Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 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 one of several children’s homes operated by a national provider. It is registered to care for up to eight children. The home’s statement of purpose says that they provide a therapeutically managed home to meet the nurturing, health, social, emotional and mental health needs of children aged seven to 17 who are unable to live in a family context. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider operates a school on the same site as the children’s home. The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no manager in post since 8 May 2023.

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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: 22 February 2023

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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: 2655761 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff, who nurture and care for them. This is helped by there being a consistent team of staff who know the children well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a generally homely feel for children. It has a separate living and games room and a large garden set in beautiful grounds. Children personalise their bedrooms to reflect their likes and preferences. For instance, they choose books, toys and games that interest them, and one child was proud to show the inspector photos of his pets. This helps children to have a sense of belonging. However, some areas of the home need repair due to damage that has occurred during incidents. One member of staff said, ‘Having a seating area and more play equipment, for example, swings and a trampoline in the garden, would be so good for the children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to enjoy a range of physically and emotionally stimulating activities, such as cycling, playing board games, baking and soft play. Children have fun at the home and are encouraged by staff to expand their experiences and make memories. However, children’s rewards and achievements are not celebrated or showcased in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought regularly by staff, and these are valued. Children are listened to by staff, who support them to help influence the way they are cared for, for example, through key-work sessions and being involved in choosing meals and activities. Children also complete ‘back to the future’ forms, giving them time to reflect on their previous week and to consider what they would like to do the following week. These forms capture something nice that someone has done for them and provide an opportunity to suggest a ‘dream item’ for the home. This gives children a sense of respect and ownership of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good educational progress from their starting points. One child who is due to start school in the coming weeks, is helped to engage in activities to support his learning. The child talked fondly of a recent experience when they ‘visited a museum and saw a real-life dinosaur in bones’. The school is on the same site as the home and there are close links between the home and school. This includes handovers twice a day to ensure that children experience consistent and well- informed care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with family is a clear focus for staff and is promoted well. Staff show sensitivity when managing and supporting family relationships and work in partnership with families to support what matters most to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 4

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

Staff understand the organisation’s safeguarding policies and practice. They know how to raise concerns and who to contact for immediate advice or support. There have been no new staff since the last inspection. Senior leaders can demonstrate that safe recruitment checks ensure that suitable staff work in the home.

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

There are effective discussions in team meetings regarding the vulnerabilities and identified risks for each child. This helps to strengthen staff understanding and ensures that there is a consistent response to caring for children.

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

Staff have effective strategies in place to help keep children safe and these are clearly set out in individual risk assessments and behaviour support plans. These are reviewed frequently. Levels of physical interventions are recorded in detail, with clear management oversight. Staff have opportunities to reflect on incidents to develop strategies to reduce these.

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

Children say they feel safe. Through debriefs and key-work sessions, children are involved in telling staff what makes them anxious and what staff can do to help them. This builds children’s trust and self-esteem.

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

Children’s health needs are met to a high standard. Staff have strong links with health professionals to support children’s ongoing health needs, which have informed their practice. Staff also receive support from the wider community therapy team. One member of staff said, ‘Child-focused practice meetings really help us understand children’s trauma.’

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. Senior leaders and staff are aware of their responsibilities to ensure that effective health and safety processes are in place. Consequently, children, staff and visitors are protected, and the home is safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left the home in May 2023. A new manager has not yet been appointed, but senior leaders are actively recruiting for the role. In the interim, senior leaders are overseeing the day-to-day management of the home and they make decisions that are child-focused. They have detailed knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The independent visitor provides a good level of external scrutiny and makes helpful suggestions regarding practice development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been through an unsettled time due to the initial set-up of the home and the inexperience of some new staff. However, staff feel positive about the support provided by senior leaders and they are a strong team who support each other. Senior leaders are visible in the home and have maintained effective oversight. They model good practice and help to ensure that there is a shared ethos and that children are cared for consistently, in line with the home’s statement of Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 5 purpose. There is a detailed development plan for the home that identifies areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The information available for staff about children’s needs is generally detailed and is obtained from parents and social workers before children move into the home. However, on occasions, some information was not made available at the time, which contributed to children’s placements being unsuccessful. Two children have moved on from the home in a short space of time. Senior leaders have completed a comprehensive ‘lessons learned’ review, but this did not fully consider how current children in the home may have been affected by these moves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by skilled staff. Senior leaders have identified areas where staff require additional support to further their knowledge and confidence. There are effective discussions in team meetings regarding children’s behaviours, their past experiences and known risks. This helps to strengthen staff understanding and ensures a consistent response to caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively in partnership with parents and external professionals. Feedback from parents and external professionals, such as social workers, is positive regarding communication and partnership working. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] feels safe and secure and really trusts their key worker.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a day-to-day understanding of children’s capabilities and needs before they move into the home. They should also consider the impact that children leaving may have on the children who remain in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.28)  The registered person should ensure that staff fully recognise and celebrate the achievements of children, by showcasing them throughout the home for children to see. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2655761 7

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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

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2655761 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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