Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Wiltshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 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

This home is part of a national organisation. The home provides care for up to eight children with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of this inspection, six children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is on the same site as a school and two other children’s homes that are all part of the same organisation. The inspector only inspected the social care provision of this home on this site. The other two children’s homes on the same site were not part of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024. They were present during this inspection.

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Inspection date: 18 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 5 November 2024

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Inspection date: 18 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 2 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: 2680522 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 during this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed the majority of the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. Managers have planned how they will address the remaining shortfalls. Leaders and managers are reflective and are working collaboratively with other professionals to improve practice and outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

All children who are living at the home were seen during the inspection. Two children were spoken to with staff present. Three children chose not to speak to the inspector. Two children said that they like living at the home and engaged in general conversation about their lives and activities. One child said that they have been held less, which makes them feel happy. The interactions that were observed between all the children and staff were positive. Children sought out staff on multiple occasions, seeking and receiving advice, affection, assurances and playful conversation.

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Findings from the inspection

Significant improvements have been made to the way in which children and adults are supported following incidents. Staff chose the right time to talk to children and encourage them to reflect on their actions and the actions of others. The use of consequences has notably reduced with just three being implemented. These were all fair and natural, and were discussed with the child to aid their learning and understanding. There is a focus on the use of restorative practice. Staff’s post- incident learning is reflective and takes place following every incident. This identifies what went well, how practice can be improved and any support that staff may require.

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Findings from the inspection

Restraint is no longer used as an early intervention. This has led to fewer incidents where restraint has been used. When restraint has been used, it has been appropriate and a last resort. Management oversight of incidents is reflective and child focused. Leaders and managers have focused on the training and development of staff. This has built on their existing skill set, particularly in the use of alternative de-escalation methods and pre-empting children’s needs. Staff say that this has been beneficial for both them and for children.

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Findings from the inspection

One social worker spoke positively about the care provided to a child. They complimented the efforts made to use methods other than restraint and the overall support the child receives. They praised the team for their communication and ability to share their concerns about whether they could meet the needs of the child in the longer term.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to understand risk and think about their behaviours. They have thorough conversations with children about their experiences and, where appropriate, they refer children to external agencies for more specialist support. Children are supported when they have witnessed incidents involving other children Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 4 who live at the home. When possible, staff have acted to prevent children witnessing or becoming involved in ongoing incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff know the aims of care for children. Key-working sessions are specific and child focused. Children are involved in planning their key-working sessions. However, planning to meet children’s specific needs is disjointed. Information is held in lots of different places. There is no single document to set out care planning aims and how these will be achieved.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has experienced a challenging time with staff vacancies, sickness and holidays. This has led to some staff feeling exhausted. Staff have been able to raise their concerns with leaders and managers and are aware that new staff members are being recruited. Staff are positive about the team and the support that they provide for each other at times of crisis. They speak positively about the practice changes that are taking place and the positive impact these are having on children.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, no child has reported being hurt by staff during an incident. Therefore, it has not been possible to review how staff have managed this. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2024 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any concern raised by a child in relation to being hurt is fully explored. This should include providing an outcome of that exploration to the child. 20 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 20 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 7 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that care planning for children has clear and relevant aims and is explicit. Progress made in relation to aims should be clearly analysed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 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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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680522 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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