Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home may only provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager had only been in post for one week at the last inspection. Since this time, a new deputy manager has also been appointed. The manager, along with the staff and deputy manager, has developed an excellent understanding of the young people in the home. She is an enthusiastic manager. This passion has filtered down to the staff team. This, as well as good monitoring and quality assurance systems, has ensured that the service has improved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making progress. Young people report feeling safe in the home and have good relationships with staff. A young person said, ‘It’s good here. The staff care Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 2 about you and listen to what you have to say. I know they have got my back.’ The transition of one young person into the home has caused some instability. However, this is being well managed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is effective. Professionals give good feedback, noting good communication. A social worker said, ‘He has done so well since moving there. He attended there as a really angry boy but he has really settled down. They have consistent staff and he respects them.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are either in education or have a bespoke package that ensures they will return to school imminently. This is a significant achievement for young people who have a history of non-engagement in education. The pastoral manager at the school said, ‘The home has worked really hard to ensure that young people are in education. Staff are really positive and ensure that young people understand the importance of education. They initiate meetings with school and act quickly if any problems arise.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff advocate effectively on behalf of young people. For example, following the deterioration in a young person’s behaviour, the manager has organised a multi-agency meeting so that support strategies can be put in place.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know how to make a complaint and feel listened to by staff. However, some young people are unhappy about the kitchen being locked in the evening. This practice restricts young people’s ability to independently access this area of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Key-working sessions are comprehensive and cover issues that are relevant to the unique needs of each young person.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive good emotional health and well-being support. The consultation offered to staff by the organisation’s therapist provides a valuable opportunity to explore young people’s complex behaviours. It also gives staff time to reflect on the impact of therapeutic strategies. This is proving highly beneficial. The therapist said, ‘Staff have been fantastic and eager to implement the therapeutic approach. Staff listen and are able to evidence how the approaches have a positive impact on young people’s behaviours.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has worked exceptionally hard to address antisocial behaviours that were occurring at the home. This has included liaison with the local authority antisocial behaviour team and local residents. This has been extremely positive and resulted in young people integrating successfully into their community. The manager from the antisocial behaviour team said, ‘The staff have always been positive and willing to work with us and the police. They have always been helpful and forthcoming with information, and willing to take on advice that is offered. Over the last few months there have been no reported incidents about the home. Things have settled down massively.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Challenging behaviour is managed well by staff. Appropriate strategies are used to de- escalate difficult behaviours. However, there has been a recent increase in physical intervention. Effective management monitoring of all incidents helps to ensure that Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 3 practice in this area remains of a good standard. Episodes of young people going missing are rare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two requirements and one recommendation set at the last inspection have been met. New windows have been fitted throughout the property. This restricts young people’s ability to climb onto the roof and improves their safety. Broken furniture has been removed and replaced with new items.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection, the manager organised a successful team development day. Although some staff have left, the majority of these posts have now been filled. The use of personal mobile phones by staff in the home is no longer an issue.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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Recommendations

 Just as in a family home, children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)).

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Recommendations

 Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Recommendations

In particular, this relates to young people not always being able to access the kitchen area in the evening. Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 4

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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 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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 5

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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

Davinia Lawton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1244527 6 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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