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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC475715 1 SC475715

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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 home is operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to seven children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 August 2020 and is appropriately qualified.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the home, following the receipt of concerns that suggested that there may have been a breach of regulations by the provider. These concerns related to events in the home that Ofsted was notified about. The visit was carried out on site, with some documents reviewed virtually.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected in September 2019 and received an outstanding judgement. Since then, a new manager has been appointed and some children have moved on from the home. Other children have come to live in the home, but for two of those children their stay at the home was for a short period only.

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This monitoring visit

An allegation was made against a member of staff that he had caused an injury to a child during a physical hold. The child sustained injuries and displayed symptoms that required staff to call an ambulance. However, an internal investigation did not identify how the injuries were caused. The findings were shared with the local designated officer and no further action was required.

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This monitoring visit

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, a number of children and staff have tested positive for the virus. During the period of required self-isolation, children were required to self-isolate in their bedrooms. Some children struggled with this arrangement, as some children have a wide range of care needs including autism. Staff spoke of how the children tried to engage staff in conversations to draw them in to their bedrooms. The manager reflected on the arrangements for social interaction between children and staff during the period of self-isolation and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC475715 2 acknowledged that it had caused some concern for some children and that it would not happen again.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/09/2019 Full Outstanding 29/01/2019 Full Outstanding 24/07/2017 Full Outstanding 03/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC475715 3

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure —

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (2)(b)) 1 April 2021

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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

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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC475715 4 Responsible individual: Marcella Bird

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Inspector

Elaine Clare, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC475715 5 regulates and inspects 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. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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