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

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to four young people and is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who has the relevant qualification and who registered with Ofsted in August 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Outstanding

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 1247560 2

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The care of children

Young people are very well cared for at the home. Staff are invested in their care and promote positive outcomes for them. Each young person is understood as an individual with unique needs. Young people are helped to participate in activities that specifically support their talents and interests, for example equine care and ice hockey.

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The care of children

Two placements have come to a natural ending, which has resulted in young people moving on to foster placements. This is an unlikely and exceptionally positive outcome for these two young people and shows that they have made phenomenal progress during their time at the home.

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The care of children

Staff understand, and are skilled in responding to, young people’s needs. Young people report that staff have time for them, care about them and help them through challenging situations. Young people understand, and feel proud of, the progress they have made.

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The care of children

Managers and staff are strong advocates for young people. They are committed to supporting young people to develop the skills and resilience they will need to have positive futures.

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The care of children

The home promotes contact for young people. Staff are sensitive about the impact family contact can have on young people, and work to ensure it has the least disruption possible. Staff develop positive relationships with parents and have also offered foster carers post-placement support where appropriate.

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The care of children

All young people attend the local school, which is run by the same provider. Young people are making good and above expected progress. Two young people have moved on after gaining qualifications. One showed a significant improvement from his mock exam results to his final grades. Staff supported this through additional school work in the home.

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The safety of children

Young people feel safe in the home. Safeguarding incidents are infrequent and, when they do occur, are dealt with swiftly and effectively.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are of a very high standard. Information is presented clearly and concisely. Triggers are identified alongside actions to reduce or manage the risks. Staff discuss risks to young people in regular team meetings and during handovers. They also discuss how best to respond to young people. This ensures consistency. There is good evidence that de-escalation techniques identified in young people’s records are used effectively.

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The safety of children

Physical intervention numbers are low. There is a member of staff who is qualified as a Team Teach instructor, which benefits the staff team. Records of physical Assurance visit report: 1247560 3 intervention are clear and detailed. There are good systems in place for regular monitoring and realistic evaluation. This provides the reader with evidence that contextual and personal factors are taken into consideration.

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The safety of children

One young person has progressed fantastically well from his starting point in relation to missing from home and criminal exploitation risks. His social worker stated, ‘[Child] has done marvellous. He has made significant improvements. He was very high risk missing, going daily and at risk of CCE (child criminal exploitation). The difference in him is remarkable, phenomenal. He has really matured. Staff have invested in him and that has made a real difference.’

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The safety of children

Young people are carefully matched in respect of risk-taking behaviours. The impact risk assessment sampled was of a very high quality. This results in positive matching, where young people’s risks do not have a detrimental impact on each other.

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Leaders and managers

Leadership at this home is strong and effective. The manager is passionate about her role in preparing young people to achieve positive outcomes. She achieves this by ensuring they develop the skills they will need post placement.

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Leaders and managers

Staffing is consistent, which provides young people with continuity. Young people were observed to have positive relationships with staff. They spoke about feeling cared for and how they enjoy spending time with staff. The staff are united and high morale is evident. They feel valued and believe that they make a positive contribution to young people’s lives.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has nominated the staff team for a national award. This is in recognition of their hard work and the effort they put into making the home a positive, vibrant environment where young people thrive. The team has reached the final stage of the competition and is hoping to win an award.

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Leaders and managers

Managerial oversight of the home is excellent. There are strong monitoring and auditing systems in place, which ensures that all documentation is completed to a very high standard.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoken to reported that they are well supported by managers. They also said that senior managers are approachable and visible regularly in the home.

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Leaders and managers

The training package is extensive and bespoke to the young people’s presenting needs.

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Leaders and managers

The home was judged to be outstanding at its last full inspection. No recommendations or requirements were made. None are made at this inspection because no shortfalls were identified. Assurance visit report: 1247560 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1247560 5 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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