Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 1 SC475689 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 registered with Ofsted in 2014 and is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to 6 children with learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home can provide ongoing care for children when they reach 18 until they complete their education. However, it must then reduce the number of children accordingly.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2020 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience, and skills to carry out the role.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be 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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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 01/02/2023 Full Outstanding 14/03/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 3

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improvement to be good

Some shortfalls in safeguarding practices and the leadership and management of the home compromise the overall experiences and progress of the children.

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improvement to be good

There is a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and their photos are displayed around the home. This gives the children a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are carefully planned and positive. Staff provide detailed information to support the children when they move out of the home. Children remain in contact with staff after they move out.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy various activities, including going for walks to observe geese, swimming, hair, and beauty, playing games, building LEGO, and going to the theatre. This encourages children to pursue their hobbies and interests.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager and staff promote children’s education well. There is good communication between staff and the children’s education providers. This helps improve children’s educational attendance.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to become more independent and develop new skills, depending on their age and understanding. One child goes shopping weekly with staff and is learning to cook their own meals. This helps children learn the skills they will need as adults.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children in spending time with their friends and families. Staff maintain good communication with children’s families. This means that children have relationships with people who are important to them. One family member said, ‘Staff are brilliant and very welcoming.’

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improvement to be good

The staff are caring and passionate about their role and the care they provide for children. Some staff have worked at the home for a considerable length of time. Therefore, the children have built trusting relationships with staff.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments provide relevant information and outline the steps staff should take in response to managing children’s vulnerabilities and risks. However, records and plans for one child include contradictory information in relation to the child’s diet. This does not ensure that staff have the most up-to-date information, guidance, Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 4 and strategies to manage this risk and support the child effectively. This does not ensure that the child’s health needs are always met.

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improvement to be good

There have been incidents of children going missing from home. When children go missing, staff are quick to respond. However, on one occasion, a child’s missing-from- home protocol was not followed. This is a significant shortfall that could compromise the child’s safety and welfare.

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improvement to be good

Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort to keep children safe, after all de- escalation and distraction methods have been explored. Debriefs are carried out with staff and children.

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improvement to be good

Staff take the time to listen to children and help them understand their emotions. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The registered manager evaluates consequences, ensuring that they are proportionate and effective.

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improvement to be good

Staff attend training so they are suitably trained to meet children’s individual needs. Training includes topics such as food allergies and intolerance, first aid, love within care, pathological demand avoidance, and safeguarding. This also helps to ensure consistency in staff practice.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are followed, which means that staff are recruited safely. Recruitment checks help ensure that only suitable individuals are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is overseen by a dedicated and caring registered manager. The registered manager is present in the home and available for staff and children. The manager is supported by a committed deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager’s internal monitoring systems have not been effective in identifying and responding to all shortfalls. For example, the registered manager has not taken effective action regarding a child’s health needs. This could affect the child’s safety and wellbeing. The registered manager took action to address this during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has assessed the suitability of the home. This helps ensure that children live in a safe area. However, the review of the premises assessment does not include consultation with relevant people. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to fully evaluate the suitability of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Not all serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted in line with regulation. This compromises the regulator’s oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are supported through regular supervision, which gives them the opportunity to discuss their practice and consider development opportunities. Staff meetings are informative and include research and resources to support children’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 5 Staff say they enjoy working at the home and that they feel supported by the management team. One staff member said, ‘I feel well supported in my role by both the management team and my colleagues.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all risks, when identified, are clearly recorded in children’s risk assessments and care plans and that any risks identified have control measures in place that staff implement. This specifically relates to one child’s allergies.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff understand and implement identified strategies to support children when they are missing from home. 27 March 2026

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 27 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 7 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place so that leaders and managers have effective oversight of staff practice and the impact on children’s safety and experiences.

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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. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 27 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 8 The registered person must ensure that incidents relating to a child that they consider serious are notified to the regulator without delay.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home. When carrying out the review, the registered person must consult and consider the views of each relevant person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: SC475689 9

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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

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475689 10 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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