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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 1 SC485540

p.1

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2015. It is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Inspection date: 15 January 2024

Date of last inspection: 10 October 2023

p.1

Inspection date: 15 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 15 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home is spacious and in overall good repair. Staff take pride in the home and keep it clean and tidy. The home is decorated to a good standard and looks and feels like a family home for children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff support the children to build trusted and secure relationships with them. The staff take time to get to know the children and enjoy spending time with them at mealtimes and during activities. Children have adults in the home that they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. One child scored the home ‘10 out of 10’ because the staff keep them safe. Another child said that they feel listened to by the staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The children living in the home can share their views with staff in a variety of ways. The children contribute to their day-to-day life in the home through menu and activity planning. The children have recently consulted with the registered manager and staff about how they wish their bedrooms to be redecorated. This helps children to have influence over their day-to-day lives and enhances their overall experiences in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The registered manager and staff support the children living in the home to make progress with their education. The staff help the children to attend school, provide a quiet space in the home and offer computer equipment for them to complete any homework they may have. One child said that one good thing about living in the home is that they ‘get an education’.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff help children to be healthy by ensuring that they attend routine and specialist health appointments. When children face difficulties with their health or emotional well-being, leaders and managers are proactive in liaising with the in-house clinical team and external professionals to get the right support for children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of each child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. The children’s individual missing-from-home plans, risk assessments and behavioural plans set out what staff need to do to manage any risks. These plans are monitored by leaders and managers to ensure that they are relevant and accurate. However, where bedroom door alarms are used to keep children safe in the home, the rationale for this is not adequately detailed in the children’s risk assessments or the home’s risk assessment. This does not promote transparency and does not help children, parents, carers and professionals to understand why a child’s movement is being monitored.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When children have accidents, staff ensure they are given appropriate medical attention. Accident forms are completed in a timely way, and relevant professionals Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 3 are informed. However, some accident forms have not been signed by the relevant staff member, and in one case, a body map was not completed for the child. This does not promote accountability regarding the safety and well-being of the children living in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have regular conversations with children about their vulnerabilities and possible risks to their safety. However, not all records of these conversations are written in a sensitive and caring way.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Staff receive suitable training to promote positive behaviour in the home and manage any unsafe behaviours effectively. When children need to be held or guided, this is done as a last resort. Records of holds are detailed, and the manager provides critical analysis of the incidents. However, not all records contain the follow- up work done by staff with the children after the incident. This shortfall does not help children to fully understand how staff have helped them.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The staff support the children to make progress through rewards and incentives. When consequences are given to help a child with their behaviour, they are restorative. However, not all records relating to consequences provide sufficient detail to help the child understand the reason for the consequence being given.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager who is supported by an experienced senior leadership team. The registered manager knows the children well and shows commitment to supporting the children in the home to be safe and achieve their goals.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The leadership and management team has responded effectively to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. In addition, it has taken steps to ensure that the external monthly scrutiny by an independent visitor is robust and supports the registered manager and staff to continually review and improve the quality of care provided to the children living in the home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children living in the home. Staff enjoy working in the home and feel supported by leaders and managers. Staff have access to a range of relevant training that helps them to deliver care in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. The staff are passionate about delivering good-quality care and helping the children to make progress.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, team meetings have taken place monthly. The meetings are well attended by staff and provide a forum whereby a review of the previous month in the home can take place. The progress of the children is the focus of these meetings, and staff contribute to discussions about what has gone well and what changes need to be made to further help and support the children living in the home.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have appropriately notified Ofsted of any significant events in the home. This assists the regulator in assessing the safety and well-being of the children living in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2022 Full Good 23/02/2022 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records fully detail any accident in the home, including body maps, and if medical intervention or assistance was offered or given; ensure that records of physical intervention include child debriefs and key-work sessions. 1 March 2024

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered provider must ensure that limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (Regulation 21(c)(i)). Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that all decisions are informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, properly recorded and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. They must be written in a way that is sensitive and non-judgemental and enables the child to understand their time at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the

p.5

Recommendations

quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7