Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Westmorland and Furness

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have progressed from their starting point and since the last inspection. They are settled in the home and have forged positive relationships with staff and with each other. A young person said, ‘Yeh the staff are okay, they are a laugh. We all get on, well most of the time.’ Some young people live a long distance from their own home and family. They are very well supported, both emotionally and practically, to cope with difficulties around feeling homesick and missing their loved ones. This support has enabled young people to make a smooth transition and maintain a settled placement. Good relationships with the registered manager and staff team are a strength that has impacted very positively on young people. Relationships are built on trust and respect; this was clearly observed during the inspection. Interactions are relaxed and young people happily chatted with staff throughout the day. A young person

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

said, ‘I like the staff, they are a laugh and help us.’ Staff have a very positive attitude and this is reflected in their practice. They nurture and encourage young people. This was evident during the inspection; there was lots of laughter whilst staff and young people took part in a range of activities preparing for the Christmas holidays. A staff member said, ‘We like to keep busy. The young people are really looking forward to Christmas and we want to make is special.’ Educational outcomes are very good for all young people. Most of them have previously refused school, some for significant periods of time. All now have 100% attendance and are realizing their own potential in the classroom. There is a firm routine for getting children to school on time that young people have readily accepted. Staff at the home and school staff work together to provide high levels of consistency and continuity, which has proved very effective in supporting each

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person to achieve. The registered manager said, ‘The young people are doing so well at school. I am very proud of them.’ Young people are healthy and have access to the healthcare services they need. Menus are varied and nutritious and young people take part in a lot of outdoor activities, which encourages regular exercise. This aids their growth and development. Young people are consulted and listened too. This values their views and opinions and involves them in important decisions in their lives. They know how to complain and advocacy services and how an advocate can help them. All young people said they can talk to any staff member and they have one to one time with their key worker. Other ways young people are consulted include regular young people’s meetings; questionnaires and a suggestion box. Actively involving young people promotes their rights and respects their points of view. A young person said, ‘I can

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

talk to staff and my key worker. I can talk about anything.’ The registered manager and staff see the safety of young people as a priority. They have a very good knowledge and awareness of young people’s needs; their vulnerabilities and their potential for engaging in risk taking behaviour. Risk management is good, with robust individual young people’s risk assessments and comprehensive generic risk assessments that reduce known risks related to the home’s rural location. Good partnership working with local police and the local authority designated officer also contributes to the home’s drive to keep young people safe. These measures promote young people’s welfare and wellbeing. Behaviour is managed positively by using incentives for good behaviour and a restorative approach where poor behaviours have impacted on others. This approach teaches young people good behaviour is rewarded and how to take responsibility for their negative, challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leadership and management is a strength. The registered manager is an experienced practitioner with a very good understanding of the complex issues teenage young people experience. She is a skilled administrator and her monitoring of the home and young people’s care planning is of a consistently high quality. The staff team feel valued and supported and are committed to providing young people with good outcomes. A staff member said, ‘This is a good place to work. We are a good team and we all get on well. You can talk to the manager and she supports us.’ Since the home registered there has been an above average turnover of staff. The registered manager has explored the rationale for this and determined the reasons for staff leaving were not directly related to working at the children’s home. Nevertheless, this period of staffing changes that included employing some new inexperienced staff has in some instances impacted on the care and support of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people. The registered manager and more experienced staff have strived to maintain continuity for young people by working additional hours and prioritising the needs of the young people over other tasks; such as administration. However, there have been some significant incidents involving young people where behaviours have escalated resulting in injuries to staff; damage to property and the involvement of the police. It is determined that having inexperienced staff on duty is a contributing factor. Actions taken following these events include the registered manager undertaking a full and thorough analysis of each incident accompanied by robust action plans that include lessons learned. This informs current and ongoing childcare practice to ensure staffing adequacy. Young people and staff have been fully supported to understand what happened and why the events escalated. Behaviour management strategies have been reviewed and staff have been provided with additional

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

support, training and development opportunities. The home is good at ensuring notifications to Ofsted and other agencies are made to inform professional bodies of significant events. This shows practice at the home is open and transparent. This supports the integrity of the registered manager and ensures there are independent safeguards in place to protect young people.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for seven children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure planned staffing levels meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events. Additionally, ensure contingency plans are prepared in the event of a shortfall in staffing, in particular, where there is a high turnover of staff employed at the home. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 54 paragraph 10.15 and 10.18)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. 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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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