Queens
Queens is located close to a large park in Blackburn. It is a large Victorian
end terraced house that provides spacious residential accommodation for
three children who have a learning disability and are aged approximately
eight to sixteen years at the time of their admission. This age range
will be dependant on a number of factors including the personality, maturity,
intellectual functioning and history of the child being admitted together
with the ages of the existing resident children or young people.
The children and young people living at Queens may present demands that are simply beyond their parent's ability to meet. We work in close partnership with parents recognising that the decision that their child needs to be looked after can, in itself be traumatic and that they may well require non-judgemental support and empathy in reconciling themselves to their decision. It is, in our view vitally important that parents and carers continue to feel that they remain a central part of their children's lives and our planning processes are inclusive. As far as is possible, and subject to any conditions determined in the child's Care Plan, Queens operates a policy of welcoming parents contact with their children at any reasonable time in order that they can satisfy themselves that they are being well cared for.
Clearly it is sometimes the case that parents are no longer an integral part of their child's life, particularly in the case of children who may have been victims of some form of abuse that has led to their becoming looked after.
We are adept at working with children who struggle to communicate through the usual means and understand that this in itself can and sometimes does manifest itself in behavioural difficulties that are, in part at least, based in frustration. We work in partnership with children's schools and other professionals to ensure that we can provide the consistency of approach that can assist children to feel both safe and secure in their living environment. Our Core Group process has proven to be of enormous benefit in this regard and we have found that this practice is welcomed and productively utilised by all of those who attend and participate in it.
We have established an excellent network with facilities that offer a multitude of facilities both specifically designed for the benefit of children with a learning disability and integrated services for all children. This supplements the specialist resources that we have developed at Queens in order to provide a stimulating, confidence building and learning environment for the children and young people living there. It can be the case that children referred to Queens may in time derive considerable benefit in the long term by being placed with a family and if this is the case then our colleagues in families@familycare can be of assistance in identifying potential foster placements for children initially placed at Queens.
Evidently many of the young people living at Queens will not be able to live independently as adults and we are able to support and facilitate their 'transition' period either to externally identified resources or, if so required, into a supported living environment customised to their assessed needs in early adulthood.
