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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 1 SC485540 Registered provider: Witherslack Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to seven children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were seven children living in the home at the time of the inspection and all children were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good 10/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2022 Full Good 23/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress from their individual starting points. Children who have been out of education for significant periods are now achieving 100% attendance and gaining qualifications. Children who have moved to the home while in crisis are now settled and making solid progress. This is because the skilled staff are patient and understand children’s experiences of trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is maintained to a high standard and is warm and welcoming. Children are provided with ample space to enjoy time alone and with their peers. Children are proud of their home and take pride in their personalised bedrooms. The home is filled with memories, including photographs of children, throughout. It has a relaxed atmosphere and oozes a strong sense of a family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Mealtimes are important occasions where children and staff come together. The familiarity in routines around mealtimes is something that is cherished in the home. Children enjoy eating meals together with staff and engage in meaningful conversations with one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide a safe and nurturing environment, which enables children to be children. Building positive relationships is an important focus of staff, and children are supported to express and enjoy their individuality and unique interests. This is embraced by all children and, as a result, children develop positive relationships. Children are comfortable in establishing their own identity both in and outside the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Because of the relationships that staff expertly build, children feel safe to talk about their feelings and previous experiences. Children are supported by specialist staff, who provide regular one-to-one support. One child has made significant progress and now meets with the in-house therapist for sustained and meaningful periods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop lifelong relationships with staff, and this is recognised when they move on from the home. Their achievements are celebrated by the staff and other children, which helps children to know that they are important and loved. As a result, children who have moved on view staff at the home as their family and maintain strong and lasting contact with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to take part in a wide range of experiences. This includes hobbies that children enjoy and days out at theme parks, stadium tours, and awards evenings. The children have also experienced a summer holiday together. These experiences create lifelong memories for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 4

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

Children’s individualised care plans are comprehensive, and the child’s voice is threaded throughout. The in-house clinical team work alongside staff to assess and support children. This means that children’s needs are well understood by all staff. Children’s care plans provide details on how children can be supported with specific risks and needs. These plans are regularly reviewed and ensure that staff have up-to-date information to safely care for children.

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

Staff provided excellent support to children when they are distressed. This is because staff are highly skilled in understanding the children’s nuances and deliver individualised care to meet children’s needs. On some occasions, children need to be held. This is proportionate and is to keep everyone safe. Because the staff know the children so well and can de-escalate tensions quickly, there has been a clear reduction in the use of holds.

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

Incidents have reduced for children. This includes children who have moved into the home who can display unwanted behaviours. Staff educate children so they understand risks and the effects that these risks can have on others. This approach actively reduces behaviours that staff find challenging and leads to a harmonious atmosphere throughout the home.

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

Children rarely go missing and if they do, staff follow missing-from-home procedures. This includes searching the immediate vicinity and notifying partner agencies. Children are supported on their return home, and an independent return home interview is completed. The home has seen a big reduction in missing episodes for one child who arrived at the home with significant risks. This is due to the staff’s ability to understand and respond to children’s individual needs.

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

When children make allegations, these are taken seriously by staff and leaders and managers. Investigations take place procedures are followed. Children are supported by staff to understand what action is being taken, and reparation work takes place to help maintain relationships with staff members. This helps children to feel safe and that staff listen to their worries.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children and lead a committed culture in the home. This has led to staff being highly dedicated to the children. Leaders and managers have a strong presence, and they strive to provide exceptional care to children. The manager ensures that he is included in special times and experiences for all the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about the manager. Staff feel well supported and are assured that their welfare is important. Staff receive regular and meaningful supervision sessions, which contribute to staff providing high standards of care to children. Newly recruited staff receive a well-informed and structured induction period that filters Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 5 through to their supervision sessions. The manager understands the training needs of staff and will seek out specialist training so that staff are provided the skills and knowledge needed to meet children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from an experienced core staff team. Some staff have worked at the home for over 10 years. This not only demonstrates staff commitment to children, but also staff satisfaction with the support and development provided by leaders and managers. Staff support children when they are not in work by attending special events and showing an interest in children’s achievements. This ensures that children have consistent adults who care for them and bolsters the family ethos that is entrenched in staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly of leaders and managers and the staff. Communication is excellent in the home, with regular updates distributed to partner agencies. When incidents occur in the home, leaders and managers ensure that professionals are provided with the child’s view on the incident. This helps to assure professionals that children’s views matter in difficult circumstances. One professional said, ‘Moving to this home has changed [name of child’s] life.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s monitoring systems and processes are effective in helping him to evaluate incidents and practice in the home. The manager reflects on incidents and considers staff practice and any changes required. Effective monitoring systems and effective staff practice have meant that incidents in the home have reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and managers show dedication in providing the best possible experiences and outcomes for children. This has been demonstrated through achieving awards for the home’s therapeutic environment. Staff continue to work towards further awards in ensuring that children’s care goes above and beyond.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 6

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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: SC485540 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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Inspectors

Kerry Chater, Social Care Inspector (lead) Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC485540 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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