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

Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 1 SC475680 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care and support for up to eight children who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021. We last visited this setting on 10 August 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2019 Full Good 13/09/2018 Full Good 11/09/2017 Full Good 09/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive their care from a consistent staff team that knows them well and understands their needs. This promotes positive and nurturing relationships that support children’s progress and general well-being. A child said, ‘I have only been here a short while, but I can talk to any of the staff if I am worried or concerned. They are great.’ Another child said, ‘I really like living here. I would give the home and staff 10 out of 10 for everything they do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions in and out of the home are planned. Children are part of the decision- making and they visit the home or their new home prior to moving. Due to the good arrangements, support and work staff do, one child has made a successful transition from the home to foster care. However, the home’s impact risk assessment for the newest child admitted is not fully completed, signed or dated and does not clearly include the safer area report. Therefore, some opportunities to gather the full range of information have been missed. The manager has identified learning from this, and a requirement is made to support improvement in admission processes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and develop effective relationships with education providers. Most of the children attended the company’s school throughout the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Therefore, there was little disruption to their routines. Staff have all the necessary educational documents to support the children’s progress. This is consistently reviewed. The home advocates for children when the appropriate provision is not in place. Children know that the home has high aspirations for them. This, in turn, helps them to believe in themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work positively with families and carers. Contact is closely supported and, in some examples, staff have supported children to improve relationships with their families. This promotes the children’s sense of identity and self-esteem. A parent said, ‘My child is a lot calmer and focused. Hopefully he will be coming home soon. The staff have been brilliant.’ Another parent said, ‘I cannot thank them enough for their support.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities on a day-to-day basis to engage in enjoyable and fulfilling activities. Staff recognise and encourage their individual talents and interests. Children take part in community activities, such as football and rugby. This supports them to develop skills, have fun and build positive friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to share their thoughts, wishes and feelings. Where possible, staff ensure that these are considered when planning their care. Individual key-work sessions are of good quality and address areas relevant to individual children. Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 4 Children receive a healthy, well-balanced diet and take part in regular exercise. As a result, some children have lost weight and say that they have a healthier lifestyle. Staff say that the children’s self-esteem and confidence have grown because of this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have experienced significant trauma have the specialist support that they need to address their emotional health needs. Good communication between the home and therapeutic services means that all adults involved with the children can work together to provide consistent care and support.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff in the home. It is clear from the interactions between children and staff that children can talk to staff about important issues. This is also evidenced in the written records kept in the home and the feedback from children, parents and professionals.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Arrangements to protect and safeguard children are good. Children feel safe and readily share any concerns or worries with staff. One young person said of the staff, ‘I can talk to them about anything, and I know that they are always there for me.’ Staff support children’s understanding of personal safety. Individual key-work sessions in areas such as being safe online and bullying help children to develop their knowledge and understanding, and to make safer choices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risks to children are quickly identified and acted on. Staff demonstrate that they understand their role in protecting children from harm. Staff contribute to risk assessments and help to formulate plans to reduce risk. However, the children’s risk assessments do not give staff clear information on the action to take if an incident occurs. This may impact on the consistency of the response given to the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children who go missing from care receive a robust response from the home. There are good links with the local authority and the police. Children are provided with independent return home interviews from their local authorities. Therefore, they can talk to someone about any concerns they may have. Due to this good practice, there has been a significant reduction in children being reported as missing from the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand what they need to do to de-escalate negative behaviours. This promotes a positive and non-confrontational culture. This, in turn, helps children to develop their own ways of managing conflict in a more constructive manner.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Generally, the recruitment of new staff is good. However, on one occasion, the manager did not request a further reference when she was unable to fully verify a reference. Also, the company’s new reference request form (to past employers) does not contain a question about whether the applicant has had any previous disciplinary action. This does not ensure that only suitable people work with children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Improvements have been made to the environment of the home. For example, the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms are new. The new furnishings and decoration Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 5 are of a high standard. Further work is scheduled for the upstairs of the property. Children have plenty of space to play together or have time alone. Their bedrooms are homely and welcoming. Children have personalised their rooms to reflect their character and taste.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2016. She is supported by a well-established management team, and effective arrangements are in place for her ongoing support and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are experienced and most have achieved a National Vocational Qualification at level 3. New staff are registered to undertake a similar qualification once they have completed their probationary period. Staff receive training to support their learning, and the manager has a clear system in place to make sure that staff receive mandatory and additional training. Therefore, staff have the skills and knowledge to support children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team receives regular supervision that is reflective and is underpinned by development and individual strengths. However, the home’s workforce plan does not identify the timescales for supervision. Personal development plans focus on the development of individual staff members. Additionally, staff have monthly team meetings where they share examples of good practice, training and development information to aid their learning. As a result, staff say that they are supported, valued and motivated. Consequently, the turnover of staff is low at this home and children receive care from a stable staff team that knows them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s case records are generally good and contain relevant information. This means that staff have all the information that they need to plan effectively for the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works positively with external professionals to help ensure that children receive effective care and support. In circumstances where external services fall short, the manager can challenge them and advocate for the children. Relationships with partner agencies, families and children are strong. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘This is one of the good homes.’ A social worker said, ‘I am impressed with the care that he (child) receives.’ This is evident in the home’s child-focused approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring and review systems help the manager to identify the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. She can alter her practice accordingly. However, the manager’s quality of care report lacks evaluation and does not include the outcomes of consultation with children and stakeholders. This is a missed opportunity to identify any potential learning and to support ongoing improvement. Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 6

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the Regulation 45 quality of care report is evaluative and reflects the consultation undertaken with children and stakeholders. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 31 December Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 7 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that references are verified and that questions about an applicant’s suitability are robust.

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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—

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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 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the safer area report is used in conjunction with a child’s impact risk assessment, to ensure that the area is safe for them. Further to this, ensure that all information required on the company’s form is recorded. 31 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that staff have clear guidance on the action to take if an incident occurs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that records kept in the children’s home are signed and dated by the author. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 8

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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: SC475680 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC475680 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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