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

Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 1 SC040437 Registered provider: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home operates a short break service and also provides an outreach service.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2023 Full Good 16/02/2023 Full Good 05/07/2021 Full Good 22/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children accessing this service make exceptional progress from their individual starting points. Children benefit from exceptionally well-planned individualised care that leads to change and improvement in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live and stay in a warm and welcoming home that is decorated and finished to a high standard. The home has plenty of room, so that children can spend time together or apart. The space has been effectively utilised for children’s interests such as an arts and crafts room, a games room and a pool table.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to attend medical appointments routinely and when there are health concerns. Staff have worked closely with specialist professionals to ensure that children receive and benefit from the best possible help. Furthermore, staff can access consultations with therapeutic workers to support them to work therapeutically with children. As a result, children are more equipped to manage socially and emotionally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff communicate effectively with education professionals to ensure that the child living in the home receives the right level of support. For children who access short breaks, although education remains primarily the responsibility of the local authority and parents, staff have a positive impact on children engaging with education. This includes supporting some children to achieve recognised qualifications in areas of interest. As a result, children are invested in their education and have aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager and staff appreciate the significance of children’s relationships with family and friends. They are skilled in building relationships with children’s family. One child’s parent said, ‘I felt like they [staff] were looking after me too.’ When planning short breaks, staff consider who children have built up a good relationship with, so that they can enjoy their short break stay and make and sustain friendship groups.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has recently changed its conditions of registration in order to respond to service needs. As a result, short breaks have not taken place for a period of time. However, over the summer months, staff supported children to enjoy adventure-based activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, axe throwing and archery. These experiences ensure that children have fun and help to develop their confidence and self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are made aware of the complaints procedure and know how to make a com- plaint, although none have been made since the last inspection. The child currently living in the home sees the registered manager daily and is confident that any concerns would be appropriately addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home has a positive impact on the children who stay here or receive outreach support as they make progress across all areas of their development. Social workers, Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 4 children’s family members and other professionals’ comment on the difference that this service has had on their child. One social worker said, ‘I wish every child was able to access this home.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children benefit from effective support, help and protection. The safety and wellbeing of children is consistently at the centre of staff’s practice. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the police, social workers and other safeguarding agencies, to promote the safety and well-being of children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children have trusting relationships with the adults who care for them and listen to staff’s advice and guidance. There has been a significant reduction in risks to children because of the staff’s management of the children’s behaviour, which is safe and effec- tive. One parent said, ‘I can't be any more grateful for what they have done. She loves each of them [staff].’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Individual risk management plans are regularly updated and signed by all staff to ensure that they are fully familiar with the risks to children and the strategies in place to manage the risks. The registered manager and staff are pro-active in planning how to manage emerging concerns, seeking the input of all involved professionals while ensuring that the child’s voice is heard.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Behaviour management strategies in place are effective and well understood. Staff understand subtle changes in children’s behaviours and can predict certain behaviours and prevent incidents from escalating. As a result, physical intervention is used rarely and only as a last resort in order to keep children safe. De-briefs with children are detailed and support children to reflect and consider if anything could be done differently to help them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

There has been a small number of incidents of children going missing. When this has occurred, staff are proactive in contacting parents and associates and physically looking for children. Return home interviews take place and staff ensure that they have this information, so that they can update relevant plans. The registered manager has challenged professionals when they have been dis-satisfied with their response.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Effective and targeted direct work is undertaken with children on important issues. This includes matters specific to individual children and also targeted group work. Staff have planned direct work to take place over a number of weeks, including inviting guest speakers to the home, in order to ensure this has the most impact on children. Staff have access to a wide range of resources to support them in their interventions. This means that children are meaningfully engaged in education around areas of concern.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Safe recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that staff, including agency staff, are properly vetted before being employed. This means that unsuitable individuals do not work in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a highly committed and experienced registered manager. She has high aspirations for children and is a strong advocate for children. She is confident in appropriately challenging professionals to ensure that children receive the right support when they need it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is supported by a staff team who share the same values. Staff are knowledgeable, skilled and motivated to make a positive difference to children and families. Staff say that the registered manager considers their wellbeing and that they feel ‘heard and valued’, which is reflected in their continued dedication to their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager prioritises training and development opportunities for staff. Staff are allocated specific tasks to support their own development and as a result, staff are motivated to progress within their roles. Staff training covers mandatory topics as well as focussing on the presenting needs of children. A recent focus has been on children’s mental health, as well as systemic practice to improve outcomes for children and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and are well supported in their roles. Annual performance appraisals reflect the commitment to the future development of staff and also include feedback from children and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The work of the team is underpinned by the organisation’s strong multi-agency approach. Professionals praise the team and describe excellent communication. One stakeholder said, ‘Staff are excellent in communicating with the core group of professionals supporting the child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers know the strengths of this home. Records are clearly organised and management oversight is strong. The registered manager continuously reviews how the home is operating and the internal and external monitoring of the home is used to drive forward improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The previous shortfalls raised at the last inspection have all been met. Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 6

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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: SC040437 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Blackburn With Darwen Borough Council, Town Hall, King William Street, BLACKBURN BB1 7DY

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Inspector

Genevieve O'Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC040437 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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