Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 1 SC475689 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

This home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to six children with learning disabilities. The home can provide ongoing care for children when they reach 18 years of age, to allow them to complete their education. However, it must then reduce the number of children accordingly.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2020 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: SC475689 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2022 Full Outstanding 10/07/2019 Full Outstanding 23/10/2018 Full Outstanding 16/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 3

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outstanding

Children benefit from living in a warm and welcoming home environment, where staff provide excellent levels of care. There is a highly experienced and skilled staff team who develop strong relationships with children. Interactions between children and staff are extremely positive and staff are genuinely compassionate. This enables children to develop a strong sense of belonging and security which supports them to sustain the progress that they make.

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outstanding

There is a strong focus on the benefits of routine and education. Staff work closely with education professionals to ensure that children’s learning needs are consistently met. This has enabled children to make significant progress in their education. In relation to this, one child said, ‘Before moving here, I had not been to school for three months. I now go to school every day and am even on the school football team.’

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outstanding

Staff talk positively about children, are ambitious for their futures and are proud of the progress that children make. Staff celebrate children’s achievements, however big or small. Children’s certificates, paintings and photos are on display throughout the home. This helps reinforce to children the progress they make and enables them to feel a sense of belonging.

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outstanding

Children are supported extremely well to develop their independence skills in line with their abilities. Staff spend meaningful time with children to build up their confidence and challenge them to take age-appropriate risks. This has enabled one child to travel independently on public transport and another child to access a local place of worship independently, and another child is now able to walk alone in the local community.

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outstanding

Children are safe and report that they feel safe. They are able to identify numerous members of staff who they feel comfortable sharing any concerns with. Exceptional interventions from staff mean that children’s risks significantly reduce. Since the last inspection, there have been no safeguarding incidents or children being missing from home.

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outstanding

Children are provided with bespoke safety plans, which are understood by both children and staff. These plans support children to overcome past trauma and develop resilience. This means that there has been a significant reduction in the number of physical interventions required by staff to keep the children safe. In relation to this, one child said, ‘Yes, I have made loads of progress. I do not get upset or angry like I used to do. Staff do not need to hold me anymore.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 4 Physical intervention by staff is only used as a last resort. When such interventions are used by staff, they are proportionate and reduce the risks of harm to children. All records of physical interventions are evaluated by the manager and careful consideration is given to further support required.

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outstanding

Children are supported by a staff team who access a wide range of training on a regular basis. This training enables staff to meet the specific complex needs of the children living in the home. The company also employs a therapist to further embed therapeutic practice. This means that children are cared for by a highly skilled staff team who are able to respond appropriately to challenges and keep children safe.

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outstanding

Careful consideration is given to potential risks in the home and action is taken to reduce these risks. In relation to fire risks, the staff have developed working relationships with the local fire department, who have conducted a fire safety inspection of the home. In addition, staff have developed emergency bags to support children to evacuate the home safely in the event of a fire.

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outstanding

Parents are extremely positive about how their children are cared for and kept safe. One parent said, ‘Above all else, they [staff] nurture him [child], keep him safe, love and care for him. I like the way they treat him, laugh with him, nothing is forced. They have a very natural way of nurturing him. I am never worried about him.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a manager who is extremely experienced in providing consistently exceptional levels of care to children. The manager, supported by a deputy manager, provides highly effective management oversight that benefits both staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are extremely proud of the high staff retention levels. Children’s lives are enriched as a result of the long-term nurturing relationships staff build with them. For some children who have moved a number of times prior to moving here, these relationships have been the most consistent in their lives thus far.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has developed an extremely professional working ethos for the home, in which children are at the centre of everything that staff do. Staff are dedicated to their roles and the children and are very proud of the impact that they have on children’s lives. One staff member said, ‘I have worked for many companies, but the staff here genuinely care about each child as an individual. The staff who are here want to be here and are passionate about the job they do.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has effective oversight of the development of the staff team. She is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of staff members and has clear plans in place so that any development needs are met. Staff are supported by an overarching organisational training programme. Staff are trained in a therapeutic model of intervention which is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians. This means that staff are well trained to meet the complex needs of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 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: SC475689 6

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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

Rob Neild, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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