Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 1 SC475703 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of privately run children’s homes. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Young people placed at this home can access the organisation’s registered school and therapeutic services if required to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 All the young people have made good progress overall. They are mostly positive about their experiences at the home and have strong relationships with the manager and key staff.  Young people’s care, safety and well-being are prioritised. When young people place themselves at risk, staff are determined in their efforts to support them through this.  The registered manager has a good understanding of what needs to change in order to regain stability and maintain the high standard of care that young people receive.  Links with partnership agencies and professionals are strong. These are used effectively, to promote a collaborative approach to care planning and in addressing the current challenges being faced in the home.  The manager and staff demonstrate resilience and are clearly committed to supporting the young people in their care. Steps have been taken to firm up permanent staffing arrangements.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Care practice is underpinned by a well-used therapeutic model that promotes resilience and stability for young people.  The home is managed by a competent, experienced and suitably qualified manager who consistently prioritises the needs of the young people in her care.  Staff are well supported by a manager who provides example-setting leadership to them.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is not ensuring that placing authorities meet their statutory obligation to offer young people from their authority the opportunity to have an independent return interview within 72 hours of returning from episodes of being missing from care.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/12/2016 Full Outstanding 07/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 3

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Recommendations

 When a child is found after a period of being missing from home, they must be offered an independent return interview within 72 hours of the child returning to their home or care setting. (‘Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care’, page 14, paragraphs 31 and 32)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspection coincided with a difficult time for the home. Currently, staff are stretched due to a small number of young people who are presenting a significant challenge for them. Staff are working hard to provide the intense support that these young people need in order to manage their extremely challenging behaviour, while keeping them and others safe. It is to the credit of the manager and staff that they have maintained this situation for a number of weeks with limited impact on the progress and experiences of young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has recognised that this situation cannot continue. She is in the process of working collaboratively with social workers and the organisation’s clinical services and is intent on exhausting all options of support in an attempt not to close placements. This is an indication of her commitment, and that of her staff team, to the young people living in the home. However, she is realistic that the current situation must change soon. This is supported by the comments of some young people who are becoming increasingly intolerant of the poor behaviour shown by a few. Young people told inspectors that at times this is an unpleasant place to live, and a number of them said that there are occasions when they do not feel safe, that they are being kept awake at night and that staff do not have time to spend with them when others are being disruptive. This is notably different to the extremely positive comments offered by the same young people

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

at the previous full and interim inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive feedback was also received from young people. Among their comments about the current situation, they spoke about the progress they have made while living at the home. This included improved behaviour, reductions in missing from care episodes, achievements in education and increased contact with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The majority spoke affectionately about their key staff, in whom they trust, and who have helped and supported them to make progress and improve their lives. One young person said, ‘I think the staff care a lot about us and do their best. I am not perfect but I can see how I have changed for the better and how they have helped me to do this. Overall, it is a nice home and a good place to live. It’s just some of the other kids that make it not so nice at times.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 4 All the young people attend the organisation’s school, which is located a short distance away from the home. Attending school is an integral part of the home’s routine and staff have high expectations in this respect. They work effectively with school staff, ensuring that young people are given the right support that enables them to attend and engage well. This is a notable area of strength, with all young people having high attendance

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

levels and making progress relative to their ability and time in placement. One young person said, ‘I like school and I am doing really well. I want to do childcare or health and beauty when I leave, so know that I will have to work hard.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged and supported to maintain good health. Staff regularly talk to young people about the importance of healthy lifestyles, which enables them to make informed choices in this respect. They ensure that routine appointments are made, and make every effort to support young people to attend these. When necessary, they make referrals to specialist healthcare services and work collaboratively with these services to ensure that young people’s holistic health needs are assessed and addressed. Close links are maintained with the organisation’s team of therapists, who provide excellent support in helping young people to better understand themselves and develop the resilience they need to overcome the complexities of their lives. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the increased confidence that young people showed when talking about their future aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is good. Each young person’s needs, behaviour, risks and vulnerabilities are outlined in their individual records, which are constantly reviewed and updated. The manager maintains good oversight of each young person’s plan and the effectiveness of staff implementing these plans in meeting young people’s individual needs. Care practice is underpinned by strong multi-agency working that promotes a responsive and collaborative approach to care planning. As a result, young people receive individualised care and support that is tailored to their unique and diverse needs. A social worker said, ‘We had a child looked after review and there were other agencies that attended, which included psychologists. [Name of young person’s] needs are being fully met and I have noticed steady improvement as he settles down.’ She went on to say, ‘It is encouraging to note that staff have not given up on [name of young person],’ when talking about the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are many opportunities for young people to have their say through house meetings, key-work sessions and everyday discussions. All young people identified particular staff who they can talk to and, during the inspection, young people were observed talking to them about their day in school and planning their evening. What is particularly impressive is how the majority of young people immediately came to see the manager when returning from school. This is reflective of the positive and trusting relationship she has with each young person and how involved in each of their lives she is.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to enjoy a busy and active lifestyle, and their participation in activities of their choice is actively supported. For some young people, the rural location of the home and specific safeguarding concerns can be socially isolating. Staff Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 5 make every effort to source activities that encourage social interaction and, over time, reduce the supervision as a means of increasing independence safely. This has been positive for one young person who spends a large amount of her time with friends, including sleepovers, and another particularly vulnerable young person who is now spending unsupervised time at Scouts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to maintain contact with family members and other people important to them, when safe to do so. The risk and impact that contact can have on young people is routinely considered, and staff ensure that it is well planned and appropriately facilitated. This means that contact is more likely to be a positive experience for all involved and has contributed to improved relationships and increased frequency of visits for some young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Some young people said that they do not feel safe all of the time. This is a theme that is attributed to the currently challenging period that the home is going through, rather than a reflection of how young people feel generally about their care and support. One young person said, ‘I feel safe most of the time, especially when I am out with staff. I think the staff do their best. It is hard for them when others are kicking off, because they are not easy to handle.’ Staff leaving, unavoidable redeployment and other absences have compounded this issue. Positively, the manager has recognised this and has taken steps to strengthen the team and increase staffing numbers at key times.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff make every effort to promote positive behaviour. Inspectors were impressed with the manners and politeness shown towards them, throughout their visit, by all young people. Despite the incidents from the previous night, there was a busy calmness about the home. Good behaviour is reinforced through recognition, praise and individual rewards, and staff could be seen engaging positively with young people while offering reminders about expectations in a non-confrontational manner.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and understand how it impacts on them and others. On occasions, staff use sanctions. These are generally proportionate and relevant to the misdemeanour. In some cases, young people complete related educational work, such as on safe use of the internet and safety in the community. This reflective and educational approach reduces the potential for reoccurrence of the same behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are trained in behaviour management, including the use of physical restraint. Compared to the previous year, there has been an increase in the use of physical restraint. This is attributed to a small number of young people, some of whom have been admitted since the last full inspection. Detailed records are maintained. Each incident is scrutinised by the manager to ensure that all avenues of support were exhausted and that the threshold for restraint had been met.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been five safeguarding referrals and seven allegations against staff since the Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 6 previous inspection. A number of these allegations relate to restraint practice, some of which are yet to be concluded. In all cases, the manager has taken robust action, which has included referral to the local authority designated officer and information sharing with the police. This promotes a transparency and ensures that concerns are fully investigated in the best interests of the individual young person. The local authority designated officer said, ‘The manager takes safeguarding very seriously. She is responsive to any arising issues and will always raise them with us, no matter how small.’ She went on to say, ‘[The manager] is very child-focused and shows no favouritism for her staff. She always prioritises the needs of the children. It is clear that she is very fond of each of them and wants to do her best for them.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff work hard to manage young people’s risks and vulnerabilities. They work closely with therapists who are influential in helping develop and implement strategies designed to manage risks, including self-harm. This ensures that staff know what practical action they need to take and what emotional support is required in order to promote the young person’s safety and well-being.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been 15 incidents of young people being missing from care since the interim inspection in March 2017, some of which have been for significant periods of time. In all cases, staff have made efforts to locate the young person, followed agreed reporting protocols and worked with the police and the placing authority to secure a safe return to the home. Staff make every effort to ascertain the reason for the young person going missing and put plans in place to reduce future incidents. This has been effective in reducing this pattern of behaviour for some young people. Also, staff ensure that a request is made to the placing authority for them to fulfil their statutory obligation to offer each young person an independent return interview when they return. Although this has taken place in the majority of cases, there have been significant delays beyond the expectation of 72 hours in a number of cases.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home provides young people with a safe place to live. They are protected from hazards by a range of effective health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks to ensure that the premises are safe. Areas of the home have been personalised, in particular each young person’s bedroom, which reflects their individual interests and tastes. Some young people have caused significant damage, primarily in their bedrooms. When damage has occurred, staff have ensured that it is made safe immediately and that it is repaired as quickly as possible. One social worker said, ‘Whenever I visit, [name of young person’s] room has been clean and tidy, despite him trashing it frequently.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Ten staff have left the home since the last full inspection. This turnover is not linked to the extremely challenging period that is being experienced in the home, with a number of staff having left as a result of promotion, including the deputy manager. Safer recruitment practice has been followed in recruiting to these posts. All have been subject to careful vetting ensuring that they are safe to work with vulnerable young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 7 The registered manager has been in post since February 2013. She has a good level of experience and is now suitably qualified, having recently completed the level 5 diploma. She is highly motivated and provides strong leadership for staff. She is visible to young people and plays a major part in ensuring that their care is delivered in a way that prioritises their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager confirmed that achieving consistency of staffing has been a challenge as a result of staff leaving and other factors that have resulted in staff absence. However, young people have benefited from the care and support from a core team of experienced and competent staff who know them well. She has successfully avoided the use of agency staff, utilising the skills of staff from within the organisation wherever possible. On the whole, staff morale has remained high and it is clear that their motivation to do the job remains unquestionable, even though their ability to do it in a consistent manner has been compromised on recent occasions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff spoke positively about their induction and confirmed that they benefited from the support of some very experienced staff, who take a primary role in responding to young people’s needs. Staff spoken with during the inspection confirmed that they feel well supported by the manager and are optimistic that settled times will be achieved once more. They confirmed that they receive regular supervision, which helps them in their day-to-day role. Training is well organised, ensuring that mandatory and needs-led training is delivered accordingly. In addition to the manager, 10 of the 17 staff currently working at the home hold a qualification relevant to their role. The remaining staff will be registered to complete the level 3 diploma once they have completed their probationary period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates a thorough understanding of what needs to change and has good plans in place to make the necessary improvements. She takes a great deal of pride in her role and is proactive in her efforts to maintain oversight, quality assure practice and effect positive change. She makes good use of internal and external quality assurance processes to ensure that all aspects of the home’s performance and young people’s progress are routinely monitored. She takes action to address any identified shortfalls, including the requirement from the interim inspection in March 2017. This has resulted in improvements to young people’s case records, which are now individualised and up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working continues to be a strength. The manager has effective working relationships with placing authorities, safeguarding professionals, the police and education and healthcare staff. She has a good understanding of the benefits of multi- agency working and uses this effectively to ensure that young people receive the services and support they require to meet their needs and keep them safe.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 8 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences 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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Marcia McLoughlin

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Inspector(s)

Paul Scott, social care inspector Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC475703 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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