Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 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

This is one of several children’s homes operated by a national provider. It is registered to provide care for up to eight children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, six children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider operates a school on the same site as the home. The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since 8 May 2023.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: 2655761 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2023 Full Good 22/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff, who nurture and care for them. Dedicated staff take time to build positive relationships with children. This enables children to flourish and gives them a sense of trust. Children say they can talk to a trusted adult if they have any concerns or worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun at the home and are encouraged by staff to expand their experiences and make memories. Children’s enjoyment and progress are captured through ‘wow’ moments and feedback forms. However, there are missed opportunities to showcase their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a wide variety of activities. These include going to skate parks, playing at local parks, going on walks and eating out at restaurants. Children also enjoy playing on their games consoles, arts and crafts, playing board games and baking with staff. Children receive additional treats, such as more technology time, a milkshake, or breakfast with staff, for positive and kind acts. Some children also collect tokens to exchange for larger treats.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a large, spacious home. They say that they like their large bedrooms, which are personalised with their favourite things. Children were proud to show their games consoles, books and soft toys. However, the home still requires attention in some areas to make it cosier. This has been identified by the manager and plans are in place to address this. One child said that lots of things are broken, and staff have not been attentive in improving the home in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Five children access the education provision on site and have excellent attendance. One child, who does not engage in education, is encouraged to attend and incentives are used to further support this. Staff advocate strongly for this child and attend all meetings in relation to their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought regularly and are valued. Staff listen to children and support them to have a say in the way that they are cared for, such as through feedback forms, key-work sessions and children’s meetings. This enables children to choose meals and activities and have a say in how they want areas of the home to be decorated. This gives children a sense of ownership of their home.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual vulnerabilities and needs. They have effective strategies in place to help keep children safe, and these are clearly set out in the children’s individual risk assessments. Staff support children to understand the risks associated to stranger danger, substance misuse and going missing from the home. As a result, children are safeguarded effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 4 Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and the home has good partnership working with the local authority designated officers. Safeguarding allegations are recorded in depth and include a detailed chronology of events involving relevant agencies. Investigations are carried out promptly. Staff are confident in the processes to follow should they be concerned about children’s welfare.

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

Staff are trained in positive behaviour management and explore de-escalation techniques before using physical intervention techniques, which are only used as a last resort. After physical intervention is used, staff and children are given opportunities to reflect on incidents and analysis of patterns of behaviours support staff to learn from these.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment processes are followed. They ensure that health and safety processes are implemented. Consequently, children, staff and visitors are safeguarded effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has not been a registered manager in the home since May 2023. The home has experienced significant change in management and staff since the last inspection. A new manager was appointed in April 2024 and intends to apply to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have a detailed knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Senior managers are visible and supportive. They model good practice and help to ensure that there is a shared ethos and that children are cared for consistently in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management arrangements in place provide a supportive, collaborative and caring culture in the home for everyone. There is a real sense of teamwork and staff have strong working relationships. They acknowledge difficulties and support each other. This provides a stable team for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Social workers are positive about their working relationships with the manager and staff and say that they are kept well informed. One social worker said, ‘Communication is good, I receive weekly handovers detailing a day-by-day summary. Staff and I are in regular email contact regarding [name of child]’s care plan.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are positive about the support provided by the manager and the senior leadership team. Staff receive a thorough induction and training that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the children in the home. However, not all staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s policy. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 21 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 21 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 6 meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff fully recognise and celebrate children’s achievements by showcasing these throughout the home for children to see. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7)  The registered person should ensure that all staff receive regular, practice-related supervision in line with the provider’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: 2655761 7

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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

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2655761 8 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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