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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 1 SC480422 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 privately owned and provides care for a maximum of eight children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Seven children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: 17 January 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: SC480422 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2023 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Good 10/02/2020 Full Outstanding 12/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are thriving, supported by a nurturing team of adults. There are trusting, positive relationships between the adults and children and this is supported by the views of parents and professionals. A parent said, ‘[Name of child] has made a huge amount of progress since coming here. I could not wish for a better placement for him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is seen as important by the adults. They ensure that attendance and attainment levels are achieved. The adults advocate well on behalf of children and support them in the home, as well as at school, to ensure that they have the best opportunities available to them as they progress through their education and into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The support for family time is a strength of the team. There is an appointed adult who liaises with families to ensure that both they and their child are supported to develop healthy, lasting relationships. Relationships with family are maintained and supported at a pace that is comfortable for the individual child. This helps to stabilise children and to work through previous trauma with support from those important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In-house therapy is offered to each individual child and to the adults caring for them to help them manage the emotions and behaviour of the child in a way that supports rather than retraumatises. The adults meet regularly to discuss what is helping the child and what else can be adopted in practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is monitored through plans and medication records. All children have had a recent medical to ensure that they are growing and developing in line with their age. Recommendations made by health professionals as part of this process have not been followed up. There has been no harm to a child as a result but these are important to ensure that good health continues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they feel listened to by the adults caring for them. Their views are gathered regularly and responded to by the manager and his team where appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. However, there are signs of the decor being tired and repairs not being addressed quickly.

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

Children say they feel safe in the home. There have been incidents between the children that could be perceived as involving bullying behaviour. However, they are not recorded as such and therefore there is no evaluation of these incidents that can lead to changes in behaviour and to prevent further incidents occurring. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 4 Risks to children are known and understood. Risk management plans are detailed and clear in their guidance to help the adults understand how to care for the children. Children are helped to understand the individual and the wider risks they face now and may face in the future.

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

Episodes of going missing from the home do occur, although many are late returns. The adults follow agreed protocols to look for and return children home as quickly as possible. Positive relationships with police and other services mean that information is shared and children are better protected.

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

Incidents of physically holding children do take place as a last resort. Records show these are for the shortest time possible. The children and adults involved are supported to reflect on the incidents in a way that helps them understand the reasons why the hold took place and how to prevent further occurrences.

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

Sometimes restorative consequences are used to manage children’s presenting behaviour. However, these are not always recorded to be able to identify what works with individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and supports his team well, assisted by senior team members. They all work well together, including with therapists, in developing care plans that are clear and individualised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team has a core of suitably qualified adults. New people who have joined the team are working towards their qualifications in residential childcare. There is a comprehensive training programme in place to ensure that the team has and maintains the necessary skills to meet the complex needs of the children. The manager’s monitoring of this needs to improve to ensure that he has the relevant information to devise rotas and delegate work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision of practice is reflective and assists the team to develop as individuals. Supervision sessions, along with team meetings and briefings, take place regularly to share information and learning to improve practice. The staff say they feel supported by the manager, who nurtures them as he does the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and his team have effective, professional relationships with those involved in the care of the children. The professionals spoken to all agree that there is a high level of commitment towards the progress of children by the manager and his team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are overall of good quality. However, there are still instances of records not being identified by the author. In addition, some of the language used in records is of an institutional nature. This is unhelpful to any child reading their records now or in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 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, The 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being;

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1) (2)(a)) 18 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 1 (b)(c)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the house provides a homely environment and that repairs and redecoration are attended to in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are able to recognise and address different types of abuse, such as peer abuse, cyber-bullying and bullying, in day- to-day relationships in the home. The registered person should ensure that all incidents of bullying are recorded as such. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 39, paragraph 8.16)  The registered person should ensure that consequences are appropriately recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should keep the training matrix up to date to ensure that

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Recommendations

there are enough trained staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1) Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 7

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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: SC480422 8

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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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Inspector

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480422 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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