Children's Home run by Westmorland and Furness Council in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 1 Registered provider: Westmorland and Furness Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home. Four children spoke with the inspector as part 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

An assurance visit took place on 4 March 2025 in response to a safeguarding notification in February 2025 when a child lit a fire inside the home. The inspector identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to safeguarding practices and ineffective leadership and management arrangements. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 2 standard. A monitoring visit on 15 April 2025 found that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the areas in the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Good 22/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. Detailed and child-focused plans have supported two children to move to the home recently. Shared activities and overnight stays have helped children to develop relationships with staff and with other children already living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children moving out of the home have been well prepared for their independence. Staff have continued to provide support appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Staff are considerate in how they support children with sensitive health issues. There has been good support and progress for one child to improve their physical health. Staff have been creative in supporting children to exercise in a fun and creative way. Due to another child’s health needs they have been supported to move to a ground floor bedroom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in education. Staff have produced a chart to support a younger child to complete tasks around reading and spellings. A staff member trained as an invigilator to help an older child to complete their exams at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to try new activities. This includes individual activities like crown green bowls and joint games like swing ball. Staff worked hard to make children’s school proms special for them and are planning holidays which reflect the children’s interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good support for children to spend time with their family where it is safe to do so. Children have been able to cook and enjoy food together with their family. The manager has employed a member of agency staff from a similar background to children to help support their identity.

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

The manager now uses a newly developed template to assess the impact and risks for new children moving into the home. The assessments have been thorough and have supported robust decision-making. This includes consideration of staff skills, the environment and how children will be supported to live together.

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

Staff understand the risks for children and how to reduce them. Risk assessments identify clear strategies for staff to use to support children’s behaviours. There are planned sessions with children to help them to understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff have meaningful conversations with children to help them to reflect on their behaviours and the impact on others. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 5 There is a positive dynamic in the home, which demonstrates how staff are supporting children to live together. Children have not gone missing from the home, and there has been no need for staff to use any physical intervention to support children’s behaviours.

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

The manager has received training which relates to the risks for one of the children living in the home. Staff are yet to receive any training in this area. A specialist consultant is assessing the child and has started to discuss a diagnosis. The manager contacted the consultant during the inspection to enquire about specific training for staff once the assessment is completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective. Positive changes have been made since the last inspection. The manager shared how improved assessment processes for moves into the home have led to positive outcomes for children. She also described the benefits for staff who have relished the opportunities to care for younger children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. She is proactive in challenging other professionals, where appropriate, to reduce delay for children. The manager has taken appropriate steps to address with professionals such as the police and the local authority designated officer any concerns that the management and staff have for the children. However, there was a delay in notifying Ofsted of a serious incident for a child. An allegation made by a child against a member of staff was not notified and was recorded incorrectly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel that the home is more settled. They feel well supported in their roles by the management team. This is reflected in staff supervisions, which show the care and advice given to staff around their practice and with their personal circumstances. The manager shared a shortfall around the supervision of staff in April, during which some sessions did not take place due to staff sickness and leave. This was addressed in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are focused and give staff clear instructions to follow. While meetings are not reflective, there are plans in place to support this with monthly reflective group supervisions with the team. There are clear plans in place for the development of the home with positive progress being made in some areas. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 31 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have skills and knowledge around the individual and specific behaviours to support children in strategies to manage and reduce risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2730932 8

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2730932 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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Inspector

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