Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Hartlepool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 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 provider. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. This may include children who are at risk of, or are vulnerable to, child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children were living in the home at the time of the 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: 23 October 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: 2697992 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress from their starting points. This is because of the support of the staff and the managers involved in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large, well presented and furnished to meet the needs of the children. Each child has their own en-suite room, which includes personal items and themes of their choice. There are photos throughout the home of the children engaging in activities with staff members. Spending time in the home provides the sense of a family atmosphere where children can be themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff start to build relationships with children before they come to live in the home. The staff arrange to visit children and introduce themselves before children move in. This helps children to feel more at ease when coming to a new environment with new people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into and out of the home are well planned and individualised to the needs of the child. This helps to provide reassurance to children when they are experiencing big changes in their lives. Children who live in the home are encouraged to support new children when they arrive, either through a tour of the home or by helping them to understand how the home is run. This helps children to build relationships with each other and feel a part of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in their education, and staff support their attendance. Most children were unable to engage in education before moving into the home. They now have excellent attendance and are achieving academically. Feedback from professionals includes how settled children are in their education settings. This means children are now able to focus on their learning and have goals for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are at the centre of staff practice, and staff are committed to their care. Children have developed positive and meaningful relationships with the adults in the home. They were seen to show confidence and trust in the staff and to be able to share their wishes and feelings. Staff members respond to children’s care needs on an individual basis. This helps children to thrive in their environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities and days out. This provides opportunities for children to learn new skills, develop their social skills and explore their talents and interests. Children are supported by staff to take part in their hobbies, which include horse riding, boxing and attending the gym. This helps children to feel a sense of achievement and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to see their families. Staff support these visits to ensure that children remain safe. When staff recognise concerns relating to family time, these are addressed immediately. This has included direct conversations with family members and discussions with partnership agencies. Equally, when family members raise concerns about the Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 4 home, the manager will explore these. This helps to promote constructive relationships with families.

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

Children’s risks and needs are understood well, and these are reflected in risk assessments and care plans. This helps staff to be clear on how they should support children to manage difficulties when they may arise. There is therapeutic input throughout the children’s plans. This helps staff to maintain a consistent approach. Children’s plans are regularly reviewed, and when children’s needs change, assessments and plans are updated.

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

When children become distressed, staff support them by using effective de-escalation techniques. Sometimes, children need to be held by staff, to keep them and others safe. One incident involved a child being held when this could have been avoided. The manager recognised this in their review of the incident and addressed it with the staff involved to reflect on what could be done better. The manager’s oversight and actions taken to develop practice have resulted in a reduction in the use of physical intervention.

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

When children go missing from home, staff respond appropriately and follow the correct procedures. Children are provided with support on their return, and a return home interview is offered. This helps to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

The manager takes all complaints made by children seriously. The child is given the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the manager, who addresses their concerns. Children are provided with an outcome for their complaint and helped to understand how this was reached. This helps children to feel listened to and safe in the knowledge that their complaints will be addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is skilled and experienced and knows the children well. They have a good understanding of the children’s experiences and their impact on them. The manager has a strong focus on providing therapeutic care to children, and staff interact warmly and positively with the children. This helps children to feel nurtured and experience a caring environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have positive working relationships with partnership agencies. Professionals comment on the good communication from staff, which provides them with up-to-date information about the children. The manager and staff attend all relevant multi-agency meetings and share the progress made by children. This helps to ensure that the children’s plans are well informed and targeted to meet their needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good oversight of staff development through regular supervision sessions. Supervision is reflective in nature and focuses on the needs of children and the ability of staff to meet those needs. Staff speak positively about the manager and the Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 5 support they receive so that they can care for children. When new staff arrive at the home, they are supported with an induction. This helps to ensure that staff who work at the home develop the skills and knowledge they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced a high turnover in staff, and vacancies remain, including a deputy manager post. Existing staff members work additional hours, and the manager has also used other staff from within the organisation. This does not offer consistency to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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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 home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(d)(e)) 20 April 2025

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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: 2697992 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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Inspector

Kerry Chater, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2697992 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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