Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company operates this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 2 August 2019.

p.1

Inspection date: 12 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 2

p.1

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 improved effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people live in a large, well-maintained home, and are supported by staff who provide nurturing, consistent care. The children and young people have all made progress from their starting points in education and in their engagement with services and professionals identified to help them. The result is that children and young people are receiving a wide range of help and support that is tailored to meet their needs.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are developing good relationships with the adults who care for them. The children and young people state that they feel safe in the home and have trusted adults they can talk to if needed. Communication between the staff in the home and in the onsite school is regular and enables a consistent approach to be taken in managing behaviour. This joint approach helps the children and young people to achieve full attendance at school. As a result, children and young people have the stability and support to achieve academically and have started to do so.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Day-to-day living in the home is very structured, with high staffing levels to support individual children and young people and maintain their safety. Children and young people do occasionally leave the home when they are in crisis but usually stay within sight of the staff. When such incidents happen, the staff are aware of and act on the identified strategies in risk assessments and support plans to protect children and young people and ensure their swift return to the home. This helps children and young people to feel protected and valued.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The general health of children and young people is good and has improved since coming to live at the home. The intervention workbooks used by staff in key-working sessions help children and young people to understand their physical and mental health as well as individual areas of concern, such as the use of social media. This ensures that children and young people acquire knowledge that will benefit them and help them to develop into adulthood.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A wide range of activities are offered both in school and in the home, including scuba diving, horse riding, pottery classes, use of the gym, and shopping and cinema trips. Behaviour is well managed through an incentive scheme that promotes positive behaviour. There are clear boundaries and expectations in place to help children and young people learn to regulate their behaviour.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team is aspirational for the children and young people. Managers are strongly committed to the home and to role modelling their high expectations in relation to practice to the rest of the staff team. Monitoring systems are thorough Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 3 and identify shortfalls and gaps in documentation and recordings, with one exception relating to gaps at the end of daily records. While this has no impact on the care or safety of children and young people, it could lead to a potential risk of the records being amended later. Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 5

p.4

Recommendations

 Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up-to-date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

p.5

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.

p.5

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, 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: 2533483 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Marcia McLoughlin

p.6

Inspector

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2533483 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7