Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 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 part of a national organisation. The home provides care for up to eight children. At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the positive, affectionate relationships they have with a stable staff team. Staff listen to children, invest time in them and promote their welfare. This has ensured that all children, within a short length of time, have made good progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The managers and staff place a strong emphasis on the importance of children having every opportunity to take part in a range of activities. Staff understand the children’s differing needs and work with them sensitively to help them engage in activities they enjoy. Activities include ice skating, equine therapy, boxing, swimming, ninja warrior and trips to Longleat.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The purpose-built home is homely and nicely decorated. Children’s rooms are spacious and personalised, and all benefit from en suite bathrooms. Staff support children to keep in touch with their friends and family where appropriate, and they are encouraged to visit the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy school and their attendance is good. Social workers spoke positively and warmly about the progress children had made. One social worker informed the inspectors that their child, prior to living at the home, had not been in full-time education for several years. However, within two weeks of being in the home, the child was attending educational provision full time. Staff have supported all children to make good progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs, including their emotional well-being and mental health, are well met. An in-house psychology team offers therapy to children and supports staff to respond to new or changing behaviours. Children are supported to attend routine health appointments.

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

Children living in the home feel safe. Passionate and caring staff know the children well. Staff have quickly developed a clear understanding of each child’s complex needs. Staff have received the right training and support to manage these needs daily effectively and help keep children safe.

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

There have been some serious incidents that have led to staff physically restraining children. Management oversight of the use of restraint is robust. Learning from these incidents and changes to practice have positively reduced the number of incidents that take place.

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

Children’s risks and what might cause them to be upset are known by staff. Staff consistently offer praise to children and promote and reward positive behaviour. An in-house safeguarding team is proactively used to continually improve practice. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 4 team ensures that children and staff are listened to following incidents, practice is reviewed and, where required, new guidance implemented. This means that risk assessments and care plans are comprehensive and provide staff with the most up- to-date strategies to best support the children.

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

Children live in a home that is safe and secure. However, the blanket use of door alarms on all children’s rooms is restrictive practice. A statutory requirement is set as a result of this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager interacts with children and staff, showing fondness and warmth. Staff retention is good and agency staff are not used. Children benefit from consistently being supported by staff who know them well and can best support their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use learning from significant events to inform staff practice. Children are listened to. Advice is sought, and additional training is provided to improve the care and support that children experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager, who is visible and available to them. Supervision takes place regularly, and training is tailored to the needs of the children living in the home. The manager has implemented a clear plan that identifies staff’s strengths and areas which they need to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have built up strong and positive relationships with other agencies and professionals. Feedback from placing social workers is extremely positive. Social workers commend the progress children are making. They value the home and praise the child-centred staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The effective leadership and positive culture of the home directly contribute to the good care that is provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 5

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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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

These Regulations do not prevent a child from being deprived of liberty where that deprivation is authorised in accordance with a court order. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This directly relates to the leaders and managers’ blanket use of bedroom door alarms. This is restrictive practice, is not appropriate and needs to be reviewed. 12 February 2023

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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: 2680522 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

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 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 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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