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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 1 SC475723

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Witherslack Group Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to care for nine children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2017.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 22 and 23 October 2019. Requirements were set in relation to safeguarding, risk management, behaviour management and leadership.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns were identified by Ofsted following an increasing number of notifications of significant incidents that had occurred at the home since the full inspection. As a result, a monitoring visit was carried out on 21 July 2020. During this visit, evidence was found of breaches of regulations relating to safeguarding, risk management and leadership of the home. Two compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 40, notification of a serious event.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 2 September 2020 to consider the action the provider had taken to meet the steps in the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the shortfalls identified at the last monitoring visit, there have been significant changes to the management team. The registered provider has identified experienced leaders within the organisation to undertake the roles of responsible individual and interim manager. In addition, a robust action plan is in place to address the areas requiring improvement. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 2 At the time of the visit, seven young people were living in the home. Most young people are making good progress, and observations of their care and support were positive. The management team has made improvements to the physical environment of the home, and efforts have been made to make the living areas homelier and more comfortable.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has introduced new boundaries and routines for young people. This has helped young people to understand what is expected of them. Young people have been more settled, and there has been a significant reduction in risk- taking behaviours. There have been no incidents when staff have had to use a physical intervention to manage young people’s behaviour since the last monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

The registered provider has taken steps to meet the compliance notice under regulation 12. Young people’s risk assessments have been updated and contain clear guidance for staff to follow. This means that staff have the information they need to respond effectively and to reduce risks for the young person.

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This monitoring visit

Staff showed awareness of the risks associated with young people’s care and risk management plans. They demonstrated a good knowledge of the young people’s needs. In addition, staff spoke confidently about safeguarding procedures and the action they would take to ensure that young people are protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received supervision, and this has focused on the experiences of young people and any changes in practice that are required from staff. Furthermore, some staff have had safeguarding training since the previous monitoring visit. Staff told the inspectors that this was helpful.

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This monitoring visit

At the last monitoring visit, it was identified that insufficient numbers of staff had received specialist training in the use of rescue knives to respond to the use of ligatures by young people. Some additional training has been provided; however, not all staff have attended this. The responsible individual has put a risk assessment in place, and further training has been scheduled for the day after this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has ensured that Ofsted and other relevant professionals have been notified of significant events at the home. There have been improvements to the quality of these reports and they have been received by Ofsted in a timely manner.

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This monitoring visit

Therefore, the inspectors found that the compliance notices under regulation 12 and regulation 40 have been met. Additional requirements and recommendations made at previous inspections were not considered, so are repeated for consideration at the next routine inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the provider closely to ensure that improvements are sustained. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/08/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 4

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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—

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iv)) 16/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) In particular, the manager should challenge the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 5

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Recommendations

responsible authority when return home interviews are not offered to young people.

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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

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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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Inspectors

Sophie Thomson, social care inspector Mandy Williams, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC475723 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

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

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