Children's home run by Willows (Devon) Ltd in Dorset

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home is well maintained, homely and welcoming.  Children and young people are kept safe by good care planning and strong communication between staff and external agencies/professionals.  Staff understand their roles and responsibilities well to safeguard children and young people. Staff take effective action when children and young people go missing to ensure their safe return.  Staff and managers have a good understanding of the children’s and young people’s individual needs, and promote positive outcomes for them.  Staff set appropriate boundaries that children and young people are very aware of. They are also given unconditional positive regard from staff. A nurturing approach is evident.  Children and young people are able to share their views and feelings on a regular and needs-led basis.  Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Continue to look at effective and creative ways to support children and young people to stop smoking. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  To ensure that children and young people are given the opportunity to maintain key relationships once they have moved on. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.3)

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for nine young people who may be affected by emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Accommodation is provided in two separate homes on the same site. The on-site school provides education for young people who are accommodated within the company’s three registered homes.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/09/2014 Full Good

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Good

The home provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for children and young people. It is well maintained and cared for by staff. Children and young people take pride in their surroundings. Care planning is individualised and takes account of all factors which may impact upon children and young people. The progress of children and young people is closely monitored and supported well by staff. Therapeutic input is also embedded into care planning. The home has a resident clinical psychologist who supports a significant number of the children and young people. Children and young people have good relationships with staff and are able to identify many staff members with whom they can share their feelings. A nurturing ethos provided by staff, was evident throughout the inspection. Children and young people speak fondly of the home and staff members. Staff take frequent opportunities to support children and young people to discuss

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Good

their feelings in order to reduce destructive and harmful behaviours. Children and young people are also nurtured and supported to develop positive behaviours without the need for many sanctions. Staff support children and young people to build on and maintain positive relationships with their family and friends. This includes developing life skills so that they can independently and safely use public transport networks. One young person spoken to commented that, ‘I get [to] see my family a lot more now. I go on the train myself, too’. Children and young people are now engaged in education when this has previously been a challenge for them. There are a variety of out of school activities available, and work experience opportunities. There is also the opportunity for them to go on holiday. Staff encourage children and young people to explore their aspirations and talents. These opportunities benefit children and young people.

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Good

The health and well-being needs of children and young people are well met. There is good access to general practitioners, opticians and dentists. Staff effectively support children and young people with their emotional health needs. Specialist health agencies are accessible when children and young people have a particular health need. Some children and young people smoke, which causes concern regarding their health and well-being. Although staff discourage children and young people from smoking, this is an area that needs further improvement. Staff are in regular contact with professionals and family members to ensure that children’s and young people’s needs are consistently promoted. Any matters of concern or praise are communicated quickly to promote positive care overall. This was emphasised during conversations with both a parent and a social worker. Children and young people who leave the home are not always provided with the

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Good

opportunity to maintain important relationships. This significant element is not yet explicit within transition plans.

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Good

Some children and young people go missing from the home and this remains an ongoing challenge. Staff follow going missing protocols well. They actively search the local area and known locations that children and young people may gravitate to. There are exceptional links to the local police force which helps to increase the safety of children and young people. Staff welcome children and young people back home when they return. Debriefs are good quality and provide children and young people with warmth and nurture while giving them an opportunity to talk about their experiences while they were away from the home. There is the option for children and young people to engage with an independent person to discuss the incident of going missing. Safeguarding is upheld by staff to a good level. Child protection policies are followed and implemented effectively in order to keep children and young people safe. Staff make appropriate referrals to external professionals, which helps to

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Good

protect children and young people. Risk issues are monitored and effective risk reduction plans are well established. Staff have a good understanding of risk reduction plans and how to promote the safety and well-being of children and young people. Behaviour management is based upon a restorative approach. Children and young people are provided with consistent boundaries which promote positive behaviours. Records show clear strategies on how each individual behaviour is managed. Children and young people spoken to during the inspection felt that the boundaries and behaviour management plans in place are fair. Some children and young people have been restrained since the last inspection. Staff use these control measures as a last resort to protect children and young people from imminent danger. Records clearly demonstrate this and that their use was appropriate. Staff spend time with children and young people so that they can

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Good

reflect and explore their feelings about the restraint and why staff felt it was a necessary intervention. Staff engage children and young people in conversations about risk, and provide opportunities for children and young people to share their feelings about harmful behaviours. Staff provide children and young people with nurturing and caring responses, which support positive emotional development.

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Good

The registered manager is established in her post. She has worked at this home for a number of years and is suitably skilled for the role. The registered manager receives regular supervision from the responsible individual. Leaders and managers establish positive relationships with children and young people, who feel comfortable to express their views about their care and the home in which they live. The registered manager has a good level of insight into the needs of every child and young person at the home. She advocates strongly on their behalf during care planning activities with outside agencies. This includes effective challenge when needed, in order to ensure that the best interests of children and young people are met. The registered manager and the deputy manager provide good support to staff in order to meet the evolving needs of children and young people. It was clear during the inspection that the needs of children and young people are placed as

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Good

paramount above all other activities. Recruitment of new staff is safely managed and supervision of staff is effective and regular. Staff have good access to training and all required training is up to date. All staff spoken with spoke very highly of the support that they receive from managers and colleagues in order to meet the needs of children and young people. The use of records which underpin good quality care, keep children and young people safe and promote positive outcomes are well established. Management oversight of these records and their effective use is consistent. Children’s and young people’s individual needs are clearly understood and met. The registered manager is able to highlight areas for improvement and has a clear plan for practice development. The registered manager was also able to clarify areas of good practice and how learning opportunities are considered during team meetings.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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