What People Say About Us: Young People, Parents & Visitors

"I like living in the basement flat because it's nice and comfortable" - Young Person

"The review was held in very comfortable surroundings for the young person" - Social Worker, Cumbria

"Very good house to live in" - Young Person

"Thanks you for all the support that you have given to J and ourselves" - Parent

"Wonderful environment for your young people and staff" - Visitor

"Beautiful place" - Social Worker, Cumbria

"Blown away by the house" - Parent

"Very impressive" - Social Worker, Stockport

Investors In People

Witherslack Care & Education Initiatives achieved the standard IIP in 2003 and was then re-assessed in 2008. We believe that the values enshrined within the Investor in People award accurately reflects the aims and objectives of Witherslack Care & Education Initiatives.

Our aim is to provide the highest quality care and education possible for the young people in our care, some of whom are the most damaged and vulnerable young people in society.

We recognise that our greatest asset is our highly committed and professional staff team. Staff, just like the young people we care for, function best when they are involved in decision making at an appropriate level, consulted regarding developments and feel that their views and opinions are listened to.

We seek opportunities to utilise the individual strengths of our staff team allowing staff opportunites to share their expertise and to develop further their training and coaching skills. Staff training is high on our list of priorities and it is through training and development that we can best ensure the highest quality of service.

Ofsted

This service remains outstanding in every respect. The Management Team have established a high quality of practice capable of supporting individual children’s assessed needs. Referrals to the Home are being managed particularly well.

A clear child-centred philosophy of care is in operation that puts the children and young people firmly at the forefront of decision making and planning. The young people living at this Home are gaining many positive experiences, which enables good skills to be developed and individual outcomes to be achieved. Staff spoken to revealed that they were dedicated to their duties and totally committed to the care of the young people living at the Home.
 

Support is identified by individual placement plans, risk assessments and other specialist workers intervention. All documentation seen during the visit showed that support was provided to ensure that all assessed needs were met.

Individual placement plans are comprehensive in design and effectively implemented in practice. Young people remain focussed throughout the time they are living at the Home. Education is integral to placement planning and detailed records are produced on all the work that takes place.

Records reveal that reviews of young people's progress take place at appropriate intervals. Reviews are clearly recorded, highlight achievements and progress and are routinely shared with the young people involved.
 

Arrangements for complaints, safeguarding children, bullying and behaviour management are handled well and these ensure that young people feel listened to and protected.

There are many opportunities presented for discussion and consultation on the placement arrangements. Placements are clearly open to scrutiny, ultimately meaning that they remain safe.

In discussion staff and management exhibited total commitment to the provision of quality care for the young people living in the home. Staff records showed that training was an ongoing process in the Home.

Records show that although many of the staff team were experienced workers all had been enrolled upon additional training to assist them to fulfil their duties.

The Witherslack Care and Education Initiatives Group responsible for this Home operate a number of schools that are registered with the Department for Children, Schools and Families. One of these schools was visited as part of this social care inspection. Resources are excellent at the school.

Education needs are clearly described within the individual education plans, which take into account young people's preferences and enable them to maximise abilities.

Young people are assisted with transportation to attend the educational establishment and care staff meet with school staff to exchange need to know information about the young person to include educational attainment and general behaviour.

The staff and Management Team have maintained excellent standards between inspections. The management philosophy remains extremely child-centred. Young people are gaining many positive experiences whilst living at the Home.

The Home’s Manager is experienced, competent and holds all the relevant qualifications for the post occupied. Good management and leadership skills were demonstrated throughout the inspection. The staff team have the skills to support the needs of the young people. Staff are motivated and have established practice that means children and young people achieve and develop.