Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 1 SC475680 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

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to eight children who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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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 October 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: SC475680 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2022 Full Good 26/10/2021 Full Good 17/09/2019 Full Good 13/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Eight children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Children are making good progress from their starting points. Effective assessments prior to children moving into the home ensure that staff have the skills to meet their individual needs. This has resulted in the home being a settled, stable and nurturing environment. This has supported children to share positive relationships with each other and the people that care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being are a priority in this home. Collaborative work with the home’s therapists supports children’s emotional well-being. Staff have a good understanding of the needs of a child with complex health requirements. Direct work sessions and regular meetings with the specialist professional are supporting the child to increase their responsibility for managing their own health needs. This is supporting the child’s confidence and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who were not previously in school are now in full-time education. One educational professional said: ‘The home have done an exceptional job in ensuring that each pupil’s attendance has been excellent this academic year.’ This supports children’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children maintain contact with family members and family time is supported by staff. Staff travel some distance to ensure that children have positive time with their families. One parent said: ‘They have been amazing in supporting family time.’ Professionals echoed that the home goes ‘above and beyond’ in supporting family time. This benefits children and supports their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s records and memory books detail the journeys of the children and the progress that they are making in the home. This provides children with a clear picture of their experiences and achievements while they have been living at the home. Children’s views are welcomed and considered. However, the manager needs to ensure that children are supported to contribute to their records in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis.

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

Children spoke with inspectors and said that they feel safe. Children respond to, and benefit from the structured routines and boundaries in place. For example, all children are in a good routine of getting up for school. Praise is regularly used to promote positive behaviour and consequences are rarely used. This provides children with consistent and predictable care.

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

Children’s risk assessments are clear and effective. Individual management plans for the children address any known vulnerabilities for children and what actions should Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 4 be taken to reduce risks. Staff know the children well and implement effective behaviour management strategies.

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

Recruitment systems in place have not been used effectively. One staff member did not have a reference from their most recent employer, and the staff member was on induction in the home before one of the references was received. This is not safe recruitment and compromises children’s safety.

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

For one child who was missing from home on numerous occasions, a coordinated response was in place. Staff understand the action that they should take when a child goes missing from home. Independent return home interviews are offered to children when they have been missing.

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

The physical environment for children is safe and secure and protects them from harm. However, the manager must ensure easy access to the fire extinguisher upstairs. This will increase the safety for children in the home.

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

Allegations against staff are dealt with swiftly and measures are put in place to safeguard children. Children told inspectors that they know how to make a complaint. When a child has made a complaint, it is taken seriously and investigated. Children are supported throughout this process.

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

There has been a shortfall in medication. On one occasion, staff did not administer the correct medication to a child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by an experienced and dedicated manager. The manager has support from a competent deputy. Together, they work interchangeably and between them are committed to providing children with high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is fully staffed and has a stable staff team. Some staff have worked in the home for many years. This means that children receive consistent, stable and reliable care. Staff morale is high and staff feel supported by managers. Children benefit from this positive environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal monitoring of the home is in place and in most areas is effective. However, there are some inconsistencies in the recordings for accidents, fire drills and daily records. These can be improved with further monitoring and oversight. This will enhance the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s interests are promoted and children are provided with opportunities to undertake individual activities, inside and outside of the home. Children told inspectors that they are able to try many activities and there is always a member of staff available to take them out. This supports children to develop their individual interests in a group living setting and also build their social skills. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 5 There is a good induction programme in place for new staff. This supports them to understand and learn about their role. Staff are committed to training and are up to date with mandatory training. Staff also complete training specific to children’s individual needs. Team meetings are well attended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff know children well. There is good multi-agency partnerships and staff build effective relationships with those external to the home. This means children receive holistic care. One professional said: ‘His progress has been amazing and I have great communication with the home.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 6

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that references are obtained from the most recent employer. Also, ensure that references are received before staff work in the home. 26 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. 26 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 7 (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. In particular, children’s meeting minutes and link work sessions. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislation and in doing so, ensure easy access to fire extinguishers upstairs in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring systems to ensure continuous improvements. Specifically, ensure consistent recordings in the accident book, fire drill records and daily records.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC475680 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Dawn Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475680 9 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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