Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 1 SC475710

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Witherslack Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to eight children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in November 2014 and is appropriately qualified.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, we have made a new full inspection judgement in line with our inspection framework. The children’s home’s new full inspection judgement is: requires improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was arranged after a child made serious allegations against a male member of staff. The member of staff was suspended from work at the earliest opportunity and a police investigation was held. There is an ongoing child protection investigation and the inspectors have taken account of this in making their judgements.

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This monitoring visit

This allegation follows two similar allegations that were made earlier in the year against two other male staff. These two members of staff are no longer working for the organisation. There are ongoing police investigations into both of these allegations.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and senior managers in the organisation have taken appropriate action when these allegations have come to light. However, it is of concern that so many similar issues have happened in such a short space of time.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors have looked in detail at the alleged incidents and have looked closely at safeguarding and safe care practices, as well as the culture within the home and Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 2 professional conduct. They have also looked at issues around the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The recent allegations suggest a staff member has been involved in inappropriate professional behaviour that breaches the home’s policies and procedures, and involves possible grooming behaviour. The allegations date back over a period of several years. Much of the behaviour appears to be historical in that it is alleged to have happened prior to the previous two inspections.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors found that the leaders and managers of the home had carried out some improvement work around all of these safeguarding issues. However, it is clear that this work has been insufficient, and that more work is required. There has been insufficient change in the culture among the staff in the home. The managers and the staff need to develop a greater awareness of what is happening in the home. There needs to be greater challenge and better monitoring by all staff, particularly the managers.

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This monitoring visit

The provider organisation has instigated a full internal review of practice and performance, which is ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

As well as the judgement being reduced to requires improvement, a number of requirements have been made to ensure that the managers develop better care and safeguarding practices within the home. These concern the training and supervision of staff, and developing stronger and more professional safeguarding practices. They are also to ensure that the registered manager and other managers develop better management oversight and monitoring.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/08/2018 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Inadequate 05/12/2017 Full Outstanding 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— protect and promote each child’s welfare. (Regulation 6(1)(2)(b)(ii)) In particular to create an environment where children’s needs are understood and met with care practices that have clear professional boundaries. 31/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) In particular to ensure risk assessments evaluate the risks in sufficient depth. have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(iii)) In particular to have additional training and team meeting discussions around professional conduct, safe care practices and safeguarding. understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(v)) In particular to ensure staff have sufficient in-depth

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Requirement Due date

31/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 4 discussion and training around safeguarding within their regular formal supervision. that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) In particular to build a stronger and more professional safeguarding culture within the staff team. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13(2)(a)) In particular to create strong and professional safe care

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Requirement Due date

practices within the staff team. 31/01/2019

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Marcia McLoughlin

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Inspectors

Colin Imrie: social care inspector Jacqueline Tate: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC475710 6 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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