Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Bradford

Inspection report children’s home: 1244280 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have specialist knowledge of each child and young person’s very complex needs. Consequently, children and young people continue to experience individualised care. Children and young people benefit from a staff team that listens and values their wishes and feelings. This helps to strengthen relationships between children, young people and staff and it helps children and young people to feel valued. As a result, children and young people start to make progress, and for some, their risks reduce.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people moving into this home benefit from good planning and staged transitions. Positive planning ensures that children and young people’s needs match well. This reduces disruption to settled individuals when new children and young people come to live at this home. Children and young people moving out of the home benefit from planned moves and receive good support from staff. Ongoing visits from Inspection report children’s home: 1244280 2 staff after their move eases their transition.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people experience a variety of activities on a daily basis, such as horse riding, rugby and trips to the cinema. One young person felt that they have developed good hobbies from being here. This is expanding their life experiences and improving their social confidence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know young people well and recognise when young people are becoming upset. They follow individual plans to help them to manage their feelings positively. As a result, physical restraint is a last resort. The management team reviews the action taken during incidents involving physical restraint. This helps them to improve practice and avoid physical intervention in the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from high levels of staff supervision. This helps to reduce potential risks to individuals, such as going missing from home and child sexual exploitation. The management team is swift to respond to complaints and allegations. Its members notify the regulatory body of any issues. Thorough investigations encourage a review of care practice. This reassures the managers that they are meeting children and young people’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager’s monitoring systems continue to support her to assess the safety, quality of care and progress of young people. The manager makes changes where necessary to address any issues. As a result, she is improving the quality of care effectively and ensuring that risk assessments and individuals’ plans reflect children and young people’s current needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager continues to consult regularly with other professionals within both the service and the community. This includes social workers, police, mental health services, therapists, and safeguarding and behaviour specialists. The manager is keen to listen to their opinions. She then analyses the quality of care to ensure that it is meeting young people’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team and manager receive regular recorded supervision, which allows them to reflect on their practice. This successfully meets the recommendations set at the last inspection. The manager focuses effectively on the development of the home and care for young people. She knows the strengths of the service and she is prioritising areas that she wants to continue to develop. This is improving the specialist care that children and young people receive. Consequently, no requirements or recommendations are set at this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1244280 3

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Witherslack Group, Lupton Tower, Lupton, Carnforth LA6 2PR

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Inspector

Jamie Richardson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1244280 4 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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