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

Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home is registered to care for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in March 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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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: 13 February 2024

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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: 1247560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Outstanding 16/03/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well by the manager and staff, who hold them in high regard. Children are cared for by a consistent staff team. This has given children the opportunity to form positive and trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the children’s individual needs. This helps staff to meet the children’s needs well and has led to a reduction in incidents. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is making exceptional progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have created a safe environment where children feel listened to and can express their wishes and feelings. The home is decorated nicely and has a relaxed atmosphere. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and there are lots of photos displayed around the home. However, some areas of the home require some minor improvements, such as paintwork being touched up, which was being completed at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have hobbies and interests. They enjoy spending time at home with staff as well as engaging in planned activities in the community, including playing golf, baking, basketball, football, playing on games consoles and spending time with friends. The children have recently been on holiday with staff and they enjoyed activities such as swimming and going in the sea.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their friends and family. Staff maintain good communication with children’s families. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. One family member said, ‘We work together as a team to support [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good information-sharing between the staff and children’s education providers. Children’s education is promoted and children’s attainment and attendance have improved. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has transitioned into school and things are going really well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health and staff actively encourage and support children to attend health appointments. All children’s healthcare needs are detailed in their plans.

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

Children have individual risk assessments that are consistently reviewed and updated by managers and staff. Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and take time to talk to children and educate them about risk. This increases children’s understanding of risk and their safety. Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 4 Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The use of natural consequences supports the children to restore and rebuild relationships and have a sense of ownership.

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

There have been occasions when physical intervention was necessary. The manager evaluates physical interventions, ensuring that they are proportionate, and there is reflection with staff and children following incidents.

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

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff work closely with external professionals to ensure that the children receive appropriate support.

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

The manager and staff work closely with the home’s therapist to secure the best therapeutic support for the children. The therapist said, ‘Communication is really good. Staff are very reflective, open, honest and open to change.’

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

There is a robust process in place to ensure that the people who work with children are checked and vetted before working in the home. New staff undertake a structured induction and benefit from ongoing training related to their role. The safer recruitment process means that those who are employed are assessed as suitable to work with children.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures. However, on one occasion, not all information was recorded in relation to two children being absent from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager who advocates well for the children. The manager has a leadership and management qualification. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. She speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff maintain good levels of communication with other professionals. Professionals speak highly of the manager and staff. One social worker said, ‘There is good effective communication with the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions, team meetings and child-focused meetings. These provide opportunities for them to reflect on and develop their practice and ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with regular training on relevant topics, including safeguarding, first aid, fire safety, internet safety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs. One member of staff said, ‘Staff get quality training and induction.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported by the managers. One member of staff said, ‘I feel considered and supported by the management team.’ Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 5 The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has good oversight of children’s progress and any changes needed to their plans. Management oversight and monitoring of the home are effective. Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 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

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; are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child’s death;

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s records include all information required in Schedule 3. This specifically relates to, t he date and circumstances of all incidents where a child goes missing from the home, including any information relating to the child’s whereabouts during the period of absence. 11 October 2024

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 7 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: 1247560 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

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Donna Ryan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1247560 9 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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