Children's home run by Westmorland and Furness Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 1 Registered provider: Westmorland and Furness Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 1 April 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date: 13 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This inspection was triggered by a significant increase in safeguarding notifications since December 2024. This includes an incident where children had set a fire inside the home.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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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: 2731337 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The initial plan in December 2024 was for the child to move into the home on an emergency basis for the weekend. The deputy manager carried out a robust risk assessment to evaluate the suitability of the placement, considering the dynamics in the home along with the needs and risks of the child already living there. The assessment concluded that the level of risk would be high and the placement was not appropriate. However, senior management in the local authority overruled this decision.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager, staff and other professionals working with both children, including social workers and the police, have all raised concerns about the suitability of both children living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been several changes to the child’s placement plan, with senior leaders in the local authority extending the intended duration of their stay. Searches for alternative placements were initiated but then put on hold.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a significant escalation in incidents. The children have influenced each other to engage in risky behaviours on numerous occasions. This includes frequent incidents involving both children being missing from the home, substance misuse and fire-setting. Despite the challenges, swift action has been taken by staff to manage incidents, prevent incidents from escalating and to support children to return home quickly.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one incident where staff practice was not in line with protocols. The manager has addressed this in a timely way, involved the relevant professionals, and a full investigation is underway. A detailed risk assessment is in place to enable the staff member to remain working at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The progress for the child who was already living at the home has significantly reduced due to the inappropriate placement of the new child at the home. Staff are doing their best to manage the situation and ensure that both children have the most appropriate support. They are also working with both children to help them to understand and consider the impact of their behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is advocating for one child in relation to the decision to exclude them from school. The decision is negatively impacting on the child’s education, routine and well-being. The manager is considering the options to support the child to return to school.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is concerned about how the current situation is affecting the team’s ability to provide consistent levels of care and manage risks. Staffing ratios have Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 3 increased with the use of agency staff to support children’s behaviours. There is some instability in the staff team. One newer member of staff is leaving and other staff are applying for other roles in the organisation.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have concerns about the current circumstances and the negative impact of the dynamics in the home for the children and staff. The manager uses team meetings to support staff to reflect on their achievements and discuss the challenges they face.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is experienced and highly competent. She has a detailed understanding of the children and works creatively to consider innovative ways of working. Her role has been undermined by decision-making of senior leaders in the local authority. This demonstrates that senior leaders do not have regard for the robust risk assessments that are in children’s best interests. The manager has been proactive in escalating her concerns with leaders and other professionals. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Outstanding 10/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that placement decisions consider the dynamics of the home and the children already living there. Information in risk assessments must be fully considered before placements are agreed. 31 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that assessments consider fire-setting as a specific risk. Where this is a concern, the steps the home should take to manage this on a day-to-day basis should be clearly outlined. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westmorland and Furness Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 2LD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elizabeth Curtis

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Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2731337 8 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.

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Inspector

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