Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2585926 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

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There were six children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection took place on 15 and 16 January 2024, but we also returned on 6 February 2024 to gather additional evidence.

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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 outstanding

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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: 7 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: 2585926 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 26/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2585926 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out and one child has moved into the home. Children’s moves to and from the home are well planned and implemented effectively. This has helped to ensure that the children experience positive beginnings and endings to their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusted relationships with the staff. The children are relaxed in their home and seek support from staff. Staff are warm and caring. They understand how to look after the children well and can communicate with the children effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in a range of activities that are meaningful. Staff have supported the children to make a positive contribution to their local community and environment. For example, the staff and the children work closely together on a project to tackle food waste. This helps the children to take positive steps to address climate change and also learn to be efficient and sustainable with food and resources.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to promoting children’s education. Children’s education attendance is good. Staff work in partnership with children’s educational providers and support the children with their homework. This has helped to reduce barriers to the children’s learning and support the children to make progress in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to think about their futures. Staff make a conscious effort to help children develop transferrable life skills. For example, the manager previously created jobs in the home for the children to apply for. The children filled out job applications, attended an interview and completed tasks specified in the job description. This has provided valuable experience to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families and other people who are important to them. Family time arrangements are carefully considered in line with the children’s wishes and their care plans. Staff provide practical support to help children enjoy family time, such as travelling to other parts of the country. Additionally, the children access in-house therapy for emotional support, helping them to know their life story and family dynamics. This helps children to understand their heritage and identity, and it helps them to build and maintain positive relationships.

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

Staff know the children and their associated risks well. Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed, and there are effective strategies to mitigate the identified risks. These documents are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any emerging concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2585926 4 Staff use physical restraint when it is necessary to keep children and others safe. Staff keep professionals and family informed following any incidents. The manager ensures that children’s views are considered and staff practice is reviewed promptly. Additionally, the registered manager identifies potential external triggers for children’s behaviour and advocates on behalf of the children. For example, coordinating family time arrangements that benefit the children. This helps children to see that their experiences are valued and that staff are responsive to their needs.

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

Staff know what to do when a child goes missing from their care. Staff follow the children’s missing-from-care protocols and actively look for them. When children return, they are welcomed home and offered the opportunity to have a discussion with an independent person. Professionals gather important information about what has happened and give the children time to reflect on what prompted them to go missing. This helps staff to develop strategies designed to prevent children from going missing from care and to help them return home quickly and safely.

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

There is good communication between staff and professionals, who receive regular updates about the children. When incidents happen, there is prompt communication with other agencies to resolve any issues that need to be addressed for the children.

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

Praise and encouragement are promoted in the home. Incentives are individualised and are a motivator to encourage positive behaviour. Visual tools help children to work towards their personal target. Staff provide consistent responses when consequences are applied, for example if a child damages items in the home. Children are encouraged to think about the financial implications of damaging items. Key-work sessions help children to develop consequential thinking.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is enthusiastic and confident, and he creates a culture of positivity. He has high aspirations for the children and his staff. He is proactive in ensuring a model of best practice and establishing a consistent approach that is individualised to the children’s needs. The manager is also well supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together, they form a strong and effective leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Areas for improvement are identified through regular reviews. The manager successfully delegates areas for development to his deputy manager and senior staff. This has ensured that the home continues to be an environment where children can flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an experienced and well-established staff team in place. Staff said they feel extremely well supported by the managers and leaders. This provides stability of care that the children can depend on. Staff work in a highly collaborative way, which provides the children with the consistency that they need to feel safe and secure. Inspection report for children’s home: 2585926 5 Staff have access to the internal therapeutic team to support the children’s emotional well-being. This ensures that the children are getting appropriate care to support their overall well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and reflective supervision. The manager uses scenario-based questions to explore the staff’s knowledge and practice to ensure that they have the most up-to-date knowledge. There is a clear recording of the actions identified in the supervision and how they have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers maintain highly positive relationships with families, and the families’ feedback about the care provided to children is excellent. Families feel that staff understand their children’s needs and highlight the progress made by the children. Two parents commented on how the managers and the staff supported their child to be able to move back to the family home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and senior leadership team are responsive to any emerging risks for children. The registered manager acknowledges that lengthy waiting lists at universal services can be a barrier to children accessing support promptly. In one example, the registered manager sourced external specialist support for the child immediately when serious risks presented. This means the child received support from a professional quickly to help them understand and manage their behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is proactive in accessing specialist training for staff to help them meet children’s needs. The registered manager ensures that the training is bespoke to the child. The information is shared with other professionals, such as those in education, which helps to provide predictable responses to the child. In one example, staff increased their knowledge of a specific health condition. This increased staff confidence to respond to the child. The consistent care provided stability for the child and reduced behaviour incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and senior leadership team ensure that the physical environment is safe for children. Damage or repairs are reported promptly. The registered manager perseveres in repairing and redecorating one child’s bedroom when damage occurs. The registered manager accepts that on occasions, the bedroom has not been at the standard he wants or expects for children who live at the home. This proactive and consistent approach shows children that staff care.

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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: 2585926 6

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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

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2585926 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 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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