Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people live in a nurturing and supportive home that provides them with an environment where those who have experienced disruption can establish predictable routines that enable them to develop and thrive.  Individually tailored packages of support are delivered by a competent and child- focused manager and staff team.  All aspects of care practice are underpinned by a well-integrated therapeutic model that promotes resilience and stability through a ‘team around the child’ approach.  Young people are well supported to express their views and these are routinely considered when making key decisions about their care and the day to day running of the home.  Care planning is based on the principles of thorough assessment, monitoring and review and is underpinned by strong working partnerships with a range of third party professionals and agencies.  Staff understand each young person’s risks and vulnerabilities and are effective

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

in the management and reduction of these over time.  Young people have been well-supported to develop safe age-appropriate friendships in the community which reduce the potential for social isolation.  Feedback from young people young people is generally positive and their progress is consistently validated by their parents, social workers and independent reviewing officers.  The home is effectively and efficiently run by a dedicated and hands on manager who demonstrates a passionate commitment to the young people in her care.  There is a keen focus on professional development and staff are well supported by the manager who has high expectations of them.  The staff team are highly committed and morale is high which contributes to the happy and positive atmosphere in the home.  Two recommendations have been made following this visit. These relate to the environment and the process for challenging underperformance of the placing

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs and if necessary they must escalate their concerns to a more senior level ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 12, paragraph 2.8).  Make sure all outstanding repairs are completed in a timely manner to ensure a homely environment is maintained throughout the home. This is with specific reference to resolving the issue of damp in the en-suite bathroom and replacing the missing blinds in the young person’s bedroom ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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Information about this children's home

This is one of a number of privately run children's home. It is registered for eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Young people placed at this home can access the organisations registered school and therapeutic services.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2015 Full Good 20/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/07/2014 Full Good

p.5

Outstanding

Staff demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of each young person’s specific and unique needs, take an interest in their lives and work with them to develop and maintain positive relationships that create a sense of belonging and stability. For many young people, living at this home has broken cycles of negative behaviour such as non-engagement in education, taking unnecessary risks and offending behaviour.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people talk positively about their experiences of living at this home. They speak affectionately about the majority of staff and recognise how they have helped them in many aspects of their lives. One young person said, ‘Most of the staff are good. I can talk to some more than others but there is always someone to turn to. I get on really well with my keyworker and enjoy my keywork sessions. We have fun and talk about important things. If I have concerns I can talk to the manager and she sorts it.’

p.6

Outstanding

Young people’s views and opinions are integral to the day-to-day running of the home and the decisions affecting their lives. The manager and staff creatively use a range of processes to engage them in meaningful discussions and activities that enable them to express their views. For example, each week young people complete ‘back to the future’ sessions. These are a good way of encouraging them to reflect on their experiences of the previous week and plan for the week coming. These are reviewed by the manager who will ensure that any issues raised are addressed and resolved.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people who have previously had very poor levels of engagement in education now have good attendance and achieve well at school. The importance of education is fully endorsed by staff and forms part of the home’s daily routine. Effective links are in place to ensure care and education staff are in regular contact with each other, including daily handovers and attendance and involvement in relevant meetings. This ensures that all parties are fully aware of the factors which may present barriers to participation and enables staff to respond to these appropriately and consistently.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people are given good support to keep healthy. Direct work sessions are completed around specific and relevant health issues such as the importance of diet and exercise and the risk associated with smoking, alcohol and substance misuse. This educational approach, along with good access to health services, is helping young people to make better lifestyle choices and be healthy. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘Staff have been really good at meeting (name’s) health needs. One of (name’s) biggest achievement is his loss of weight. Staff have promoted healthy eating and he is sticking to a healthy diet and exercise programme.’

p.6

Outstanding

Care planning and care practice is highly influenced by the therapeutic input provided from the organisations therapy team. Qualified and experienced professionals provide innovative one to one support for young people and work with staff to develop individually tailored strategies of support. The team has worked hard to break down the perceived stigma of therapy and levels of engagement are exceedingly high as a result. This support focusses on helping young people to better understand themselves and develop the resilience they need to overcome the complexities of their lives. One social worker said, ‘I can see evidence of how the therapy runs throughout everything the staff do. It has helped (name) immensely. (Name) is better able to develop relationships and she is managing her behaviour much better. Staff know what to do when (name) needs support. I am really impressed with everything about this home.’

p.7

Outstanding

For some young people the rural location of the home and specific safeguarding concerns can be socially isolating. Staff are fully aware of this and make every effort to provide them with recreational opportunities that encourage social interaction. As risks reduce young people are encouraged to build trust and develop age-appropriate free time in the community. This has been positive for a number of young people who have developed good relationships with their peers outside of the home.

p.7

Outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of family relationships and go to considerable lengths to ensure that these are promoted and improved. They provide practical support such as transporting young people to their contact, sometimes over a considerable distance. This helps young people to maintain their identity and ensures attachments with key people are maintained.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people are provided with good opportunities to develop increased independence and life skills relative to their age, ability and level of understanding. They are routinely involved in basic tasks such as cooking, shopping and keeping the home tidy. Some young people follow a formal independence programme that is based on developing confidence and trust as well as preparing them for when they leave the home. The manager and staff maintain close working relationships with social workers, family members and leaving care and education services to support these transitions. As a result, one young person has made a successful transition to a residential special school closer to his family and another to semi- independent living.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people live in a large, suitably designed and comfortable house that is generally furnished and maintained to a high standard. Areas of the home have been personalised, in particular each young person’s bedroom which reflects their individual interests and tastes. Young people like their home and take pride in it. When damage occurs, which is rare, it is generally repaired quickly. However, some improvements could be made including replacing the window blinds in one young person’s bedroom and finding a permanent solution to the damp in one of the en- suite shower rooms.

p.7

Good

Safeguarding arrangements are effective and keeping young people safe is integral to daily practice. Young people confirm that they feel safe and are confident that they could talk to a number of staff, including the manager, if they were worried or concerned. Staff are trained in safeguarding and take their responsibilities in this respect seriously. Risk assessment and risk management is of a consistently high standard and all young people show some improvement from their starting points.

p.8

Good

The provider has good safeguarding systems and procedures for staff to follow in the event any allegation or safeguarding concern. There have been nine safeguarding referrals and three allegations against staff since the last full inspection in December 2015. These include a number of incidents that occurred in the organisations school, which all young people attend. Each incident has been managed effectively and in the best interest of young people, including referral to and involvement of external safeguarding agencies. The local authority designated officer said, ‘The manager takes her responsibilities seriously and does a good job. She always informs me of issues and concerns whether they are about staff in the home or the school. She always takes responsibility for her children and does the right thing for them. She deals with things appropriately and takes the appropriate action. She is lovely with the children and is very caring and supportive of them

p.8

Good

There are clear responses for when young people go missing from home. Staff will make every effort to locate them before reporting their absence to the police and maintain good working partnerships throughout the period of absence. When they return, they are visited by the police and are offered the opportunity to speak to an independent person if they so wish. Also, focussed discussion takes place with the manager and staff attempt to reduce this type of behaviour through targeted direct work sessions that highlights the inherent risks. This, combined with the homes rural location does result in a reduction in this type of behaviour over time for the majority of young people.

p.8

Good

Young people benefit from clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. Responses to each young person’s behaviour are regularly discussed and reviewed for effectiveness. Therapists play a major role in helping staff to develop individualised responses that are based on each young person’s needs. For example, one young person has been allowed to have two pet rats that have had an extremely calming effect on her, resulting in a reduction in seriously challenging behaviour. She said, I am handling by behaviour better and Coco and Chanel, my pet rats have helped me to do this. I feel calm when I stroke them.’ Strategies like this

p.8

Good

Staff work hard to manage the behaviour of this large and extremely diverse group of young people. Good behaviour is reinforced through recognition, praise and individual rewards. Negative behaviour is proportionately challenge with a clear emphasis on helping young people to understand what they have done wrong. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour by getting involved in restorative work such as writing letters of apology.

p.9

Good

Staff are trained in the use of physical restraint. Additional training which aims to further develop their behaviour management skills is in the process of being rolled out to the staff team. This fits in with the efforts already made to reduce the incidents of physical restraint. When restraint has been necessary it has been used in a caring and professional manner and as a last resort.

p.9

Good

Two staff have been recruited since the last inspection. All staff working with young people are carefully vetted and selected. This ensures that they are safe and have the right skills, value and motivation to work in this home.

p.9

Outstanding

The home is effectively run by a passionate and committed registered manager. She has managed the home since February 2013, which includes a period of registration in 2014. She is suitably experienced and currently holds a level 4 qualification, a social work qualification and is in the process of completing the level 5 diploma.

p.9

Outstanding

The manager is very well supported by a competent deputy manager and collectively they lead the team with enthusiasm and drive. They consistently communicate their high aspirations for the young people placed and ensure the home continues to operate in line with its statement of purpose. Written feedback from one social worker said, ‘The manager, deputy manager and staff have raised my expectations of residential settings’ and another said, ‘If I was to give the home a judgement it would be outstanding.’

p.9

Outstanding

Young people benefit from the care and support of a competent, experienced and well established staff team. There is a clear focus on professional development which ensures staff are fully equipped to care effectively for this diverse group of young people. The manager maintains good oversight of training and makes sure that all staff are up-to-date with mandatory courses such as safeguarding, first aid and physical intervention. This is supplemented by a range of needs led-training opportunities that are delivered by the organisations therapy team. For example, staff have undertaken self-harm training to help them understand and manage this behaviour more effectively for one young person.

p.9

Outstanding

New staff are thoroughly inducted to the home and all staff receive regular supervision from a suitably experienced person. Staff say they are well supported in their day to day practice and are extremely complimentary about the manager’s ‘open door policy’ and the support, guidance and direction she offers. All staff have their performance reviewed annually and this includes the views and opinions of young people and other relevant stakeholders. Personal development plans are formulated and are routinely monitored by managers who ensure targets are being met. This includes ensuring those staff who need to complete relevant qualifications, do so within agreed timescales.

p.10

Outstanding

Managers are proactive in their efforts to develop strong links with partner agencies, including placing authorities, safeguarding professionals, the police and healthcare providers. Such agencies report that the home works jointly with them in meeting young people’s needs. Underperformance is challenged by the manager who is intent on ensuring young people receive the services and support they are entitled to. However, this could be improved with clearer processes for escalating concerns promptly.

p.10

Outstanding

The manager knows what the home does well and is clearly focused on continuous improvement. She makes good use of a range of quality assurance processes to ensure that all aspects of the homes performance and young people’s progress are routinely monitored. Further scrutiny is afforded by the independent visitor who attends the home each month. When necessary the manager takes action to address any identified shortfalls, including the requirement made at the previous inspection in March 2016.

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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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