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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness . All except one of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection has been addressed. Every record of an incident of restraint provides clear evidence that both the staff and the young person involved have been spoken to by a manager. The home’s assessment of the risks and opportunities provided by its location has been improved. The staff no longer require the young people to sign records and forms, which was an unnecessary and institutional practice. The requirement for the registered manager to improve her regular monitoring reports has not been fully addressed. Work is not yet complete to ensure that the views of the staff and of others are fully considered when compiling the reports. This shortfall inhibits the ability of the registered manager to take account of

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

suggestions for improvement. Therefore, a recommendation to complete this work has been made. In other respects, there are good systems enabling the staff to monitor the performance of the young people, which enables them to identify where additional work needs to be done. For example, detailed information on each young person’s progress in the on-site school is available at the click of a mouse. Similarly, the registered manager tracks other outcome measures, such as incidents and missing- from-care episodes. This level of oversight provides the staff with detailed and up- to-date information on how each young person is doing, and where they may need additional support. It also prompts the staff to try different approaches in order to bring about positive change in a young person. For example, for one young person with challenging behaviour, staff discovered that it was more effective if they intervened earlier in an incident. They also realised that a change of staff during

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the management of an incident brought about a more speedy resolution. The young people are making significant progress. All have close to 100% school attendance, with fewer incidents in school and greater concentration on learning. Some of the young people attend college either full or part time, and some have ambitions (matched by their predicted grades so far) to go on to university. Since the last inspection, none of the young people has moved on. The placing authorities have made a commitment to sustaining placements until adulthood for some of the young people. The level of stability which the home provides for the young people is a key factor in their positive progress. The young people are in good health. The staff promote healthy lifestyles, provide good food and support opportunities for physical exercise. The staff enlist the help of specialist services to address more specific needs, such as smoking or substance

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

misuse. This has had notable success in supporting the young people to reduce or eliminate these habits. The on-site therapeutic services are effective in addressing the emotional health needs of the young people. For example, young people who struggle with anxiety are taught strategies for coping with this and improving their confidence and resilience. The young people’s care plans are detailed and they are reviewed on a monthly basis. The staff fully involve the young people during the review. These reviews celebrate achievement as well as addressing areas where extra support may be necessary. One young person wrote in their plan: ‘I haven’t had an incident for ages. This month’s been decent, aye.’ The registered manager has reviewed the format of individual key-worker sessions. In addition to structured and planned sessions, which are linked to objectives in the young person’s plan, there are now

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘conversations’. These are more informal and are recorded by all of the staff and then collated on a regular basis by the key worker. As well as providing useful additional information about what is going on in each young person’s life, these enrich the quality of the already excellent relationships between the young people and the staff. Many of the young people take part in activities and clubs within the community, such as Girl Guides and St John Ambulance, promoting their confidence and self- esteem. The young people are encouraged to plan and cook meals, keep their room tidy and do their laundry. However, the planning around this kind of work is weak. There is no formal structure which sets individual objectives, reviews progress, or enables links to be made with the young person’s pathway plan. As a result, young people may not be fully prepared for their transition out of the home. The young people are safe. They rarely go missing, but, when they do, each has

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

an individualised plan tailored to their particular needs, which sets out how the staff should respond. The staff are good at managing behaviour. This is helped by the close and trusting relationships between the staff and the young people, and also the skill of the staff in providing support in times of crisis. One young person said: ‘I like the staff. They are good at helping you when you’re upset.’ The effectiveness of behaviour management is evidenced by the reduction in the use of physical restraint by just over half since the last inspection.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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 within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality of care standard, with particular reference to encouraging young people to follow consistent routines and undertake planned programmes of work, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(b)(vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 31/03/2017

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months; also see regulation 13(2)(h) (the leadership and management standard). The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 64 and 65, paras 15.2 and 15.4)

p.5

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’.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors 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 that 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 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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.6

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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.7

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.7