Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 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 privately owned home offers care for up to seven children. These children may have faced adverse childhood experiences resulting in trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2019

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 2

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children 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 declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced a period of instability. The registered manager admitted a child into the home on an emergency basis. This child had a high level of individual needs and a history of challenging behaviours. Unfortunately, this admission significantly unsettled children already living in the home. Poor dynamics and relationships between children resulted in a high level of challenging incidents in the home. Two children left the home immediately after one such incident. Another child has recently left the home due to their escalating behaviours and the inability of staff to meet the child’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This legacy of challenging incidents and instability has had a significant impact on children. One child told his social worker that the home felt like ‘hell’ while another child has felt increasingly anxious and unable to sleep due to ongoing challenging incidents in the home. All children were making good progress at the time of the previous inspection. Unfortunately, for some children this progress has not been sustained and their outcomes are poor.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use restraint to keep children safe during incidents of challenging behaviour. On occasions, this behaviour can be extreme, resulting in serious injury to staff. Some children have also made allegations against staff during these incidents. Managers work closely with key safeguarding agencies to scrutinise these allegations. They ensure that all investigations are robust and transparent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some restraint records lack detail about the preventative support that staff provide to de-escalate challenging incidents. In addition, one record did not contain any management oversight about staff using a non-approved behaviour management technique to keep a child safe. These shortfalls are a missed opportunity to fully review incidents and identify learning to improve staff practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers work closely with internal and external partners to scrutinise children’s behaviour patterns. The in-house therapist plays a significant role in this process. As a result, staff practice adapts and evolves over time to provide children with individualised care. Unfortunately, poor relationship dynamics between children and a high level of challenging incidents undermined staff efforts to keep children safe. This meant that children continued to verbally, racially and, on occasions, physically abuse each other.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children go missing from the home. Staff respond well to all incidents and work closely with other agencies. Strong relationships with the police and local authorities ensure that everyone works together to locate children and enable them to return to the home safe and well. Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 3 Despite the challenges, some children are making some progress. Staff continue to place a high value on education and work closely with teachers to overcome barriers to engagement. This proactive approach has helped one child to develop good aspirations for her future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, both the registered manager and deputy manager have left. An experienced and skilled interim manager is currently in place. Plans to recruit a new registered manager are imminent. The interim manager and leaders acknowledge the shortfalls identified during this inspection. They have reflected on the admission of a child and its impact on children already living at the home. The interim manager has started to embed learning from this shortfall. For example, she has worked closely with the social worker of a child who was very recently admitted. The interim manager has closely scrutinised the child’s needs and behaviours to ensure that they are a good match to the home and other residents. As a result, the child enjoyed a well-planned transition and is settling well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements were raised at the last inspection. The interim manager has made good progress to address these shortfalls. For example, she has written clear guidance and protocols for the behaviour management and restraint of children. In addition, restraint incidents are appropriate and proportionate. As a result, both previous requirements are met. However, a further three requirements have been raised due to the shortfalls identified during this inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 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— that staff— manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(iv)) 17/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 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— 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 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 17/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)) 17/02/2020

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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, Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 6 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: 2483720 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: Lupton Tower, Lupton, Carnforth LA6 2PR

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Inspector

Gareth Leckey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2483720 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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