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 . The new manager’s application to register with Ofsted has progressed and a suitable-person interview has now taken place. The outcome of the interview is that a recommendation to register the manager has been forwarded to the regional inspection manager for a decision. The manager has taken positive steps to address the two requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection. This shows that the manager implements change to benefit young people. All staff now receive supervision at regular intervals, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and individual development needs. This helps the staff to continue to provide good care to young people. New tools have been developed so that the staff can support young people to prepare for independence better than they have done in the past. The introduction

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of a social development profile enables staff to evaluate young people’s existing skills and knowledge about their personal and social development, as well as highlight any gaps. This will ensure that staff can tailor independence work to suit each young person’s needs. Although this development has come too late to benefit one young person, it will help other young people from now on. Managers and staff have reviewed risk assessments to ensure that the control measures listed in these documents are relevant and appropriate. This makes it easier for staff to implement strategies designed to manage risk, such as using key worker sessions to educate young people about their behaviour and advising them on how to keep safe. Young people’s progress and experiences are mixed. Some young people make good progress because of the support they receive from the staff. For example, some young people achieve and maintain very good school attendance. One young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person does not go missing as often as he did before coming to live in the home. Another young person has settled down considerably from when he first arrived. Staff listen to young people. For example, they advocated for one young person about the contact arrangements he has with his family. This led to a change in his contact plan. Listening to young people and acting on their wishes and feelings generates trust and helps young people to forge positive relationships with staff. Other young people struggle to make consistent progress. One young person has had a period of time out of education, and is finding it difficult to manage his anger appropriately. Despite the efforts of staff and the placing authority, another young person has not engaged productively in his transition plan. As a result, he has not benefited from the support that was available to him. One young person’s placement came to an unplanned end because of the risks he was placing himself

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

at. The home has experienced some turbulence since the last inspection because of the challenging behaviours presented by some young people. When young people experience difficulties, managers and staff work together to bring about change. Additional resources, some creative planning and resilience have enabled staff to work through this testing period, and restore calm and stability. This shows that good systems are in place to be able to respond to crisis situations. Furthermore, it reflects that the home benefits from effective leadership. Leaders and managers respond to safeguarding concerns promptly. For example, allegations made by young people have been suitably addressed and referred to the appropriate statutory agency. By following safeguarding procedures correctly, managers and staff help to protect young people from harm. When a young person was injured in a serious accident, staff acted swiftly to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

ensure that he received medical attention. Managers quickly reviewed what had happened and put measures in place to minimise reoccurrence. They met with the placing authority and submitted information to Ofsted in a timely manner. Both parties are satisfied that the action taken was proportionate and robust. The manager organised for staff to receive additional training to help manage one young person’s particularly challenging behaviour. However, staff do not always utilise the specific restraint techniques suggested by the trainer. The manager has arranged for further training to review this with staff, but it is of concern that staff do not routinely follow advice on this issue. A recommendation is raised so that staff do follow young people’s support plans to keep themselves, and young people, as safe as possible during restraint. Furthermore, staff do not always exhaust de-escalation strategies. Incident debriefs would benefit from more critical

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

evaluation so that staff can learn lessons and improve this area of practice, to minimise the need for physical intervention. This inspection identified other areas for improvement. Not all young people’s bedrooms are maintained to a good standard. For example, one young person requires a new wardrobe because his is damaged, and some young people’s rooms need repainting. Staff do not keep on top of all tidying tasks and one young person’s room has not received the attention that it needs. A recommendation is raised so that staff fully support young people to maintain their own private spaces. This will help young people to feel more valued and, in turn, help them to respect and look after their belongings. One young person has had a period of time out of education. During this time, he mostly refused to engage in home study. Although he has returned to school recently, his attendance is not yet consistent. Not participating in education is likely

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to affect his life chances. A recommendation is raised to ensure that all young people attend school and access learning. Staff largely meet young people’s health needs well. Young people attend routine and specialist appointments, and access therapeutic support to help promote their emotional well-being. One young person is calmer and more settled because staff worked with him and with health professionals, to ensure that his medication routines were right for him. This is helping him to achieve at school and enjoy his leisure time. When young people have difficulties in maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, this is not reflected in their individual plans. As a result, it is not clear to staff how they need to manage this issue and monitor it, to promote young people’s health and well-being.

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this children’s home. The service is registered to accommodate up to seven young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff meet children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments in which these needs have not been consistently met. Doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Specifically, in relation to staff supporting young people, when necessary, to maintain their bedrooms.  Ensure that children are in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained in the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph, 5.14) In particular, take steps to support one young person who is not currently

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Recommendations

attending school regularly to do so, and when young people refuse to attend school they participate in structured activity.  Ensure that children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand and, where necessary, work to challenge negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being, such as nutrition and a healthy diet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, when necessary, concerns relating to nutrition and diet should be reflected in children’s individual plans, together with strategies about how best to support young people with this and monitor progress.  Ensure that staff have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. When necessary, they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogue

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Recommendations

and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14) Specifically, the registered manager should critically evaluate restraint records to ensure that staff follow individual support plans and use strategies to de-escalate situations, to minimise the use of restraint.

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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 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 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 0300 123 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, 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,

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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

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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