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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, one requirement and four recommendations to improve practice were raised, and all have been addressed. This demonstrates that the registered manager learns from inspection, and implements change to benefit young people. Gaps in employment histories have now been rectified, and checks on new staff are suitably robust in line with regulation. Improvements in recruitment practice safeguard young people and are demonstrated by the fact that unsuitable adults are prevented from working with them. Education outcomes continue to be good. Attendance is excellent and this facilitates learning. Staff encourage the completion of homework and this supports independent study. Regular liaison with teachers results in information about progress being readily shared. Between inspections, managers and staff have received training on interpreting school reports and attainment data. Consequently,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they have a better understanding about young people’s academic progress. One young person’s placement plan has been updated to include information about his religious, ethnic, and cultural needs. Key work sessions reflect that his identity needs are understood and met by staff. Young people maintain safe and positive contact with those who are important to them. One young person recently enjoyed a family wedding, which incorporated a trip abroad. This provided an opportunity to meet extended family members, and to learn more about his heritage. Other young people share worries about family contact with staff, and they are beginning to accept help regarding this. One young person said, ‘Staff sit with me after contact and help me clear my head so I don’t do silly things.’ Young people enjoy a range of leisure activities, and more are now involved in community activities that reflect their individual interests. Examples include free

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

running, drama club, football, and golf. Access to such groups enables them to develop friendships outside home and school, learn new skills, and develop confidence. Effective liaison with child and adolescent mental health services means that a young person is now having an assessment of his needs and his medication reviewed. A young person is overdue a dentist appointment, and he needs to register with a new dental practice following the closure of his old one. Information relating to a young person’s immunisation history remains outstanding. A recommendation is being raised to ensure that all young people’s health needs are effectively met. Peer relationships in the home can be fractious, and this has led to some unsettled behaviour since the last inspection. Arguments ensue and fall-outs between residents happen as members of this relatively new group learn to live alongside one another. High staffing ratios means that supervision levels are high, and good

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

support is helping young people to overcome such difficulties. Higher attendance at team meetings signifies an improvement in practice. Information is shared readily with more staff, and consequently they develop a better understanding of changes and developments relating to young people. This avoids confusion and ensures a consistent approach, particularly in relation to behaviour management. Restraint practice continues to be closely monitored enabling patterns and trends to be identified. At the last inspection, some professionals raised concerns about young people sustaining injuries as a result of restraint. Continued hard work by staff and managers has resulted in a further reduction in such incidents being noted. Since the last inspection, one incident has been reviewed by the local safeguarding children’s board and placing authority. No further action was taken following this independent scrutiny. As a result, young people continue to be

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safeguarded and their welfare promoted. One significant incident has not been reported to Ofsted, indicating that the regulator is not appropriately informed of all serious events. A recommendation is being raised to address this. Staff report being satisfied with the ongoing support from their current managers, and confirm good-quality supervision. Formal individual sessions do not take place consistently at the frequency outlined in the company’s own procedures. Moreover, this has been identified as a shortfall in three external monitoring reports. Independent monitoring takes place every month. Because visits mostly take place when young people are at school, the opportunity to consult with them first hand is lost. Furthermore, it means that the visitor does not observe practice, and interactions between staff and young people, to inform her assessment of the home’s function. This undermines the quality and robustness of external quality

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assurance systems. Four recommendations are being raised following this inspection to secure improvement moving forward.

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Information about this children's home

This private company-owned home provides care and accommodation for up to eight young people, of either gender. The home provides care for young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 that each child's health and well-being needs are met, and specifically that all young people are registered with a dentist and attend routine appointments, and that gaps in immunisation histories are identified and addressed as required (The guide to the quality standards, page 33, paragraph 7.2).

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Recommendations

 Ensure that systems are in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care, specifically that this takes place at a frequency prescribed in their own policy (The guide to the quality standards, page 61, paragraph 13.2).

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Recommendations

 Ensure systems are in place to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4) (a-e) occurs (The guide to the quality standards, page 63, paragraph 14.10).

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the home's care. In particular, the timing of visits is varied so that young people are present and can be consulted (The guide to the quality standards, page 65, paragraph 15.5).

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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

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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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