Children's home run by Westmorland and Furness Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 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

The 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, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was triggered by a Regulation 44 report, which raised concerns for the safeguarding of the children living at 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 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: 2732719 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.

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Findings from the inspection

One child recently moved into the home. A risk assessment to consider the suitability of the child’s move into the home was completed before the child moved in. The assessment set out the individual risks for all the children. However, it did not provide a robust analysis of the impact on other children of the child moving into the home or the dynamics between all of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the difficulties for the child moving into the home and the work needed to help the child settle. However, it is clear that the risks to the child are greater than initially thought. The child has been involved, on occasion, in risk- taking behaviours, with other children in the home. Managers continue to monitor the situation closely and note that other children are involved less frequently.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and professionals involved with the children acknowledge the dynamic in the home is not currently suitable. There is regular communication between professionals to share concerns and to consider how to manage the risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff follow robust risk assessments to support children during incidents. They understand the balance between keeping children safe and ensuring that their liberty is not restricted. The manager has put additional resources in place to increase staffing to provide a higher level of supervision. Door alarms are in use to help keep children safe, but there are no records of how children are consulted about their use.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is building positive relationships with staff and is starting to talk about their experiences. Consistent agency staff who know the children well are used to support the core staff team. The child recognises their risk-taking behaviours and feels that staff are helping them to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

A younger child in the home shared their fears with staff about the actions of the other children. Trusted staff have supported the child to feel safe. There has been little impact on the child’s routine, and they continue to make progress with their education and activities.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work hard to address the barriers children experience with education. Changes to one child’s sleeping arrangements led to a significant increase in school attendance.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with their health needs. Staff are persistent in their work with children to help them to understand the risks of smoking and vaping. A charity has spent time with the children to support their understanding of the risks of substance misuse. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 3 Staff have seen improvements in one child’s communication. There is a detailed routine in place for the child, which staff support consistently and which helps the child to feel secure. The child shows less anxiety about their communication and needs fewer prompts. A further referral has been made for specialist input as the child was previously discharged from services. The requirement made at the last inspection is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

An older child is being supported to develop their independence skills in preparation for adulthood. The team works with professionals to explore the child’s wider family. This is helping the child to understand their background and identity and is developing their support network.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to engage in activities which benefit their physical and emotional well-being. The manager put detailed planners in place during the recent school holiday to support children’s individual interests and to discourage shared risk-taking behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a diverse staff team in place. This includes some agency staff who regularly work in the home and know the children well. This is providing opportunities for children to experience other cultures. Children identify their trusted members of staff who they can talk to about their worries or feelings and who they like to spend time with on different activities.

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Findings from the inspection

Annual staff appraisals have not been completed and are currently being planned. Therefore, the recommendation made at the previous inspection is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good 24/10/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 30 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 6 This relates to staff understanding how to support children to engage in specific physical exercises to improve their speech and language therapy outcomes.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work closely with the placing authority to understand the child’s relationship history and the impact that the child’s arrival may have on the group living in the home. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.3).  The registered person should ensure that annual appraisals of staff take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that they review the statement of purpose and discuss with the children and staff the safeguarding reasons why bedroom door sensors may need to be used. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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Recommendations

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2732719 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: Westmorland and Furness Council, 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: 2732719 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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