2615342.

Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care for up to seven children. These children may have faced adverse childhood experiences resulting in trauma.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified for the post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Seven children live at the home. All children have lived at the home since the last inspection. Children attend schools owned by the company. A clinical team works in the home and school, supporting children and staff. Consequently, there is a joined- up approach throughout the services that offers children consistency and a holistic approach to their care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is spacious and homely. Children have a large kitchen where they prepare food and eat together. There is ample space for children to relax and enjoy leisure time throughout the home. Each child’s bedroom is uniquely personalised to them, their likes and interests. Photographs of children are displayed at the home. This helps children develop a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well. They share positive relationships where children feel confident to share their concerns and achievements. Children are supported to develop their individual personalities, and these are embraced. Staff have high aspirations for children and celebrate their achievements. Their strong knowledge of the children means that they recognise their individual progress from their personal starting points.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly consult children about their wishes, feelings and the care they receive. Children engage in these meetings and say that they feel safe in their home and have a variety of people they can talk to. Staff regularly talk to children about how their behaviours can have an impact on others, and the topic of bullying is frequently revisited. Staff are quick to intervene and individually educate children if their behaviours are unkind towards other children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills at a pace suited to their individual needs and preferences. Staff work with children to develop trust and life skills, to enable children to spend time in the community independently. Some children have chosen to shop and cook independently, but they explained that they can have a meal cooked for them if they choose to. This support enables children to develop their independence while still feeling cared for and supported.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take children on holiday. They engage them in new activities and those in relation to their interests and hobbies. New experiences have allowed children to develop hobbies. For example, one child now has a horse on loan that they take pride in caring for. Some of the children play in local football teams and access the local gym. In recognising children’s individual interests, staff develop unique and creative activities for children centred around these.

p.3

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

Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 4 Children rarely go missing from home. When children have gone missing, this has been for a short time. Staff follow protocols and liaise with professionals and family to ensure children are found quickly. Staff support children to talk through their feelings when they return. They talk to children to increase their awareness of the risks they may face while missing. This approach supports and educates children.

p.4

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

Children have made progress in being able to recognise and communicate their feelings. Staff have been creative in supporting children, using symbols and children’s preferred communication methods, for example communicating through a favourite teddy. As a result of positive communication styles, children can share their feelings and this has had a positive impact on their behaviours.

p.4

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

Restraints have dramatically reduced. This is through staff developing good relationships with children, enabling children to recognise their own feelings and developing strategies to manage these positively. Staff use a variety of de-escalation techniques to avoid restraining children. When restraint has been used, it is as a last resort to prevent children harming themselves or others. Correct procedures are followed, and staff and children receive debriefs to review the situation. Staff support children to think about what might have helped them during the incident.

p.4

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

One allegation has been made since the last inspection. Managers respond to allegations appropriately and share information with relevant professionals. Investigations are carried out in a timely manner, and children and staff are supported during this time. Once investigations have concluded, a restorative approaches is taken with children and staff to repair relationships and help children feel safe.

p.4

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

Staff support children with good-quality individualised educational sessions tailored to their needs and specific topics. Tools are widely used to help children’s engagement, learning and understanding of the topics. Staff have open conversations with children, where children feel safe to talk about their changing bodies and ask questions without fear of feeling shamed. This work is worthy of wider dissemination within the team. However, the quality of these sessions varies, and a small number of staff do not use the therapeutic skills and language they have been taught.

p.4

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

Children and their families know how to make a complaint. Two complaints have been received since the last inspection. Managers are quick to respond to complaints. They complete investigations and share the outcomes in a timely manner. Consequently, children and families know their complaints are taken seriously, and they understand the outcomes.

p.4

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

Staff support children to see people who are important to them. As a result of children’s calmer behaviours, and from ascertaining their wishes and feelings, some children now see their families more frequently. Families spend time at the home, sharing special occasions such as birthdays. Parents told the inspector that their children are happy living at the home and that their behaviours and education have Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 5 vastly improved. Parents stated that they are well informed about their children’s lives.

p.4

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

The clinical team and staff support and help children to understand their journey. Staff take photographs of children enjoying activities, birthdays and celebratory occasions. These memories captured help children look back on their journey, their personal growth and achievements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is motivated and passionate about providing children with care that is nurturing and supportive. She works from a therapeutic base that is also implemented at the home. She is aspirational for children. She understands their individual journeys, the impact of their experiences and how to support children. The manager, leaders and staff team speak positively about children, their progress and their aspirations for the future.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that the manager is a champion of their development. Consequently, they feel valued and staff morale is good. Staff feel valued through their personal development and receive a high level of training, a good induction and supervision sessions. Staff told the inspector that the manager is ‘supportive, knowledgeable and present’, with a hands-on approach to caring for and knowing the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works closely with professionals to ensure children receive a joined-up approach to their care. Professionals report they have a positive relationship with the manager and staff and that they are ‘child-focused’, ‘consistent’ and ‘communicate very well’. Professionals describe the positive progress children have made since living at the home. They report that children are happy there and receive support and emotional warmth from staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly skilled, passionate and an immensely strong advocate for children. She appropriately challenges professionals on behalf of children where their views and wishes have not been sought or heard and when decisions might be made to the detriment of children’s progress. She has worked hard to stabilise the educational placement for one child, where there have been difficulties. This has included the use of child-friendly incentives.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is supported by a house support worker, who is integral to the home. She cooks fresh meals that meet children’s specific dietary needs and ensures the home is a clean space for children to live. Her role ensures that staff can spend more time meeting the needs of children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The clinical support team meets with staff on a monthly basis to discuss children’s progress and needs. This helps staff to further understand children and supports their practice. The members of the clinical team also provide support for staff. They recognise that the role can be difficult at times and they give staff space to reflect and implement strategies to support them to be present for children at all times. Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 6 Staff commented that this is a valuable process for them and helps them to reflect on their own feelings. Staff feel well supported. Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 7

p.5

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.7

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(ix))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff understanding children’s behaviours and supporting children to develop their awareness in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. 30 April 2023

p.7

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) Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 8 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 9

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2615342 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10