Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 1 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 registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation that operates several registered children’s homes, including two on the same site. The inspector only inspected this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider operates a school on the same site as the children’s home. The inspector only inspected the social care provision during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025. At the time of the inspection, she was away from the home. An interim manager is in place.

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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

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2024

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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: 2608666 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2024 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Outstanding 13/03/2023 Full Outstanding 09/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and cosy, with a range of soft furnishings. Framed photos of the children and staff are displayed around the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and are decorated to a high standard in line with their interests. The welcoming home gives children a sense of belonging and supports them to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Appropriate boundaries, together with encouragement, have helped the children to feel settled. Children’s routines are flexible and adapted to give them the best possible opportunities to meet their needs, such as having individual bedtimes. This approach has had a visible impact on the children’s confidence and emotional stability. One child said: ‘Staff are strict and that’s good because we need to learn,’ and another said: ‘I’ve got my own bedtime and that matters a lot.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff interactions with children are kind, caring and fun. Staff join in activities with children that the children enjoy, such as football and going for walks. Children engage in conversations with staff and benefit from positive encouragement and friendly, good- humoured interactions. Staff have built positive relationships with the children, which means that the children enjoy spending time with them and feel relaxed and comfortable in their presence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make good progress because of the help and support of the staff, who talk fondly and positively about them and are proud of the progress that each child is making. The children are supported in getting along and showing empathy and care towards each other. Staff are alert to any developing frictions and act quickly to help the children to resolve these. The positive relationships between the children and staff help the children to feel emotionally safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning is a central part of the child’s life at this home, with all children attending an on-site school. School and care staff work closely together to provide programmes of education and life skills. For one child, adapting to a flexible programme helps to better support their emotional well-being. Another child, who was attending part time, is now attending full time and enjoying school, after a significant period without any formal education at all.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before children move into this home, the needs of other children currently living there are carefully considered. Staff consider their age, interests, family dynamics and how they would flourish as a group and individually. All children’s views and wishes are considered, and they engage in activities to welcome the new child. This helps to reduce children’s anxieties and gives them a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed effective working relationships with those who matter most to the children. They sensitively manage family contact when this is appropriate and work collaboratively with professionals to ensure that children have the support network that Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 4 they require, including people who live a long distance from the home. One child has developed new links with their brothers and sisters and another is having increased contact with their family. A key person in one child’s life said: ‘The staff are phenomenal; they are empathetic and caring, enabling the children to experience a normal childhood.’

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

Staff know the children well and can recognise when something is bothering them. This allows staff to check in with children and offer them additional support and nurture. As a result, children say that they feel safe and that staff care about them.

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

There has been a high level of incidents, which have resulted in physical interventions for some children, and allegations. Learning from each incident has been explored and practice has been continuously reviewed, to ensure that the strategies for responding to each child are adapted accordingly to meet their individual needs. This approach is proving effective, as allegations are starting to reduce in frequency, and the duration of physical intervention incidents has significantly reduced for some children.

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

When children make allegations, immediate action is taken to safeguard them. An open and transparent process is in place. Managers collaborate with the child’s professional networks to ensure that allegations are always taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Sensitive work is carried out with the child to help them to explore their emotions, and they are updated about the outcome of the investigation.

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

Staff are responsive to emerging risks and have a multi-agency approach to manage and reduce these risks. They are guided by detailed, regularly updated risk assessments and safety plans that cater to each child’s unique needs. These child-centred plans involve the children in their own development, ensuring that their preferences are considered. For example, one child created a rap to express their safety needs.

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

The in-house clinical team works closely with children and staff, providing excellent support. The therapeutic approach and language used are evident in children’s files and conversations. Staff reflect on incidents using a no-blame approach, fostering a learning environment for everyone. This positively impacts on children’s emotional well-being, helping them to manage their emotions better and reducing risky behaviours. One staff member said: ‘Children have a sense of home here. They need us to keep showing up, no matter how tricky it is, then they know we care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know children and their histories well. They speak passionately about each child’s needs and how support should be shaped around them. A high level of care and attention is paid to how children have been impacted by previous trauma and experiences, with a focused plan to help children, using a clear structure and support that is adapted to each child’s pace. Managers have successfully created a Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 5 comfortable environment for children to live in, where they can feel at home and make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support provided by the managers and the senior leadership team. However, not all staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s policy. Leaders have made attempts to improve on this; however, the current situation remains inconsistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training tailored to meet the specific needs of the children living at the home. Their knowledge is regularly updated through discussions in team meetings and child-focused meetings, allowing them to reflect, continue to learn and apply this knowledge effectively to their daily practice to improve the care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a consistent team of staff who have built trusting, secure relationships with them. Children talk positively of the home, and staff have a good understanding of children’s histories, experiences, and likes and dislikes, so they understand their needs. Children have regular one-to-one sessions where they can express their views, wishes and feelings and be open with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers understand the importance of meeting each child’s unique needs. When they find that they cannot provide the necessary support, they proactively collaborate with professionals and the child to create a well-considered plan for moving to a new home that aligns more closely with those specific needs and preferences. This approach ensures that the child’s well-being is prioritised and that they receive the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have created a low-stress, high-nurturing and supportive environment that enables the staff and children to feel safe and secure. As a result, the children are making good progress, and the staff are feeling settled. One member of staff said: ‘It is truly inspiring to work in a home where the focus is on consistent, compassionate care that translates into such positive outcomes for the children.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 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 ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 31 December 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: 2608666 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

Sharron Dormand, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2608666 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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