home is running and uses various internal and external monitoring systems to assist her in this aspect of her work. This helps to ensure a high quality of care is maintained. No recommendations have been made from this inspection.

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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.

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