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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 1 SC475715 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 is one of several homes operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to seven children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2014, and the manager registered in August 2020.

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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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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: 14 December 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: SC475715 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Full Good 24/09/2019 Full Outstanding 29/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel safe and happy living in the home. They have developed trusting relationships with staff, which helps them to share their wishes and feelings. Parents and professionals feel that children are safeguarded and settled in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children attend schools run by the provider and are making good progress. Children are encouraged to think about their future to ensure that the right plans are in place to help them further their education. While there have been recent concerns about one child’s attendance and behaviours, they have made significant progress since moving into the home. Staff work hard to support the child to stay in school and to understand the importance of their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health needs are well met. While staff have carried out extensive work with children to understand the dangers of substance misuse, there have been delays in making referrals to external agencies. This means that children are not getting the specialist support they need in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional health needs are supported by the provider’s therapeutic service. Therapists regularly spend time with children at home and in school and are fully involved in care planning. Psychological input is tailored to meet children’s individual needs and encourages children to take an active role in considering their own needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move in and out of the home in a supported way that considers their needs and preferences. Children are encouraged to consider the views of those moving into the home, which helps children to feel welcome and to settle in. Older children are developing their independence skills in a measured way to prepare them for their next steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them, particularly those whose families live some distance away. Staff have good relationships with children’s family members, including families of children who have moved back into their parents’ care. This helps children and their families to feel that they are supported, particularly during times of change.

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

There are clear and consistent rules and boundaries in place, which children understand. One older child acknowledged that they were not used to having rules but follows them and respects the manager and staff for being consistent. The home is busy, but the consistent routines and staff’s approach create a calm atmosphere.

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

Staff understand children’s backgrounds and the potential risks to them. Clear plans are in place, which are regularly reviewed. They consider how risks impact on Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 4 children and provide robust strategies for staff to follow. There are regular opportunities for staff to discuss their concerns and approach to children with therapists to support their practice.

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

Staff carry out extensive work with children to help them to understand risks and how to keep themselves safe. They utilise child-focused tools and activities to try to engage children creatively. Not all members of staff have received important training around substance misuse, which would support them to meet children’s needs more effectively.

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

Children do not regularly go missing from the home. When they do, staff are responsive and follow the protocols in place to ensure that they return home safely. However, children are not always spoken to independently on their return to the home. This means that there have been missed opportunities to consider triggers and to implement strategies to reduce risk.

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

Staff do not use physical restraint often. When it is used, it is proportionate and to support children with difficult emotions. Staff have worked with one child to form a plan together to look at how the child could be best supported.

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

The children’s bedrooms have door sensors fitted which alert staff to children entering or leaving their bedrooms at night. However, risk assessments do not explain why sensors are needed to keep children safe. Children have been asked for their views about the sensors, but it is not clear that they understand the purpose of them. Children who were asked about the sensors said that they use them to get staff’s attention at night.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed understanding of children’s experiences and has high aspirations for what children can achieve. She is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Staff and professionals commend the passion and dedication of managers and describe their office as being ‘at the heart of the home’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A significant strength of the home is the experienced and committed staff team. Staff feel valued, describing how managers ‘set a good example’ and ‘go above and beyond’ to support them in their work and personal lives. There are flexible working arrangements in place, which can be tailored to meet staff’s individual circumstances. This means that children have positive experiences of being cared for by staff who feel secure in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is effective partnership working with agencies, which benefits children. Managers and staff, with the input of therapists, are working with professionals outside of the home to stabilise and support one child’s placement. Professionals are complimentary about the responsiveness of the team of staff and their nurturing approach. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 5 The manager’s oversight of the home is robust. There is ongoing monitoring of the care provided and frequent reflective discussions in team meetings, supervision sessions and appraisals. There are safe recruitment practices in place. When new staff join the team, there is a thorough and well-supported induction programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are missed opportunities for the views of children, staff and professionals to be considered in the running of the home. Feedback from colleagues and children is not considered during staff appraisals, which would provide a more rounded view of performance. The opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff have also not been considered by the manager in her six-monthly review of care. The manager utilises feedback from external scrutiny positively. However, there is an inconsistent level of feedback sought by the independent person. This means that their reports are not as robust as they could be. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 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, 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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(b) (5)) 30 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children’s plans should clearly outline the reasons why monitoring or surveillance is required, and this should be subject to regular review. 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children living in the home. This specifically relates to the independent visitor carrying out their visits so that they can obtain regular feedback from children and staff about their experiences of living and working in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that timely referrals are made to support agencies to help children to understand and, where necessary, work to change negative behaviours in key areas, such as smoking, vaping and aerosol misuse. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that staff receive training in substance misuse, including the dangers of aerosol misuse, smoking and vaping. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals consider, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61,

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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: SC475715 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, Lancashire LA6 2PR

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Inspectors

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475715 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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