Children deemed 'at risk' at inadequate care home
PA MediaChildren living at a care home are "at risk of harm" due to failures in the way it operates, a watchdog has said.
Ofsted inspected Fell House, operated by Kendal-based Appletree Treatment Centre Limited, in March and judged it inadequate overall.
Inspectors said they found "serious and/or widespread failures" which meant children and young people "are not protected", while issues raised in the report included child-on-child violence, painful physical restraints and inadequate risk assessments.
However, they also said the children appeared happy there and management had good knowledge of those in their care. Appletree Treatment Centre has been approached for comment.
Ofsted's report said managers' safeguarding practices were "ineffective", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Inspectors said: "Staff are not always given clear guidance about how to safeguard children in their daily practice. This has placed children at risk of harm.
"When staff and professionals have raised concerns about staff practice or allegations have been made by children, leaders and managers have failed to follow appropriate safeguarding procedures or take suitable action to safeguard children."
The report noted that on one occasion an internal investigation was concluded without speaking to the member of staff who had raised the concern.
Inspectors said: "There is limited evidence that children are supported to raise concerns or that their views are actively sought and responded to."
But the report also said children's moves into and out of the home are "well planned" and children reported being happy living there.
It added the management team "knows the children well" and speak "fondly" of them.
The inspectors gave the home a list of improvement measures to implement.
