Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 1 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 provider. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for children who are at risk of, or vulnerable to, child sexual exploitation. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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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: 15 February 2022

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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: 2533483 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/02/2022 Full Good 12/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is now settled after a short period of instability with staff leaving. Leaders responded swiftly to ensure that experienced staff within the organisation joined this home to support new staff. Children develop trusting and positive relationships and enjoy living in the home. This is because staff invest in spending time with children and getting to know them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work well with other agencies and the children to ensure a smooth move into the home. Risk assessments help leaders to understand whether staff can meet a child’s needs alongside those of children already living in the home. Children receive a welcome gift on their arrival. This helps to reduce any anxieties for children that may arise as a result of their move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children contribute to decisions made in the home. They hold regular meetings and also speak to staff at any time to share their views. Complaints are taken seriously and investigated. This gives children a compelling message that their voice is important. This ensures that children feel valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are prioritised. Staff encourage children to attend school daily. The regular meetings between residential staff, school staff and the therapist ensure that there is a coordinated approach to the children’s education. As a result, children make good progress in this area of their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met by staff. Staff help children to access regular therapeutic support from clinicians. In addition, staff use key-work sessions to help children process their thoughts and feelings about their experiences. Staff encourage children to follow healthy lifestyles. There is good support for the children to eat well, attend their health appointments and exercise regularly. This ensures that children’s health is maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of leisure activities. These activities allow children to have age-appropriate experiences and develop their self-esteem. Leisure activities include playing games in the home, attending horse riding sessions and dancing clubs in the community. Children are supported to celebrate differences and develop their identity. They take part in events such as Pride Week and Black History Month. This is essential for their sense of self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to see their families and friends. Staff reach out to those who are important to children to enable these links to be maintained. Staff help children to develop independent living skills. This focuses on learning life skills such as preparing healthy meals, cleaning and budgeting. However, for one child, steps to open a bank account have not been followed through. This shortfall means the child cannot learn to manage their finances effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 4

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

Staff complete detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans. These documents are regularly updated in response to any concerns. They enable staff to understand each child’s risks and vulnerabilities. This ensures that the staff are able to keep children safe.

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

The home’s location risk assessment is detailed and includes input from other key professionals and agencies. This means that staff have a good understanding of emerging risks in the local community that may place children at risk of harm. When children go missing, staff follow procedures to ensure that they are safe. Members of staff conduct local searches and take steps to ensure that children are not put in harmful situations. This demonstrates to the children that the staff who care for them will support them and keep them safe.

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

Children benefit from individual incentives and a restorative approach to help them to manage their own behaviour. On some occasions, staff are required to physically restrain children to keep them and others safe. The manager reviews all physical restraint records. This means that there is oversight to ensure the actions taken by staff are proportionate and necessary.

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

Allegations are well managed and safeguarding procedures are followed. Leaders and managers ensure that any concerns raised in relation to staff practice are appropriately referred and addressed in line with statutory safeguarding procedures. The manager collaborates closely with the local authority designated officer and social workers to ensure that information is shared effectively.

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

The manager is robust in ensuring that the recruitment of staff is safe. He ensures that staff identification documents and Disclosure and Barring Service checks are available, and gaps in employment and references are verified. This means that only suitable people are employed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a new manager in post since August 2021. The manager is supported by a staff team that is committed to providing good-quality care to children. They are enthusiastic about the future of the home. The operational manager has robust oversight of this home while the new manager settles in. The operational manager’s oversight promotes consistency for the children. This ensures that children’s needs remain a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are happy in their work. They benefit from training, regular team meetings and supervision. However, the quality of the supervision and recording is not consistent. It lacks reflection on practice as well as professional scrutiny and challenge. This shortfall means that the staff are not being provided with an opportunity to reflect and develop to improve their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 5 There are regular visits to the home by an independent person. The reports completed following these visits generally provide sufficient external oversight of the quality of the care provided by the home. Where there are areas of improvement, the manager responds promptly to recommendations made. This demonstrates that managers are keen to learn and have a desire to continually improve practice. This helps to ensure that children’s needs are met and that they are safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Significant incidents are reported to Ofsted to promote the safety and well-being of children. However, on two occasions there was a significant delay in notifying the regulator of serious incidents. This delay does not give the regulator a prompt opportunity to make sure that the actions taken to safeguard children are effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback provided by professionals is positive about the staff’s care for the children. Professionals spoke about the good progress the children are making. The thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the service is insightful, and the manager has a clear vision for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 6

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Statutory requirement

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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 3 March 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop practical skills such as budgeting. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision so that they can reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2533483 7

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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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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2533483 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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