The inspection, carried out in March and published today (April 23), praises the progress made by the service under a new senior leadership team. Inspectors noted the “energy and pace” driving improvements and said children and care leavers are now receiving better, more responsive support.
ey Highlights from the Report:
- Improved Outcomes for Children: Services are significantly stronger than in 2022, with children benefiting from stable homes, timely assessments, and effective safeguarding.
- Strong Leadership: Inspectors credited a newly appointed leadership team for their clear vision, openness, and hands-on support. Staff described leaders as visible, trusted, and accountable.
- Supportive Workforce: Staff feel valued and empowered, with access to wide-ranging training and development. A relational approach to working with children is now embedded across the service.
- Positive Impact for Children in Care: Inspectors found that most children live in stable, supportive homes and receive care tailored to their individual needs. There’s also strong support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and care leavers with complex needs.
- Effective Partnerships: Collaboration with other agencies has strengthened, supporting children and families through early help, safeguarding, and care services.
- Family Hubs and Early Help: The borough’s network of family hubs and children’s centres was praised for providing timely, community-based support.
Areas for Improvement:
While the overall rating was positive, inspectors highlighted a few areas that still require attention. These include:
- Improving the support for care leavers who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) or who have stepped away from services.
- Strengthening planning and oversight for older children in care, especially those living with parents.
- Improving the response to 16–17-year-olds presenting as homeless.
- Ensuring consistent recording of management oversight and supervision in case files.
Council Response
Councillor Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
“It is hugely gratifying that this inspection recognises the determination and effort shown every day to support children and families. And to read that our care leavers ‘feel the love’ from their personal advisors means everything.”
Jo Siddle, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, added:
“We went into the inspection proud of our work and clear-eyed about where we still need to improve. We are taking all the recommendations seriously and will act on them at pace.”
Chief Executive Denise Park praised the compassion of the workforce:
“What’s made the difference is our dedicated staff and strong collaboration across the Council and partners, working with the same care as if these were their own children.”
The Ofsted judgement reflects the significant progress made by Blackburn with Darwen Council since the last inspection and highlights both the strengths of current practice and the areas where further improvement is still needed.
For those interested, the full Ofsted report can be read at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk
