Children's home run by Witherslack Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 1 SC475703 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 one of several homes operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to 8 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in April 2014, and the manager registered in May 2014.

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Information about this children’s home

The children access the organisation’s registered school and therapeutic services.

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Information about this children’s home

Seven children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: 29 October 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2024 Full Outstanding 31/10/2023 Full Outstanding 18/05/2022 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well by the manager and staff, who hold them in high regard. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the children’s individual needs. This helps staff to meet the children’s needs well. One social worker said: ‘I don’t need to worry about [name of child] as I know they are well cared for.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they feel safe. They can identify trusted adults whom they can talk to about their worries. Positive relationships were observed between the staff and the children. One child said: ‘Staff are really emotionally supportive, and I always feel I can speak to them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff maintain good communication with children’s families. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from opportunities to enjoy activities of their choice. Activities include trampolining, cycling, holidays and fishing. Some children attend clubs, such as cadets and swimming. This supports children to pursue their hobbies and interests and share experiences with others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote children’s education. There is good information-sharing between staff and the children’s education provider. The manager remains persistent in their attempt to fully engage children in education. However, for 2 children there has been a reduction in school attendance. Strategies are in place to support the children to engage; however, these are not always effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and their photos are displayed around the home. This gives the children a sense of belonging. However, some redecoration is needed around the home.

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

Children have individual risk assessments that are consistently reviewed and updated by managers and staff. Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and take time to talk to children and educate them about risk. Staff use these discussions to increase children’s understanding and safety.

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

Staff can identify behaviours involving risk and understand and follow safeguarding procedures to keep the children safe. Staff spend time with children after incidents to support them to understand their emotions and feelings. This helps children to learn from incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 4 There have been occasions when the use of physical intervention was necessary. The manager evaluates physical interventions, ensuring that they are proportionate, and reflection is completed with staff and children. Detailed analysis of physical intervention supports the manager to identify patterns and implement strategies to support children.

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

Staff are proactive when children go missing from home. Managers and staff search for children and liaise effectively with relevant professionals and family members to ensure that the children return home as soon as possible. Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been incidents when children have made allegations against staff. Leaders and managers follow safeguarding processes and inform relevant safeguarding professionals if any incidents occur. This ensures that children receive a well-rounded, multi-agency approach to keep them safe.

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring, and ambitious manager who advocates well for the children. The manager speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm and is present within the home. The manager is supported by a dedicated deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. There is a committed and stable staff team which provides consistency of care for the children. One member of staff said: ‘I have felt valued and appreciated since I started working here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with identified areas of training to help them meet the specific needs of the children in their care. Training topics include first aid, safeguarding, knowledge, and skills for working with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and reporting and recording. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members have regular supervision and team meetings in line with the home’s statement of purpose. These provide opportunities for the staff to reflect on and develop their practice and ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring and review systems in place. This helps the manager monitor staff practice to ensure that the quality of care provided meets children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One serious incident has not been reported to Ofsted. This means that the regulator does not always have sufficient oversight of the management of significant incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 5

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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 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)) 17 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 28, paragraph 5.13)  The registered person should ensure that the fabric of the home is well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 6 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: SC475703 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

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475703 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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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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