Children's Home run by Westmoreland Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 1 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Registered provider: Westmoreland Care 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

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken to by the inspector.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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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: 2796537 2 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 3 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the child has lived in the home. The child told the inspector that they are happy living in the home. The child could identify when staff keep them safe. However, shortfalls in some aspects of the child’s care and the leadership and management of the home impact on the child’s progress and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported by staff to attend routine and specialist health appointments with local healthcare providers. However, they are not receiving care that meets all their health needs. For example, leaders, managers and staff do not have effective strategies in place to support the child to stop using electronic cigarettes.

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improvement to be good

The child has not attended education for a long time. This has impacted on the child’s progress. Staff provide educational opportunities for the child, for example informal learning and support to develop the child’s independence skills. The management team advocates on behalf of the child to educational professionals to identify alternative options for formal education. The manager has funded a private tutor to ensure that the child receives a basic education until an appropriate education establishment is located.

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improvement to be good

Staff actively encourage the child to spend time with their family and friends. They know this is important to the child and helps them to maintain a sense of identity. A parent said, ‘I really like it; [name of child] has a really good relationship with staff. They look after them well, I have no concerns at all.’

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improvement to be good

The management team and staff have built positive relationships with the child. There are caring relationships between the staff and the child. The child expresses their wishes and feelings. This allows them to make choices about their care.

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improvement to be good

Risk management plans address the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. These plans are regularly reviewed. However, staff do not have effective strategies to follow to support the child to stop using an electronic cigarette and to support the child when they present under the influence of substances.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff do not talk to the child about the risks of using an electronic cigarette. The manager and staff do not raise concerns about local shops selling electronic cigarettes to a child. The manager and staff do not seek health advice when a child presents under the influence of substances. This demonstrates that the child is not supported to reduce any risks to their health effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 4 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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improvement to be good

Allegations, although resolved effectively, are not reported in timescales set out in the provider’s safeguarding and organisational procedures. This means the local authority designated officer and Ofsted do not receive the information in a timely manner. This impacts on the regulator’s oversight of the home.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the child has been missing from home on one occasion. This is good progress from the child’s starting point. Staff take effective action to locate the child and work with the police to return the child home safely and share relevant information. The child receives an independent return to care interview to support staff in identifying any triggers and to help reduce further episodes of the child going missing.

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improvement to be good

There is a lack of professional curiosity, risk assessment and poor recruitment practice by the registered manager and responsible individual. Therefore, some staff have been employed without robust checks in place, such as sufficient references, identification and qualifications. This does not ensure that the adults working in the home are always safe to do so. This could impact on children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

External professionals said the management team and staff communicate well and keep them informed about any issues and any progress made by the child. The child’s complex safeguarding social worker said, ‘I have worked with children for 8 years, and it is by far the best home I have worked with. Staff are passionate and skilled, and communication is great.’

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good

The manager holds a relevant childcare and management qualification. She understands the child’s experiences and the progress made. Staff say they feel supported by the management team. One member of staff said, ‘The home is run by a dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about making a difference.’

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good

Staff rosters demonstrate that the child is cared for by a consistent staff team. Some staff have not had relevant training to meet the child’s needs, for example child exploitation, drug and alcohol awareness, knife crime and professional boundaries. This does not support staff to develop the skills and knowledge to improve their safeguarding practices.

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good

The registered manager and staff do not receive supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. This could prevent staff from having the opportunity to reflect on their practice to ensure they meet the child’s needs and continue their professional development. This impacts on the registered manager and responsible individual’s ability to review staff performance effectively.

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good

Staff attend regular team meetings. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 5 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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good

Staff receive an annual appraisal that supports their development.

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good

The management team does not have effective reviewing and monitoring systems in place to continually assess and review the quality of care staff provide for children. This does not support leaders and managers to capture and address all shortfalls in a timely manner.

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good

One recommendation raised at the last inspection is met and one other recommendation is raised as a requirement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 6 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are discouraged from using vapes, informal education is provided on the dangers of vaping and action is taken to alert the relevant agencies of known shops selling vapes to children. 1 February

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)) 1 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 7 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that child protection and safeguarding policies are followed and to ensure that the local authority designated officer is consulted when necessary. The registered person must ensure that risk management plans include robust strategies to help staff take effective action if children present under the influence of substances.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that supervisions are conducted in line with the statement of purpose. They must ensure that staff are trained in areas specific to meet the child’s and service needs, such as county lines, knife crime, substance misuse and professional boundaries. They should ensure that serious shortfalls are identified and acted on through robust reviewing and monitoring systems and that staff are supported to develop and enhance their practice, taking into account relevant research and training. 1 February

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 1 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 8 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all references for staff are obtained when they have worked with children or vulnerable adults in the past. They should ensure that any concerns highlighted on the application form of reference are thoroughly explored and risk assessed and ensure that ID and a copy of the member of staff’s qualifications are retained on file.

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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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any allegations, poor staff practice, disclosures or any other serious incidents are shared with Ofsted in a timely manner. 1 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 9 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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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: 2796537 10 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westmoreland Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 10 Green Bank Park, Higher Road, Longridge, Preston PR3 2XY

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2796537 11 SENSITIVE-RECIPIENTS ONLY

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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