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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 1 SC360599 Registered provider: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide care for up to four children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides care for children who, for various reasons, are unable to live with their own families.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager resigned from her post in July 2021. A new manager has been appointed. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the manager has not submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Inspection date: 14 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 14 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 14 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, unforeseen circumstances have prevented the manager from making an application to register with Ofsted. The manager’s long periods of absence have had a negative effect on progress being made against the requirements and recommendations. An interim manager has been appointed, and they are due to take up their post imminently.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made regarding establishing and embedding managerial monitoring to ensure that children’s progress is regularly reviewed and evaluated. Some systems have been established, but they are not comprehensive and do not contain evaluation. In addition, recording by staff does not yet fully reflect work carried out with children, and not all records are appropriately reviewed by managers. For example, recording of some incidents lacks clarity regarding timings and actions taken by staff. On one occasion, in which a child did not feel supported, managers had not recorded their review and discussion with staff. A requirement made at the last inspection is restated.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement made previously regarding the recording of incidents of physical restraint and intervention has not been met. On some occasions, children have not been debriefed by either the manager or a designated person, and, in some records, the actions taken by staff are not clear. A requirement made at the last inspection is restated.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not yet benefit from planned and evaluated direct work. Some attempts have been made to plan this work around staff rotas. However, there is no determining plan as to the focus of this work or how this links to children’s goals. A requirement is made in respect of this.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation made at the last inspection regarding children being involved in their care planning, outside of statutory reviews, has not been met. A requirement is made in respect of this.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Documentation that assists staff in understanding children’s risks is not kept up to date. For example, some risk assessments do not contain information about recent incidents or risks that have emerged. A requirement is made in respect of this.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to attend education and make individual progress. Since the last inspection, multi-disciplinary meetings have taken place to review the progress of children. These meetings are yet to be embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 3 Staff work hard at establishing relationships with children to enable trust to develop. They have been instrumental in enabling family trips to take place and in overcoming any barriers that may have initially been present.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children have high levels of engagement with staff and enjoy the activities that are offered. These activities include swimming, trips out by car with staff, walks in parks and visits to theme parks. Staff utilise these occasions to talk to children and discuss a variety of issues. Some recordings by staff are detailed and demonstrate a nurturing approach to supporting children. However, the quality of recordings is not consistent.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children have benefited from outside agencies offering activities to children as an alternative to activities with staff. For example, the targeted youth support team has offered music workshops. For some children, this has proved successful.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, recordings of incidents of going missing from home have improved. Actions by staff are now clear and staff are active in searching for children and working with other agencies to secure their safe return.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Allegations and complaints made against staff by children have been appropriately investigated. However, a requirement made at the last inspection regarding appropriate and timely referral to the designated officer and Ofsted has not been met. On one occasion, there was significant delay in making these notifications. On another occasion, an incident that was subject to a strategy meeting had not been notified to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2020 Full Good 29/01/2019 Full Good 25/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 April 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates to embedding managerial monitoring systems, capturing children’s progress effectively and carrying out an ongoing review of their progress. This also refers to ensuring that up-to-date records are kept regarding work carried out with children and how this contributes to their overall plans and progress. 31 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 6 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of the measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(v)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the manager’s evaluation of events leading up to the incident and ensuring that children are given an opportunity to discuss the incident with the manager or designated person.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 April 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feeling standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child views and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to express their views wishes and feelings; 31 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 7 regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b) (2) (a)(i)(ii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that children take an active and ongoing role in developing their plans and goals. The plans should be written in a way that is easily accessible and meaningful for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (a)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to assessments of risk being kept up to date with relevant information regarding children’s safety and incidents or concerns that occur. 30 April 2022

p.7

Information about this inspection

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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, King William Street, Blackburn BB1 7DY

p.8

Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 9 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9