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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The enthusiastic registered manager and staff team have continued to provide young people with child-focused and personalised care, enabling them to make progress in several areas of their development. The majority of young people have remained settled in their placements and have positive relationships with the dedicated staff team. The home is comfortable and well maintained, the bathroom has been recently refurbished and the overall presentation of the environment is homely and comfortable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive good-quality care that is making a difference to their lives. They are fully involved in all aspects of their care planning and are able to contribute their views confidently. Staff help young people to identify their hopes and aspiration, and set short-term targets to enable them to achieve their long- term goals. This proactive approach has increased young people’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education attendance and attainment for most of the young people have improved. Young people are making progress and are on the right track to achieve successful outcomes. The registered manager and staff continue to have regular meetings, in some instances daily communication with education provision, to support young people. Most young people, to their credit, are ambitious and want to do well. They enjoy school and have aspirations for their future. However, despite the best efforts of the staff, one young person has been reluctant to engage fully with their educational placements, and this may impact negatively on them achieving their longer-term goals and ambitions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team recognise the importance of maintaining positive relationships with family members and people whom the young person see as important in their life. The staff team works effectively with the placing social workers to manage and support appropriate contact between the young people and those individuals who are important to them. Professionals are complimentary about the relationships that staff build with families, particularly with families that are reluctant to engage with services. This is a testament to the skill-set of staff and ensures that family networks are maintained and remain positive for the benefit of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In response to a previous recommendation, the manager has improved the quality of information within risk assessments. They are clear, detailed and regularly updated. Staff are completely aware of potential risks and understand how to prevent them. Changes in behaviour and emerging risks are quickly identified and routinely shared among the staff team and other professionals. The effective collaboration and risk management help to maintain young people’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of incidents in which two young people have exhibited challenging behaviour, including behaviours that include serious physical assaults on staff. On occasion, the staff team has used physical intervention to manage this behaviour and keep the young people safe. Physical intervention is well managed and monitored. Records are up to date and provide a good overview of the incident. Evidence indicates that, while young people are exploring boundaries and expressing feelings, the environment remains highly supportive. The staff team makes good use of debriefings and targeted interventions with young people to help them to reflect, express themselves, develop tolerance, and have respect for themselves and others. As a result, the frequency and severity of incidents are decreasing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records highlight a decrease in missing from care episodes, and the majority of young people do not place themselves at risk by going missing. However, there are emerging concerns in relation to one young person. He does not place himself at risk by going missing from care. However, there are significant push–pull factors in his spending time with associates. The manager has responded appropriately by sharing these concerns with the appropriate agencies, and has participated in all strategy meetings. Furthermore, the practice of the staff team is extremely proactive. A social worker confirmed this and said: ‘The staff team has developed a really positive relationship with [name]. They [staff] use this positive relationship to help [name] to progress, make safer choices and keep himself safe. In my view, staff at this home go above and beyond to help to keep young people safe.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is an effectively managed home. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and provides the home with visible leadership which promotes a good quality of care and positive outcomes for young people. She maintains a thorough oversight of care practices and has an excellent understanding of the individual needs of the young people accommodated at the home. The home is sufficiently resourced in terms of staffing. Staff have a broad range of experience and skills that enable them to meet the everyday challenges of caring for young people. Leaders, managers and staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities, and they are all given regular opportunities to develop and reflect on practice. Team meetings and handovers provide good opportunities to discuss the young people’s progress and to identify areas for development. These mechanisms have undoubtedly contributed to positive communication and consistency within the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

team. External monitoring of the home is well established and identifies areas for improvement. The visitor also gives their view on whether young people are being safeguarded effectively. This helps the manager to have an overview of the identified areas for improvement. The manager makes good use of regular internal monitoring. This supports her to identify areas of weaknesses and improvements that have been secured across the home.

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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 may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/09/2016 Full Good 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Good 12/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 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 who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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