Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 1 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to four 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 March 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home, The inspector spoke with three of the children.

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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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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2024 Full Good 13/02/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have remained living at the home, one child has moved out and one child has moved in. Overall, children move in and on from the home in a planned way, tailored to their individual needs. Prior to the last child moving in, they visited the home to meet the staff and the other children. This approach helps to alleviate children’s anxieties and supports them to settle in well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they feel happy and safe and have developed a sense of belonging living at the home. This is due to the strong relationships the staff have built with them. Children make progress and enjoy spending time with the staff, taking part in a variety of activities together, such as going for walks, playing games, attending the golf driving range and swimming. One professional said, ‘All staff are brilliant here, they treat them like their own children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in full-time education at the provider’s school except one child who is on a reduced timetable. Children are making progress from their starting points. Staff support the children to complete informal learning and develop life skills alongside their formal education. They also take part in educational trips and visits. This means children maintain healthy daily routines and are supported to achieve their educational outcomes, develop interests and work towards their aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy general good health and are supported by staff to attend routine health and specialist appointments. The in-house clinical team supports the children in weekly therapy sessions and guides staff to help the children manage their emotions. As a result, children are beginning to work through past trauma, and their general health and emotional health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of supporting the children to see and remain in contact with their family and friends. This helps the children to have relationships with the people who are important to them and to maintain a sense of identity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Redecoration of the children’s bedrooms has begun. Children choose the decoration of their bedrooms to personalise their rooms. The home is clean, tidy and comfortable. It is also free of hazards. However, at times, children’s bedroom door sensors are activated at night for three children. This restricts the children’s liberty unnecessarily without valid reason.

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

Comprehensive risk management and safety plans provide the staff with the necessary guidance on how best to respond to an incident and how to reduce and minimise risks. The plans are regularly reviewed and updated and are tailored to meet the individual Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 4 needs of the children. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities regarding safeguarding practices. As a result, children are safeguarded effectively.

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

On one occasion, three children went missing from home for a short period of time in the local area. Staff took the necessary action to remain with the children, report the incident to the police and return the children home safely. Children received an independent return home interview. This supported the managers and staff to look at triggers and put new strategies in place to reduce the risk. As a result, no further incidents of children going missing from home have occurred.

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

On occasions, staff have had to hold the children to keep them and themselves safe. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The registered manager has evaluated the incidents, spoken to the staff and children involved, and deemed the holds to be necessary and proportionate to keep all involved safe from harm.

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

Staff speak to the children regularly in a sensitive manner about a range of topics, including risks. . This helps the children to recognise and understand unsafe and inappropriate situations and supports them to manage their thoughts and feelings and regulate their emotions in a more positive manner.

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

Incidents and allegations are managed well in line with safeguarding protocols. The relevant people are contacted, and appropriate action is taken to ensure that the children remain safe living at the home. However, on one occasion, although the serious incident was managed well, the management team failed to notify Ofsted. This meant that the regulator is unable to have sufficient oversight and scrutiny in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitability experienced and qualified to manage the home along with an equally experienced and qualified deputy manager. They know the children well, speak highly of them and share aspirations for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A well-established and stable staff team works with the children. Any gaps in the rota are covered by the team, or from a pool of staff from the provider’s other homes in the cluster who are known to the children. This creates consistency of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a thorough induction into the organisation, their role and the home. Staff say that they feel supported in their role and attend regular team meetings and supervision sessions. One member of staff said, ‘I always feel fully supported by my management team as I’ve built up a good relationship with them over the years and wouldn’t wish for any other management team.’ Staff receive an annual review of their performance to reflect on their practice and set goals and targets for the coming year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are trained in a variety of subjects. This supports them to meet the individual needs of the children, such as safeguarding, trauma and attachment, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance misuse and self-harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 5 The registered manager welcomes the external scrutiny of the quality of care provided to the children by the independent person who visits monthly. The registered manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses identified through their own reviewing and monitoring systems. The requirement raised at the last inspection has been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that bedroom door alarms are only used if there is a safeguarding risk present for the child during the night. Door sensors should not be used as standard practice for all children when there is no member of staff awake during the night. 31 August 2025

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they notify the regulator of allegations made between the children living together at the home. 31 August 2025

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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: 1247560 7

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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

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1247560 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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