Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties. There were seven children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified and experienced manager registered with Ofsted in March 2019, when the home opened.

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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: 18 January 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: 2509298 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2022 Full Good 28/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 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. Children live in a caring environment with staff who know them well. Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff. This gives children the security they need to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress across most aspects of their emotional, social, behavioural and educational development. Many of the children have experienced a disruption to schooling before moving into the home. Staff work tirelessly to support children’s education. This starts with having a culture where school is an expected part of the daily routine. As a result, children with a significant history of disrupted education are now achieving 100% school attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s healthcare is prioritised. They are supported to attend routine health appointments. The company’s therapists offer support sessions to ensure that children’s emotional needs are met. For children who need additional emotional support, specialist outside agencies are sought. This ensures that children’s health is maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create a nurturing environment in the home. They encourage children to enjoy meals together. They also ensure that children have opportunities to try a range of new and exciting experiences. These include going on holidays and day trips and raising funds for charity. This enables children to develop self-esteem and build positive relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family relationships are important in this home. Staff prioritise helping children to rebuild and keep family connections. Some children are making such good progress that they are having overnight stays at home. This helps to promote children’s sense of identity and self-worth.

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

Children have well-designed placement plans, behaviour support plans and risk assessments. These are reviewed and updated regularly. They provide staff with clear guidance on the actions to take to keep children safe. This ensures that staff provide consistent care to the children.

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

Staff carry out individual work with children that helps them to understand risks and develop the skills to keep themselves safe. This work includes topics such as online safety, healthy and safe relationships and the dangers of going missing from care. As a result, missing-from-care incidents are reducing. On the occasions when children have gone missing, the staff have followed the relevant protocol. This includes going out to search for children to ensure their safe return. This measure promotes the welfare and safety of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 4 Physical intervention is only used to keep the children and others safe. When physical restraint has been necessary, this has been in line with good practice. There is effective management oversight and reflection for both children and staff. This gives children and staff opportunities to reflect on how such interventions can be

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

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. They ensure that staff who are recruited to work in the home are subject to all the necessary checks. When allegations against staff are made, leaders are quick to act to protect children. Managers collaborate closely with local authority designated officers and social workers to make sure that information is shared effectively. This ensures that decisions are made in the best interests of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to the children who live in the home. She leads her staff by example, with high expectations about the standard of care that children receive. A deputy manager and a team of committed staff support her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are happy in their work. They feel well supported by colleagues and managers. They told inspectors that managers are visible, and that staff have daily opportunities for debriefs. In addition, they receive regular formal supervision. This helps them to reflect on the children’s needs and their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings and training. The manager ensures that mandatory training is kept up to date. Staff are trained to meet the specific needs of the children they care for. This means that children are looked after by carers who have the knowledge to do so effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are good monitoring systems in place to help the manager track the progress of children. The manager has an effective working relationship with the independent person and uses this scrutiny to improve practice. However, there are times when the monitoring systems are not effective. There have been a few occasions when the manager has not identified, and therefore has not responded, to poor practice. This shortfall does not ensure that children always receive consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective relationships with professionals involved in the care of the children. Staff collaborate closely with social workers, therapists, educational professionals and the police. The positive relationship between services ensures that children receive the help they need. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 28 April 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: 2509298 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: Lupton Tower, Lupton, Carnforth LA6 2PR

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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509298 7 regulates and inspects 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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