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

Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 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

The home is registered to care for up to four children and is operated by a private organisation. The home provides accommodation for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is a manager in post with the relevant qualification. She registered with Ofsted in August 2017.

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2020 Full 16/01/2019 Full Outstanding 19/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 3

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outstanding

There are four children living in the home. The children are receiving excellent care. They have personalised care plans which identify their individual needs. The manager and staff team know the children incredibly well and promote positive outcomes for them. The aspirational culture of the home helps children grow in confidence and have high ambitions for their futures.

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outstanding

Contact with families is promoted and facilitated by the manager and staff. They understand the importance of relationships and support children to see their families. For one child, this positive contact is helping him to work towards his plan of returning home.

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outstanding

All young people attend the same school, which is run by the provider. Attendance for some of the children has reduced; however, staff are proactive and creative in addressing this. They work with children to understand the reasons for their non- attendance and put plans in place to address this. Children achieve expected or above expected grades. One child at the home achieved the highest number of GCSEs in his year group.

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outstanding

The manager and staff team ensure that the health of children is promoted positively. Children have clear health plans, which means that staff have the most up-to-date information to help them manage complex health needs.

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outstanding

Children have access to the organisation’s therapist. This tailored care contributes to children receiving support and guidance in relation to their emotional, social and psychological well-being. The therapist works with staff to further develop their understanding of the children’s needs.

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outstanding

One child has moved on from the home in a planned way. The manager advocated for him to stay at the home until a new placement was found which met his complex needs and catered for his interest in equine care.

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outstanding

Children said they feel safe living at the home. Risk assessments are completed with the individual child in mind that give staff a real understanding of how to help the child keep safe. Staff are aware of and respond quickly to risks. Consequently, children feel supported and are protected.

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outstanding

Children’s risks have reduced since coming to live at the home. One child was previously at high risk of criminal exploitation and would go missing from home on an almost daily basis. These risks have massively reduced. When children do go Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 4 missing, staff are very proactive in trying to find them, searching locally and much further afield if required. The manager and staff work with the police and other agencies to ensure the quick and safe return of children. Work is done with the children to help understand their reasons for going missing, and work is done to reduce the risks. Consequently, children are safer.

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outstanding

Staff manage children’s challenging behaviour exceptionally well. Behaviour support plans are written with the therapist, who has been able to further develop staff’s understanding of the underlying reasons for behaviour. All staff have been trained in therapeutic parenting and apply these principles in the home, demonstrating real empathy for children who have experienced trauma. Staff have the skills to de- escalate incidents exceptionally well, which means that the need to physically intervene to keep children and others safe has reduced.

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outstanding

Decisions to offer children places at the home are carefully considered, taking into account any risk-taking behaviours of the children already living in the home. These positive matches mean children’s risks do not have a detrimental impact on each other, and staff are able to meet all of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager. Leaders and managers are passionate about children achieving positive outcomes and experiencing excellent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is excellent managerial oversight of the home. Internal and external monitoring systems are strong and allow for good analysis and evaluation. This provides opportunities to identify any shortfalls and areas of good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is frequent and reflective. Staff can review and develop their practice reflectively to ensure the quality of care provided for the children remains high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

While there have been some changes in the staff team, overall, it is consistent and stable. There are vacancies which are covered by the existing staff team or staff from within the organisation that the children are familiar with. Staff say the manager is approachable and they feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

In addition to therapeutic parenting, staff have access to an excellent training package. Staff are committed to undertaking training specific to the children living in the home. This means staff can develop the skills and knowledge to meet the complex needs of children to a high standard. Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 5

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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: 1247560 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 7 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 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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