Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594902 1

p.1

Witherslack Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to five children and/or young people with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider which operates other homes across the country.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home registered on 21 September 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was completed because the home has not been inspected since it registered. At the time of this visit, two children were living in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was a blend of remote and on-site work. The remote work consisted of a review of records and discussions by telephone with the manager, responsible individual and staff. During the on-site visit, the inspector spent time with each child and one of the children took the inspector on a tour of the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children are happy at the home and feel safe. They feel that staff care for them well and they have lots of fun. One child spoke excitedly about their plans to join a local football team and another told the inspector, ‘I love it here.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children say that staff listen to them and value their ideas for the home. One example of this is the purchase of new ‘gaming’ chairs. As well as day-to-day conversations with children, staff use weekly ‘back to the future’ meetings to gather children’s views. These meetings give children an opportunity to reflect on the previous week and to make plans for the coming week. This approach helps to improve children’s self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594902 2 Children are proud of their home, especially their bedrooms. The home is furnished to a high standard. It is spacious, homely and well equipped.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Prior to a child moving into the home, a good-quality risk assessment is undertaken. This identifies and mitigates potential risks to and from the new child and those already living at the home. It also considers the skills of the staff team to ensure the needs of the new child can be met. Senior leaders are improving this process to assess the risks and impact of the children living in another children’s home located on the same site.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Behaviour is well managed. Plans provide clear guidance for staff on how to achieve the stated aims, objectives and desired outcomes. Restraint is only used to safeguard children. Restraint reduction plans are in place where needed. These plans are linked to the manager’s effective review of incidents and restraint.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Most records are of a good quality, especially the conversations with children after incidents of restraint. However, the record of discussions with staff about the use of restraint lacks detail. In addition, complaint records do not consistently contain information about all the actions taken in response. On occasions, staff use institutionalised language in records. This language is not helpful to children should they want to read their records.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children are cared for by a well-trained staff team. Staff receive good-quality supervision, which supports their development. They feel well supported in their role by the manager and the wider organisation. Staff spoken to demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding practices and their role and responsibilities to protect children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home is well managed by an experienced manager. The manager monitors the work undertaken at the home effectively and uses the findings to develop the home and staff practice.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594902 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 9 April 2021

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint include the discussions held with staff who have been involved in the restraint. These records need to be of a consistently good quality. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that records are clear and do not contain institutionalised language so the records will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.3

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.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594902 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Marcia McLoughlin

p.4

Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594902 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.

p.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5