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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home provides a high standard of individual care and support for young people. Integrated working with teachers and qualified therapists is effective in helping young people overcome their difficulties.  Staff have excellent relationships with young people. This enables them to win their trust and work positively with them. They respect young people’s views and give them as much choice as possible consistent with keeping them safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Some young people’s behaviour has been disruptive for others. Nevertheless, staff have established clear boundaries and expectations. They help young people to adhere to these through close support and supervision.  Young people feel safe. Staff respond effectively to any bullying and there are very few occasions when young people go missing.  There has been a very high number of physical restraints since the last inspection. Senior staff evaluate patterns of these incidents very thoroughly. This has had some impact in reducing their frequency.  One statutory requirement and one recommendation have been made in relation to minor shortfalls in practice.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard with particular reference to ensuring that young people’s local authority planning documents are kept within the home, the registered person must ensure that children: (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 31/03/2016

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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 that the home provides a domestic and homely environment. Specifically, that young people are not required to sign documents such as sanction records and key worker sessions. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides accommodation for up to seven children with emotional and/or 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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Recent inspection history

21/07/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Good

Staff have a good awareness of young people’s needs, and the support they require to make progress. Following a requirement made at the last inspection, care plans have improved. They are more detailed and contain targets for each young person to achieve. These are realistic and achievable, and reviewed every month with the young person. As a result, young people make steady improvements in all areas of their lives. Each young person is discussed in regular meetings between the key worker, teachers and therapists. The placement plan may be modified as a result, ensuring that the expertise of all professionals working with the young person can be put to best use. A social worker said, ‘The target setting is good and reflects the wrap-around therapy which was a key requirement of the placement for the young person.’ Several young people’s files do not contain the necessary local authority care planning documents. Although

p.6

Good

staff have chased up the relevant authorities they have still not been provided. This means that there is no certainty that the home’s plan for the young person is consistent with that of the placing authority.

p.6

Good

Young people have good relationships with staff. They enjoy their company and often share their innermost thoughts and feelings with their key workers. These attachments help young people to deal with anxiety and stress more effectively. The quality of the relationships enables staff to maintain a relaxed atmosphere, using a quiet word, or appropriate humour, to defuse any tension.

p.6

Good

Young people make excellent progress in education. All attend the on-site learning centre. There is close cooperation and communication between care staff and teachers. Occasionally, care staff will support a young person within school, taking advantage of their relationship with them to manage any difficulties. Staff also help young people to learn within the home. One young person said, ‘My key worker helps me with my reading on a night.’ There is similarly close liaison between staff and the provider’s therapeutic team. Each young person has regular individual therapy sessions. The aim of each is guided by the placement plan and the young person’s agreed targets, and the content and outcome are fully shared with the key worker. This makes for a ‘whole person’ approach to addressing young people’s needs and improves their emotional wellbeing. The home also benefits from the weekly input of a consultant

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Good

psychiatrist providing expert clinical oversight of young people’s development. Young people are in good physical health. There are no issues with risky behaviours such as smoking or alcohol use, staff having supported some young people to stop smoking since their admission. Staff encourage healthy eating, with some young people having gained a taste for vegetables by helping to establish an allotment. One young person has built a greenhouse using recycled plastic bottles. Staff enable young people to express their views in a number of ways. The complaints process is accessible and transparent. There have been a number of complaints from young people about the disruptive behaviour of others. All are addressed in full and resolved. Young people have regular group meetings in addition to individual sessions with their key workers. There is a variety of activities for young people to enjoy, most based in the community. These include youth

p.6

Good

club, rugby, army cadets, swimming, and using the local library. One young person is an active member of the local dramatic society, and has recently taken part in a production of Cinderella. Young people also enjoy holidays with and without staff. One young person went on a two-week army cadet camp, others have been caravanning and camping. These activities are important in developing young people’s skills, enhancing their self-esteem and confidence, and keeping them in touch with the community.

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Good

Staff are good at planning young people’s moves into and out of the home. They visit young people prior to their admission to introduce themselves, provide information, and get to know the young person’s needs and preferences. This ensures that their stay in the home gets off to the best possible start and reduces their anxiety. A social worker said, ‘The transition was really well planned. The key worker was involved from day one, the whole thing was a really positive experience for the young person.’ The home’s daily routines help young people to develop self-care skills. The large kitchen enables young people to practise cooking, and they are encouraged to keep their rooms tidy and do their own washing. Staff are about to introduce a formal programme to assess each young person’s independence skills as they approach adulthood. A particular strength of the home is its ability to promote and support family

p.7

Good

contact. This is especially important for young people whose home area is far away. One young person said, ‘I talked to my key worker about wanting to see my family more often and she has got me more contact.’ As a result of the staff’s commitment to maintaining family ties, many young people improve their relationships with their parents. This stands them in good stead for the future.

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Good

Staff provide clear boundaries for young people. This protects them as well as helping them to develop their own self-control. A social worker said, ‘The young person has settled really well, rules and boundaries were made clear from the beginning, they have challenged the boundaries but staff are on the ball, they have kept her safe.’ Staff manage challenging behaviour well. Each young person has a detailed, individual support plan which sets out what might trigger an outburst and how to manage it. The quality of relationships between staff and young people is also a critical factor. Many potential incidents are avoided by a quiet chat between a young person and their key worker. A social worker commented, ‘The young person has a great relationship with their key worker. It really helps with their behaviour. The same young person confirmed this, saying, ‘When I’m unsettled staff help me, it keeps me safe, it’s amazing here.’

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Good

Since the last inspection in July 2015 there have been 156 physical restraints. Senior staff review restraints in great detail on a monthly basis. They look at the young people and staff involved, time of day when they happened, and what was going on in the young person’s life at the time. This enables an overview of patterns and trends, and has helped the provider to make positive changes. For example, a large number of restraints were taking place when young people returned from school, so the registered manager allocated additional staff to be on duty at this critical time. This kind of analysis has helped to bring about a steady reduction in the number of incidents. For example, in the last three months there have been 21 restraints, compared to 60 in the three months to September 2015. There has been particular success in reducing the use of the most restrictive technique, holding a young person on the ground.

p.8

Good

It is rare for young people to go missing. When they do, staff follow clear procedures which are compatible with local authority and police protocols. They maintain detailed records which track the episode from start to finish. When young people return, staff are proactive in ensuring that they have the opportunity to be seen by a person independent of the home. This is a valuable additional safeguard. Individual key worker sessions with young people are used to discuss how they can keep themselves safe. Recent work has been done with all young people around internet safety and the risks as well as benefits of social media. This gives young people the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe, for example, from the risk of sexual exploitation. One young person said, ‘I know that being safe is the most important thing, and I do feel safe here.’

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Good

Staff have a good understanding of the risks to young people inside and outside the home. Written risk assessments on individual young people are regularly reviewed and updated to take account of new information and changes in behaviour. For example, young people are allowed more unsupervised free time in the community as they develop more responsibility. One young person keeps a snake in his room, another is saving their pocket money for a pygmy hedgehog. Both of these activities have been fully evaluated in terms of potential risk to the young person, others, and the animal itself. This means that young people can safely enjoy the experience and responsibility of keeping a pet. Bullying is well controlled. Staff are alert to it happening, and are supported by discreet but effective surveillance systems which protect young people while not compromising their privacy. Senior staff ensure that staff maintain their vigilance

p.8

Good

and do not allow situations to develop where young people may be at risk from one another. This approach results in young people feeling happier and more secure. One said, ‘There’s no bullying here. Staff are always around to stop it happening.’

p.9

Good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He is an equal partner with his counterparts in the education setting and therapy team, and meets regularly with them. This ensures that the service provided to young people continues to meets all their needs. He is well supported within the home by a deputy manager and shift leaders. Good communication within the management team, and downwards to staff, keeps the welfare of young people at the heart of everyone’s practice. Minutes of staff meetings reflect this child-focused approach. Monitoring of the home’s performance is robust. An independent person visits the home every month and their reports provide an accurate picture of young people’s progress. The registered manager’s own monitoring reports evaluate the home’s strengths and areas for development. Both make good use of feedback from young people, parents and social workers to assess the home’s effectiveness. In addition,

p.9

Good

monthly meetings at a more senior level, which include the responsible individual, provide an additional layer of monitoring and evaluation. The majority of staff are suitably qualified, the rest are on track to achieve this within the required timescale. All have advanced training in the management of behaviour and restraint techniques used by the home. In addition, staff have training in a wide range of areas which enhances their skills and knowledge. For example, some are engaged in a 16 week course on mental health awareness. This is helping them to understand issues which impact upon young people’s emotional wellbeing, including the mental health of parents. Staff have regular formal supervision. This is focused on the needs of young people, and holds staff to account for their responsibilities as key workers. The home is extremely well-equipped, furnished and decorated. Young people can choose the décor in their bedrooms, each of which is en-suite, improving privacy

p.9

Good

and safety. The level of investment that young people make in the home is indicated by the extent to which they personalise their rooms with posters and family keepsakes. Records and case files are well-organised and kept up to date. The home’s information technology system is effective and easily accessible by staff. This means that information on young people can be efficiently shared with all who need it. Staff require young people to sign a number of documents, such as restraint records. This is unnecessary and detracts from the otherwise homely and nurturing experience the home provides.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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