2615342.

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 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 privately owned. The home provides care for up to seven children who have experienced childhood trauma and display social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 2 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: 2615342 3

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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 inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager, who has been in post for five years. She knows the children well, understands their needs and is a positive advocate on their behalf. Seven children live in the home. All the children are male and of a similar age.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. To help him settle in, staff from his previous home in the organisation have been to this home to support him.

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Findings from the inspection

During the inspection, children were observed to socialise with each other in and outside of the home. Inspectors spoke with six children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a positive relationship with the registered manager. When children returned from school, they were all keen to seek her out to talk about their day. The manager was actively interested in children’s experiences, offering natural praise and recognition for their achievements. One child returned with a cake he had baked at school and was keen to share this with the manager and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have trusted relationships with staff and share any concerns they have. Children know they will be taken seriously and are informed of the outcome.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical restraint is only used as a last resort to help keep children safe. There is a focus on de-escalation and helping children return to activities such as going to school once the child feels calm. When incidents have occurred, children and staff are supported to reflect on these and repair their relationships where required. Children are helped to think through what happened and how they could be better supported in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

There is strong managerial oversight and analysis of incidents. Incidents are reviewed with the staff group with a focus on a team approach to supporting children to help reduce the likelihood of future occurrences. The manager has undertaken a review of children’s incidents and the use of physical restraint. As a result, she identified patterns and trends and implemented new routines that have dramatically reduced the number of incidents and physical restraints.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help children to stay safe. Children’s plans are regularly updated and give a comprehensive overview of areas of potential risk. The plans are clear in identifying areas of vulnerability for each child. Children’s progress is captured within their plans as risks reduce. Since the last inspection, no children have gone missing from the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 4 The manager prioritises ensuring that children have healthy relationships with each other. She recognises the stages of development for individual children and the impact of developmental changes on their moods and behaviours. She is focusing on recognising behaviours such as bullying, banter and aggression with the children and staff team. The adults at the home and school are working harmoniously to ensure that children are receiving complimentary education from everyone supporting them. Staff development has included inhouse training and support, and

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is a positive support and advocate for children to help share their wishes. For one child, this has enabled a planned move to another home in an area of his choice. He shared that staff have supported him to visit the home, and to plan for his move. He intends to stay in touch with the staff at the home after he leaves. The manager has supported another child’s health needs to be met privately due to the prolonged wait to receive specialist assessments. As a result, the child will be prescribed medication to help him, and this is anticipated to have a positive impact on his daily life, education and prospects.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have an education plan suited to their individual needs. During the inspection, two children did not attend school. To support positive relationship building, trust and education, a teacher from the school came to the home to help one child with his learning. They shared with inspectors that since the last inspection weekly meetings with the school have had a much greater focus. They track children’s progress in school and have developed plans for the children when returning to the home. This joined-up approach has had a positive impact on children’s behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have consulted with children about changes they would like in the home. Children asked for a games room, which was being decorated during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Some areas of the home are welcoming, well presented, and individualised, and other areas are tired and in need of painting or repair. Some of the children’s bedrooms require new wardrobes, a new bed, paint touch ups, a repair to a wall, and a suitable clean mattress. The manager was unaware that a child’s mattress was in a poor state, and this was replaced during the inspection. There is an ongoing maintenance plan for the home to help improve the areas of concern and the homeliness of the house.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders and managers have reflected on the shortfalls from the last inspection and have made some organisational changes as a result. For example, the process for the use of door sensors has been changes. This is now discussed as part of the initial consultation with those who know children best before a child moves into the home. As a result, there is no longer a blanket approach to their use and children’s individual needs are considered before a door sensor is activated. Children’s plans are regularly reviewed to consider if they are needed.

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Findings from the inspection

The members of the senior leadership team have spoken with managers across the organisation and advised that all managers can refer into the designated officer Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 5 when allegations are made against teachers. However, the same organisational policy remains that registered managers should report allegations to the school so that the personal details of the teacher can be shared with the designated officer without delay. All referrals are made within the specified time limits, and the registered manager is part of any follow-up meetings. There has been one allegation against a member of school staff since the last inspection. The manager referred this to the designated officer and has worked with the relevant professionals during the investigation. It is positive that the manager has supported the child’s mother to speak with the designated officer to help her understand the process and outcome

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Findings from the inspection

The manager recognises there has been a period of instability due to the changes within the staff team and the senior leadership team. However, she feels that improvements have been made and that she is well supported. There is a workforce development plan in place and ongoing plans to improve the home environment.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements at the previous inspection have been met. However, due to the home continuing to need some improvement to make it more homely and ensure children have adequate furniture, one requirement has been made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 6

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2024 Full Good 16/01/2023 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 7

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that children’s bedrooms have appropriate furniture, and that any repairs being done are repainted. 8 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 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

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Compliance Inspector Nick Bennison, His Majesty’s Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2615342 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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