Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 1 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

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in October 2018 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 30 April to 1 May 2019

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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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Date of last inspection:

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Date of last inspection:

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

N/A Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is newly opened, having been registered in October 2018. The registered manager is very experienced and has ensured a mostly smooth start to the running of the home. There is another manager in place, alongside the registered manager, who has recently applied to be registered and if successful will take over the management position. All of the children currently living at the home have only been there for a short period of time and it is planned that they will all have long-term placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was admitted to the home, but only stayed for 10 days as the staff were unable to meet their needs. The child was discharged from this home and was moved to more appropriate accommodation. This admission was rushed and was not fully considered. A requirement has been made to ensure that managers take more care around future admissions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three other children have been admitted since, and have all made very good progress. They have all settled well. They all attend education placements on a full-time basis, and are making good progress with their school work. This is particularly good as most of them had poor educational records and attendance prior to the move here. They have all engaged with therapeutic services and are starting to address their difficulties and worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The day-to-day experience for the children is good. They have all developed good relationships with the staff and are all taking part in individual work. The children are all meeting the targets and goals set for them and with them, and they stated that their experience of living in the home is good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff manage the children’s health needs well, and have encouraged positive family relationships by supporting appropriate contact arrangements. The children are supported to develop a range of hobbies and interests and attend a variety of clubs and activities, both at the home and in the local community.

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

The children living at the home have mostly been safeguarded very well. There was one incident where staff administered medication incorrectly. Staff reacted quickly to this error and no harm was caused. The registered manager has addressed this incident with appropriate advice, guidance and further training for all staff.

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

No child has come to any harm since the home opened. No child has gone missing and there have been no other safeguarding concerns or incidents. Some minor falling-out between children has been quickly picked up by staff and dealt with in order to prevent it developing into anything more concerning. Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 4 The staff have quickly established routines and have put clear boundaries and expectations in place. They have been able to quickly establish a culture of respect and care in the home, which promotes a calm, relaxed and nurturing environment. The children take a full part in the day-to-day running of the home by making appropriate choices and having their say in what they do.

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

The staff have used some sanctions on a few occasions, but generally deal with any challenging behaviour by providing positive, restorative interventions based on discussion and advice. The staff have used a number of physical interventions. These were appropriate and were carefully managed and recorded. The registered manager is also very quick to analyse patterns of challenging behaviour and to find innovative and effective ways of dealing with these.

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

One child made one very minor complaint. This was taken seriously by staff and effectively dealt with so that the child was happy with the outcome.

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

The staff team has been recruited safely and all staff have had good levels of safeguarding training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is highly skilled and experienced. He has been very ably assisted by another manager who is currently applying to be registered and who will take over the role if successful. This manager is also very experienced and skilled. Together they have made a very good start to running this new home. They have developed a strong staff team whose members are committed and enthusiastic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have put a comprehensive training package in place for all staff and have been thorough in providing full inductions, excellent support and supervision. This has enabled the staff to be clear about the standard of care practices required, and has allowed them to quickly become consistent and effective in their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have worked closely with the on-site school and education team and with the on-site therapy team. They have jointly provided integrated planning and care packages for all of the children and these are working well. The registered manager has also established good relationships with external agencies and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have implemented a comprehensive system of recording and have successfully embedded this system in the staff team’s practice so that it is now operating effectively They have also introduced systems for assessment and for measuring the progress of the children. Although these are still newly developed, they are strong and robust systems and are being used well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the managers have ensured a strong start to this service. They have a clear plan for further developments and they have invested time and effort in their new staff team, which is now clearly and directly helping the children. Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to ensure that staff administer medication safely. 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14(2)(a) (b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to more fully each child’s needs prior to making a decision to admit them. 31/05/2019

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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 Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 6 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: 2496627 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Marcia McLoughlin

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Lee Riley Danielle Cunningham

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Inspector

Colin Imrie: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2496627 8 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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