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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 This is a good children’s home where young people are supported to make good progress. Relationships between staff and young people is a key strength. Young people develop warm, trusting relationships with their carers and this helps them to feel secure, safe and happy.  Good levels of competent staff ensure that care planning and care practice are highly individualised. Young people are given many opportunities to develop their talents and skills by taking part in activities that they enjoy, while promoting their general development.  Staff engage in safe caring practice, and the home’s procedures ensure that they are clear about their responsibilities in ensuring the safety and welfare of young people.  There is a well-established staff team. Staff know each other’s strengths and work well together to ensure that boundaries are consistently used and positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded. The staff team members are

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The children's home provision is good because:

highly supportive of each other and ensure that the care of young people is their main concern.  The home is effectively managed in the best interests of young people. The manager is child focused and provides visible leadership for her staff team.  Staff are well supported in their delivery of good-quality care. The staff team members confirm that they feel valued and share the manager’s vision to improve the life experiences of young people.  Some shortfalls are identified. These relate to the information in physical intervention records, the quality of risk assessments and the need to ensure that all staff have the opportunity to update their safeguarding training. Shortfalls raised in this inspection have not currently impacted on the well- being of young people placed at the home. The manager remains committed to providing a good-quality service, supporting young people to make progress.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person/s meet/s the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person/s must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(viii)) 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. This is with specific reference to updating safeguarding training for all staff. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 25/11/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. When there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. This specifically relates to ensuring that risk management strategies are clearly recorded on risk assessments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority-run children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Living in this home has had a positive impact on outcomes for young people. The young people receive consistent care, clear boundaries and good routines. The positive and respectful relationships between staff and young people are evident. One young person said, ‘I’d definitely say this is a good home. Staff are really friendly. They care for me and want the best. They understand my needs and know how to respond to me when I’m feeling anxious.’ This demonstrates that young people learn that staff are concerned for their welfare and, as a result, they build trusting relationships and feel able to share their concerns and worries. Parents speak positively about the home. They confirm that they are comfortable with staff and are confident that their children are safe and well cared for. One parent said, ‘Staff support my child very well. In my opinion, this is a caring environment and staff have been very accommodating.’ Professionals are equally

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Good

positive. A social worker commented, ‘This home is getting it right. [X] has totally transformed. He is doing fabulously, so much so he is now able to play out with friends. For [X], this is massive and a huge step forward. For me, the greatest strength of this home is how much staff care, and they do genuinely care about young people.’ Effective collaboration with schools and the virtual heads ensures that young people can meet their educational targets. The majority of young people are making excellent progress and enjoy 100% attendance. When young people refuse to attend school, quick action is taken and alternative arrangements are put in place to ensure minimum impact on learning. When there are periods of exclusions, staff have a number of discussions and meetings with schools to ensure a successful reintegration. There is strong evidence that education is highly valued and promoted by staff. There is an aspirational culture in the home that helps

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Good

young people to aim high. This demonstrates that young people are given every opportunity to thrive educationally. Young people benefit from well-planned contact with their families, which is enjoyable and safe. Staff maintain close links with families and, when appropriate, ensure that they are involved in care planning decisions. Contact is promoted and maintained in a way that meets young people’s best interests. As a result, young people are able to maintain links and develop relationships with those who are significant to them. Young people have opportunities to be involved in varied social and recreational activities, such as attending a youth club, growing vegetables in a local allotment and horse riding. They also enjoy activities in the home, such as gaming, watching DVDs and arts and crafts. Staff ensure that young people develop the practical skills and emotional resilience to prepare them for the transitions to the next stage

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Good

of their lives. They are encouraged and involved in the preparation of simple meals, they clean up after themselves, and learn how to use public transport. This improves their skills and confidence and further equips them for adult life. There is extensive evidence to demonstrate that the young people’s wishes and feelings are central to how the home is run. Their views are constantly sought, and they are fully involved in care planning. They have a purposeful say in how they would like to be cared for and what they hope to achieve. Consequently, young people feel valued and motivated to work towards the goals they have set for themselves. This home feels like an ordinary family home, where young people are happy, settled and given the opportunity to explore who they are. Staff and young people work hard to ensure that the house feels like a home. Photographs of shared experiences are proudly displayed. This is a welcoming environment where young

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Good

Staff are conscientious and ensure that young people's welfare is promoted at all times. They act responsibly and always convey to young people the importance of making the right choices to keep themselves safe. Young people indicate that they feel safe, and staff clearly demonstrate respect and regard for them. Close supervision of young people ensures that their personal safety is maintained. These care practices ensure that young people are effectively safeguarded and protected from harm. Risk assessments are individualised and reflect the diverse personalities of young people. Staff can identify triggers to certain risky behaviours and work hard to help reduce situations that may cause significant harm to young people. That said, not all risk assessments clearly identify the actions that staff need to take to reduce and manage risk-taking behaviour. This has the potential to hinder the effectiveness of risk-management strategies. To date, there is no evidence that this

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Good

has impacted adversely on young people’s safety. However, this is not best practice and requires some revision. Individual behaviour management plans support young people’s behavioural needs. Good behaviour is praised and rewarded, which stimulates more socially acceptable behaviours. Staff know young people well and have developed strategies to manage behaviour successfully. They are clear that physical intervention is very much a last resort and are more comfortable using therapeutic techniques to defuse situations. Consequently, the use of physical intervention is rare. However, there are shortfalls, as not all records are fully compliant with legislation. For example, records do not capture whether a young person, or any other, has been injured as a result of an intervention. This compromises the integrity of the document and does not stand up to scrutiny in the event of a complaint. The manager has acknowledged this shortfall and is in the process of making the

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Good

necessary amendments to incident logs to ensure that records are more robust in the future. Following the departure of some young people, missing-from-care episodes have decreased. The majority of young people currently living in the home do not place themselves at risk by going missing. This further demonstrates that young people are settled and happy in the home. Records demonstrate that if young people do go missing from the home staff know the local area well and implement agreed procedures to go looking for them. Missing episodes are fully considered, carefully monitored and reviewed. Return interviews are conducted by an independent person, and there is a clear coordinated approach to these episodes. This further demonstrates that the safety and well-being of young people are given optimum priority. Staff are knowledgeable and confident in implementing the home’s child protection policies and take a proactive approach to ensuring the safety and welfare of

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Good

residents. That said, a small number of the team have not attended a refresher in safeguarding training. While this has not impacted on practice, it remains essential that core training is updated regularly to ensure that care practices remain effective. Young people, staff and visitors benefit from a physically safe home environment. This is achieved through regular health and safety assessments and environmental checks.

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Good

Young people benefit from living in a well-managed home that is fundamentally conducted according to the statement of purpose. The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2009. She demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering a child-focused service that prioritises the needs of young people. She maintains a good level of management oversight and has a detailed insight into the care needs of young people. Since the last inspection, the manager has made significant improvements to the admission process. Greater consideration is given to the appropriate mix of young people. This was confirmed by a social worker who said, ‘The manager is very good and understands what works. If a match isn’t right, she’ll say no. She is clearly passionate about getting it right for children.’ Impact risk assessments demonstrate that careful consideration is given to the current young people and new young person. Consequently, group dynamics are positive and there is less friction

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Good

between young people. This further promotes the well-being and safety of young people. The home employs a sufficient number of appropriately qualified staff to meet the needs of the young people. Staff are extremely positive about working at the home. They work together well and understand the need for consistency in order for young people to make progress. Staff receive regular supervision and feel well supported. Annual appraisals are undertaken, and professional development and competency are key focuses throughout. Appraisals also take into account the views of families and professionals and, when practical, the views of young people. This ensures that the manager is able to undertake a robust review of professional practice and that staff remain effective in their roles. Although there are some identified gaps in refreshing safeguarding training, staff confirm that they benefit from a holistic training programme, which develops and

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Good

evolves to ensure that they have the right skills to meet the individual needs of young people living at the home. Rigorous quality assurance systems are further improving young people’s outcomes and safety, as well as sustaining a high standard of care in the home. Both internal and external monitoring of the home takes place regularly. Reports demonstrate that performance is reviewed appropriately, and they identify areas of strengths and areas for improvement. Parents’ and professionals’ feedback is sought and young people also contribute to the monitoring process. The leadership and management team is familiar with the strengths and areas for future development. The manager makes good use of a development plan, which is being effectively implemented on a daily basis. This ensures that the home continues to grow and develop for the benefit of young people. The manager has taken appropriate action to address the requirements raised at

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Good

the last inspection. This demonstrates her commitment to ongoing development and an ability to learn from inspections.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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