Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a purpose-built property. It has seven children’s bedrooms each with an en-suite bathroom and a large garden.

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Information about this children’s home

All seven children living in the home at the time of the inspection were observed, and some were consulted by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened. During this time, she has been responsible for other work within the company. Therefore, an acting manager was appointed in 2019; however, they resigned in 2020. The home has continued to be managed by the registered manager.

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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 inspection 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.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 2 Date of last inspection: 28 August 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 for children’s home: 2509298 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in the home. They say that they feel safe and recognise the individual progress that they have made. When describing their experience of living in the home, one child said, ‘They’ve [staff] given me the life that I needed.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in various aspects of their lives. For example, their relationships, health, emotional well-being and attendance at school have improved. Professionals working with the children speak highly of the care that the children receive. One social worker said that a child was ‘completely different’, and had ‘come out of their shell’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home conditions are very good. Well-decorated rooms and soft furnishings give it a homely atmosphere. The spacious outdoor area enables the children to enjoy activities in the safety of the home grounds. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and treated as a private space which the children claim as their own. The staff offer a good level of support to the children to ensure that the children’s bedrooms are kept to a good standard of hygiene and safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are prepared well for their move into the home. The manager assesses the staff’s ability to meet the child’s needs and children’s moves are well planned. The manager consults with professionals who know the child and where appropriate, the child’s family members. Children receive written information about the home and if possible, a visit is arranged so they can familiarise themselves with the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a warm welcome when they arrive, and this helps them to settle quickly. The staff understand that this can be a daunting time for the children, including those who already live in the home. Therefore, the staff provide the children with additional support and reassurance. When reflecting on their move, a child said that they felt welcomed and their worries about the move quickly subsided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a good routine. This is established soon after they move in and it is developed over time, taking into account their age, stage of development and their targets. Children are encouraged to follow their routine and recognise the value that this has for them now, and in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual care plans reflect their needs. However, in one example, a child’s cultural and identity needs had not been thoroughly considered. Therefore, the strategies identified to meet the child’s needs were insufficient. The manager is aware of this shortfall and has a plan in place to address it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support the children to be healthy and recognise the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. This starts with giving the children advice about their personal care and includes supporting the children to take prescribed medication and vitamins. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 5 staff liaise with health professionals and support the children to attend medical appointments. This has resulted in some of the children visiting the dentist for the first time and for others, feeling the benefit from a change in medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in school. Attendance is very good. Some children feel more positive about being at school and the value of education. The manager and the staff motivate the children to think about their future. This has resulted in the children speaking about their individual aspirations and having ideas about what they want to be when they grow up.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are valued and used to inform their care plans. Forums such as children’s meetings, weekly questionnaires and informal discussions help the children to express their opinions and to influence their day-to-day care. On the rare occasion that a child makes a complaint, the manager carries out an investigation and completes a written response to the child. This helps the children to feel empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been supported to cope with the restrictions imposed due to COVID- 19. The manager has invested in new games for the children to use at home. For example, during the summer, the children enjoyed the large swimming pool and sun loungers. The manager has continued to implement strategies to manage the effect of COVID-19, such as daily cleaning regimes in the home. Children receive information about the pandemic and are supported when they are worried about the implications that it has for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the children with nurturing care which helps the children to form positive, trusting relationships. Staff talk to the children about feelings. They show children compassion, empathy and emotional warmth. This means that the children feel confident that the staff will support them and help them overcome any challenges that they may face. One child said, ‘All the staff are friendly,’ and another child said, ‘You get the support that you need.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop positive relationships with each other. They enjoy family meals together. They are encouraged to treat the home surroundings with respect. If there are any incidents, grumbles among the children or indicators of bullying, the staff intervene and use a restorative approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. For some children, their family relationships have improved, which means that they can spend the night with their family. For other children, the staff accompany them to visit their family members, offer support and help the children to be safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are valued as individuals and supported to celebrated who they are. They are encouraged to follow their interests and embrace new experiences. Some children have joined local community clubs, such as gymnastics, football and scouts. In addition, children have enjoyed activities such as go-karting, trips to a water park and overnight camping. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 6

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

The staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities and risks. Risk assessments are reviewed on a regular basis and in most examples, the triggers and strategies that the staff should follow are clear and relevant. When there are concerns about a child’s welfare, or there is information to suggest that risks have significantly increased, the manager consults with relevant professionals and takes action to ensure that the children’s care plans are reviewed and updated.

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

When children move into the home, the manager carries out a group risk assessment to consider the effect on the other children already living there. In one example found, a child’s name was not correct, and some information was duplicated. This undermines the quality of the children’s records.

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

Missing-from-home incidents involving the children are rare. On the occasions that the children do go missing from the home, the staff respond effectively and search for the child. This includes contacting relevant professionals to share information and help in the search. Children are offered an independent return home interview after a missing-from-home incident. This offers them the opportunity to talk about their experience. Missing-from-home incidents are reviewed by the manager. She uses intelligence from these incidents and other information to inform her analysis of the risks to the children from the community. From this, she can identify suitable strategies to reduce the risks for the children.

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

Children are supported to develop positive behaviour. Through high levels of supervision and guidance from staff, and an incentive scheme, the children learn ways to change their behaviour and access help when they need it. This has resulted in a reduction in some incidents involving the children, such as damage to the property and physical intervention. When appropriate, the manager invites other agencies to talk to the children and deliver workshops on matters such as the impact of crime and the dangers from exploitation. This provides an opportunity for the children to learn about the potential risks posed by these issues.

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

Children benefit from the therapeutic support provided by the in-house therapy service. The staff help the children to access therapy sessions which are provided at the child’s pace in an environment which best suits them, for example the community. Staff regularly consult with the therapists in monthly meetings or as required. This input helps the staff to understand the children’s emotional needs and the responses needed to best help the child.

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

Staff initiate conversations with the children when important matters concerning the children arise. Staff carry out key-work sessions. However, these are impromptu sessions rather than well planned and clearly linked to the child’s targets. The manager recognises that the quality of key-work sessions needs to be improve, as well as the written record of the event. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been more actively involved in the day-to-day running of the home since the acting manager left.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a wide range of experience working in children’s residential care. She is a good leader and runs the home with the children’s needs and well-being at the centre. With the support of the deputy manager, she promotes a learning culture, which helps to increase the staff’s knowledge, skills and confidence. The manager has invested in her own development through independent study and enrolment to complete a higher management qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

COVID-19 has affected staff well-being, which has led to staff absence and difficulties with staff retention. Over half of the staff team have left since the last inspection. The manager has recruited new staff and they have completed inductions to the home, undertaken shadow shifts and developed relationships with the children. The manager monitors staff practice during their probation period and offers advice and support when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is confident to challenge poor practice. When there are concerns about the standard of care, she carries out an investigation and identifies what needs to change. Outcomes are also shared with the senior leaders in the organisation. When necessary, a manager from a sister home leads investigations; this promotes independence and transparency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Members of the staff team work well together. They are motivated and speak highly of the support that they receive from the manager and the deputy manager. When describing their experience of working in the home, the staff said that the manager has an open-door policy and shares her knowledge with them. Staff felt that this gave them the confidence to seek support when needed. Staff said they are ‘proud’ to work in the home and are ‘part of a big family’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision which includes reflection on the children’s care, incidents or new behaviours. Staff discuss their views and their own well-being, including development and training needs. A record is completed from each supervision session. In some examples found, sections of the record were copied from previous meetings, which casts doubt on the quality of the record. The manager acknowledged that this is an area to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of communication between the staff and the children’s placing local authorities is good. Children’s social workers receive regular reports on the children’s progress and information relating to significant events involving the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Half of the staff team do not have the required qualification to work with children in residential care. However, they are enrolled onto the course and their commitment and progress are monitored by the manager. The inspector found that one member of staff had exceeded the relevant date to complete the qualification. This is a breach in regulations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 8

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

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)) 20 June 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that the staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 for children’s home: 2509298 9

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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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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 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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