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 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. A manager has been appointed and is in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2020 Full Good 29/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 3

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improvement to be good

Children living in this home are making progress. Unfortunately, their overall experiences have been hindered by shortfalls found in leadership and management and aspects of safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

Children are routinely engaging in education and have good attendance levels. They attend settings which are appropriate for their individual needs. At the time of the inspection, one child was being supported by staff to complete national curriculum tests. This is an achievement for the child and demonstrates continued progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to maintain good routines, rules and boundaries in the home. These provide children with consistency, stability and structure. Children are aware of the expectations in the home, and this helps them to feel safe. Unfortunately, one child’s routines are supported by removing his television daily. The use of this consequence has not been regularly reviewed or revisited. This does not support children to progress and does not reflect good practice.

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improvement to be good

Children have recently enjoyed engaging in activities such as swimming, walking, and trips to the fairground and cinema. Additionally, children are encouraged to attend clubs and pursue hobbies and interests. For example, one child regularly attends genjitsu, which he enjoys. Another child enjoys fishing and, at the time of the inspection, was being purchased his own fishing equipment to support this interest.

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improvement to be good

Children are in good health and their needs are being met. When required, children have had mental health assessments and have engaged with relevant professionals. Children also attend routine health appointments, such as with the dentist, doctor and optician.

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improvement to be good

Children living in this home have complex and challenging behaviours. Risk assessments do not include all of the children’s risks. This means that proven strategies, preventative measures and actions to be taken to reduce or respond to these risks are not documented or available to staff. This reduces children’s safety and hinders staff’s ability to provide a consistent and agreed response to children’s unsafe behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Staff are resilient and are good at managing children’s behaviours when in crisis. Incident records show that staff understand children’s needs and that they demonstrate patience and understanding towards children. As such, police intervention and restrictions of movement are used as a last resort. Unfortunately, Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 4 following physical interventions, children have not been given the opportunity to raise concerns or speak with a person who is independent to these events.

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improvement to be good

Staff have responded well when children have had difficulties in respect of their emotional and mental health. External services have been contacted for support and children have received the appropriate medical treatment and interventions. Staff have also maintained observations to ensure children’s safety when this has been necessary. This ensures that children receive the necessary help and are protected from harm.

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improvement to be good

Children have previously made allegations of abuse. Staff did not have a good understanding of the steps to be taken to safeguard children and themselves in the event of an allegation made by a child. This does not ensure children’s or staff’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not completed a review of the premises and location of the home. This means that the known risks posed by the local area and community are not identified and assessed. This has the potential to reduce children’s safety and is not in line with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager has been appointed to oversee the home and is in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted. Changes in management and oversight of the home prior to their appointment led to inconsistent direction, guidance and support for staff, and this affected the continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The inspector found shortfalls in respect of effective monitoring and review across several areas in the home. Shortfalls in documentation and processes related to: complaints; consequences; training; quality of care reviews; children’s risk assessments; and assessments of the location of the home. The lack of consistent management oversight has meant that weaknesses in the home have not been identified or rectified within an appropriate timescale. Furthermore, requirements reissued at the previous inspection have not been met. This does not demonstrate that the monitoring, review and evaluation of the home are sufficient to improve children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The processes and procedures in place to manage complaints from children and others are not sufficient. Staff confirmed that complaints have been made by children. Children said that their complaints have been destroyed. The inspector was unable to view evidence that these complaints have been recorded, investigated, reviewed or resolved. This does not provide children with the opportunity to have their views and wishes listened to or to raise concerns about the home. This affects children’s confidence in the home and the staff who care for them, and does not demonstrate that their feelings and views are valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children are at risk of harm from, for example, self-harm, suicide ideation, missing- from-home episodes, exploitation and risks presented by the internet. Staff have not Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 5 received training in the areas relating to children’s current risks and unsafe behaviours. This does not provide staff with the knowledge and skills required to provide children with effective and informed help and protection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Quality-of-care reviews required by regulation have not been completed within the required timescales. This prevents effective monitoring and review by the regulator and does not ensure that the quality of care provided at the home is assessed by the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children are supported in this home by a dedicated and long-standing staff team. Despite gaps in training, supervision and continuity in management, those working in the home have remained consistent for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The new manager demonstrates good reflective and evaluation skills. Development days held with staff demonstrate the manager’s focus on improving the home and implementing a more therapeutic approach to care. Staff are complimentary of the new manager and say she is knowledgeable, approachable and child-focused. Leaders, managers and staff are keen to address the weaknesses identified at this inspection to improve the service and quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following this inspection, a case review was held and a decision was made to issue the home with a compliance notice in relation to regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express their views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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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. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 17 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 7 that staff—

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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))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii)(b)(e)) 17 July 2022

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 17 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 8 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(v)(c))

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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 17 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 9 manager or designated person. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)) 17 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and was not assessed. 17 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 17 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 10 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 17 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. The home should be a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children can access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded, and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10) Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 11

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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 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC360599 13 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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