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.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Most of the young people currently resident have been admitted only recently, and have settled well. All have full school attendance and are making excellent progress.  Young people have good relationships with staff. They enjoy their company, and appreciate the help and support that the home provides. Staff listen to young people and respect their opinions. They have high aspirations for young people and encourage them to fulfil their potentials.  Care plans are effective in driving the work that staff do with young people. Target setting enables young people to make step-by-step progress and to take pride in their achievements.  Staff work closely with staff in the on-site school and therapy team. This coordinated approach to supporting each young person helps them to overcome barriers to success.  Staff are skilled in maintaining an orderly and happy home. Young people benefit from clear, consistent boundaries. The previously high incidence of

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

physical restraints has begun to reduce. Young people are, and feel, very safe.  Leadership and management are very good. The registered manager is committed to continuous development in order to improve the quality of care further. There are some shortfalls in practice, which have limited impact upon the welfare or safety of young people.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1) and (5)) 29 July 2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases, children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than five days after the incident of restraint (regulation 35(3)(c)). Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access an advocacy support to help them with this (regulation 7(2)(b)(iii)). ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality

p.4

Recommendations

standards', page 49, paragraph 9.60)  Ensure that the home provides a domestic and homely environment. Specifically, ensure that young people are not required to sign documents such as sanction records. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  When establishing the home, the registered person must ensure that it is suitably located so that children are safeguarded effectively and can access services to meet needs identified in their relevant plans (see regulation 12(2)(c)). Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 64. paragraph 15.2)

p.4

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 company.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

21 December 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.6

Good

Staff provide an excellent quality of care, individualised to each young person’s needs and circumstances. The attentiveness of staff to each young person’s welfare and safety helps them to make substantial progress. Of the current group of five young people, three have been here for less than 12 weeks. Even in this short time, the home has begun to make a clear, positive impact upon their lives. Concise care plans set out each young person’s daily routine and targets for them to achieve. These targets are agreed with the young person, and creative incentives motivate them to achieve their goals. As a result, young people feel that they have a purpose to their lives, and strive to succeed. All young people have full attendance at the on-site school and are making impressive academic progress. Young people are in good health, some having given up smoking since their admission. In addition, staff address young people’s

p.7

Good

emotional health needs. They do this in several ways. Regular meetings between care staff, teachers and therapists enable each young person’s issues to be discussed and then addressed in a coordinated way. Equally importantly, staff are skilled in offering support to young people in day-to-day living, being alert to signs of distress and offering assurance. One young person said, ‘Staff are good at knowing when I am getting worried and they take me to one side and talk to me. They help me to express my feelings, and stop me getting anxious. This stops me from having incidents. I haven’t had one for a long time.’ Staff and young people have excellent relationships with each other. The atmosphere in the home is lively, with much chat and laughter. Young people develop firm attachments to staff and value their attention. One said, ‘Staff are brilliant. I feel safe. Everything is good here.’ Another said, ‘Staff are great. They

p.7

Good

care for you and about you.’ Young people have a clear sense that their views matter to staff. They made comments like, ‘Staff really listen to you… If there is anything we want changing we just ask staff… If we are not able to have something staff will explain why.’ There is a suggestion box that young people can use, but mostly they just approach staff directly. In addition to involving young people in decisions about the home, staff empower them to have input into their care plans. They support young people to attend reviews of their care and to express their wishes. They also advocate for young people with their social workers, for example, in asking for different arrangements for family contact. Young people are unanimous in expressing how much they like living here. One said, ‘I give the home 11 out of 10.’ Another said, ‘Everything is good here.’ Young people can take part in a variety of activities both on the campus and further

p.7

Good

afield. As they improve their capacity to act responsibly, young people can have increasing freedom. For example, one walks to the nearby town to play pool, while others like going shopping with their friends. These activities help young people to develop social relationships and to acquire confidence. Daily routines within the home encourage young people to do things for themselves. For example, they tidy their rooms, help with their laundry and clear their plates away at mealtimes. These small features of everyday life are important in promoting independence and self-reliance.

p.8

Good

Staff compile risk assessments for each young person, which identify potential threats to their safety and how to reduce the likelihood of them occurring. These are tailored to each young person’s needs and take account of their different abilities, maturity, and stages of development. For example, some young people’s access to the internet is subject to greater staff oversight than that of others. The registered manager maintains an assessment of risks in the locality. This is comprehensive and helps staff and young people to be aware of areas to avoid. It would be of greater use, particularly to placing social workers, if it also contained other information, for example, the opportunities for young people that the home’s location provides. This would include what advantages derive from the home’s rural setting, what facilities and services are nearby, and how young people are enabled to access them.

p.8

Good

It is relatively rare for young people to go missing, and, when they do, the episodes are of short duration. Staff manage these incidents very well, following protocols that are bespoke to each young person, and they consider their particular vulnerabilities. When a young person, does go missing, staff are proactive in looking for them and liaising with other agencies to ensure their swift and safe return. Staff are alert to the potential for any young person to be at risk from sexual exploitation, but there are no such concerns currently. Staff set clear, reasonable and appropriate boundaries for young people. They provide good examples for young people in how to interact with each other. They promote courtesy, consideration, and the routine use of good manners. This approach produces an ambience in which young people feel safe and respected. There is no bullying. One young person said, ‘If someone is horrible to someone

p.8

Good

else, staff will stop it before it gets out of hand.’ Good behaviour is rewarded and encouraged through the use of incentives, although sanctions are occasionally used in response to poor behaviour. The use of sanctions is recorded in a book, which young people sign. This practice is unnecessarily institutional and means that a young person could see another’s record, breaching confidentiality. All staff are trained in the use of physical restraint. There have been a high number of restraints over the last six months with some particular peaks in their use. For example, 17 took place in December 2015. Some young people whose behaviour was particularly challenging have left the home, and, as a result, the frequency of restraints has reduced. It is clear that restraint is only used to keep young people and others safe, or to prevent serious damage to property. Young people understand that, at times, they may need to be held. One said, ‘When I’m

p.8

Good

restrained, I feel bad that I’ve lost control, but I don’t get hurt and staff talk to you afterwards to help you understand why it happened.’ Another said, ‘I’ve been restrained but have never been hurt. Staff sometimes have to do it to calm me down and keep me safe.’ Records of restraint are detailed, and include an account of the post-incident discussion with the young person. On one occasion, this did not happen, denying the young person the opportunity to contribute their view.

p.9

Good

The registered manager is qualified and highly experienced. She promotes a child- centred approach within the home and sets high standards for her staff in their daily practice. Other senior staff provide consistency of leadership and ensure that the home runs smoothly and for the benefit of young people. A number of monitoring processes enable managers and staff to track the progress of young people and so understand where additional support may be necessary. The registered manager’s six-monthly monitoring reports collate this information to provide an overview of the home’s impact on young people’s development. Although these reports include young people’s feedback about the home, the views of social workers and parents are not included. Neither are the views of staff represented. Thus, that the opportunity is lost to use the outcome of consultation to improve the home further. The recommendation made at the previous inspection has been fully addressed.

p.9

Good

Staffing levels have been increased, and there are clear contingency plans in place to manage unforeseen staffing shortages. This provides a better level of support and consistency for young people. The registered provider has commissioned an independent consultant to review the home’s practice and processes. This provides an additional level of oversight and increases the home’s capacity for improvement. Staff are supported through regular supervision and appraisal. The registered manager is currently modifying the appraisal model, which will include the views of young people. All staff are either qualified or working towards this. Staff are motivated to learn and to improve their knowledge and skills. The external assessor who works with staff confirmed their enthusiasm, saying, ‘The ethos and working practice within the home is outstanding. It is a pleasure to observe staff and see how they interact with the young people. Staff are very committed and

p.9

Good

focused on learning, and you can see the distance the young people have come due to the work and support of the staff.’ In addition to the effective cooperation between care staff and the other disciplines on the site, there is good partnership working with other professionals. One social worker said, ‘The support the home provides in supporting my work with the young person is great.’ Another commented, ‘The home meets the young person’s needs really well. He has been restrained, but incidents are reducing, and the communication is first-class. I get all the reports so have no concerns.’ The premises are exceptionally well appointed and comfortable. This gives young people self-worth and creates a sense of pride in the home.

p.10

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’.

p.11

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 children looked after 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

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.11

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 whom 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

p.12

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 .

p.12

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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

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

p.13