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

Unique reference number SC360599 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Registered person address Blackburn With Darwen Borough Council, Town Hall King William Street BLACKBURN BB1 7DY Responsible individual Karen Elizabeth Barrick Registered manager Melanie Lisa Coglan Date of last inspection 03/12/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 25/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Young people continue to influence the running of this service. Since the last inspection, the home has achieved a national award which recognises imaginative practice with the young people, and their contribution to the design and delivery of the service.

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This inspection

Excellent partnership working with other agencies is ongoing. Steps have been taken to strengthen work with the child sexual exploitation (CSE) team, by means of a working agreement. The essence of this agreement is the commitment that both teams will work together to prevent risk to young people and to protect those who are known to be subject to CSE. Young people’s awareness and understanding of issues such as substance misuse and CSE are raised through the use of games and group work, which captures their interest.

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This inspection

The team continue to establish links with other service providers which increases the range of education options open to young people, and suitable referrals are made to these services. Some young people are working toward awards whereby their contributions to the service, and their accomplishments, can be formally accredited. Peer tutoring and life skills are amongst the award subjects.

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This inspection

The last inspection highlighted shortfalls in missing from home risk assessments and protocols. The Registered Manager took immediate action to address this. As a result all young people who access the short break service now have a missing from care risk assessment and action plans. In order to ensure the response from staff and other agencies matches the level of assessed risk, the plans are agreed with parents and social workers. Policy and guidance for staff have been amended to ensure a more robust response in the event that young people, placed in the ‘emergency bed’, go missing from the home. 3 of 5 Staff work with closely with young people and their families to prepare them for their first short break. Relevant information is gathered, young people are consulted about their likes and dislikes, they and their parents are invited to visit the home. As a result they know what to expect and apprehensions about using the service are

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This inspection

Progress against aims and targets set at the point of referral to the service, are reviewed and evaluated when deciding whether the short break service should close to individual young people. Their views, and the views of their parents or carers, contribute to the decision as well as consideration of the ongoing supports in place. This ensures that young people and their families are ready to progress without the provision of short break care.

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This inspection

Cards from young people, their parents and social workers express gratitude for the service, and the difference it has made to the lives of young people and their families. There have been no complaints about the service.

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This inspection

The requirement made at the last inspection has been met. No recommendations or requirements have been made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

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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Information about this children’s home

The service 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. The home can accommodate up to four young people at a time. Currently, a service is provided to approximately 36 young people, 15 of whom receive short breaks. In addition, one bed is reserved for use in an emergency and might be used, for example, in the event of the breakdown of another placement of a looked after young person.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2014 Full good 28/03/2014 Interim good progress 24/12/2013 Full outstanding 21/03/2013 Interim good progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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