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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress in this home. Young people have lots of opportunities to talk and reflect with the team about what is important to them. The team is consistent and stable, which helps young people to build positive relationships with the key individuals caring for them. Young people appear happy and relaxed in their home; one young person described it as a ‘fairy-tale cottage’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are part of their local community. They get to do a variety of different activities, which they plan with the team around their interests. The team recently went to watch one of the young people doing a sky dive for charity. There are lots of opportunities on offer at the home. Young people are currently planning a holiday away during their next school break.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a small school attached to the home. This helps young people to achieve good attendance. The team works closely with the school to plan young people’s education. This offers some flexibility with education plans, and some young people who are new to the home can start on a gradual introduction to education. Young people quickly succeed and improve their attendance and outlook on learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers successfully assess the impact that any new young people moving in will have on the young people already living in the home. Placement plans and behaviour support plans are formed with key people when young people move in so that the team is aware of how to meet their needs. Placement plans clearly detail young people’s identity and how they wish to be cared for. When young people are preparing to move on, the team creates a transition plan with them to detail the support that they need. Wherever possible, the team keep in touch with young people and their families when they move on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers implement an effective child protection policy that safeguards young people. Staff have up-to-date training on safeguarding, including abuse and exploitation. The registered manager works collaboratively with other professionals and designated people whose role it is to protect children. Currently, when allegations have been made against a team member, records do not evidence that leaders and managers discuss risk assessments relating to the allegations with the member of the team involved when they continue to work during the investigation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Frequently, potential missing-from-home incidents are de-escalated as the team follow young people, sometimes for long periods of time, and offer them emotional support so that they return home successfully. When young people do go missing, the team acts swiftly and follows the missing protocol. The team searches local areas and remains in communication with young people whenever possible. Leaders and managers have good links to the local police force, and they work together effectively when young people are missing. The team is nurturing and welcomes young people home when they have been missing. Leaders and managers commission a local agency to conduct independent return home interviews. However, records do not always evidence the date on which these have been completed, and the team does not receive a copy of the record.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people can access the home’s clinical psychologist if they wish to. The team also benefits from this resource and uses the psychologist’s expertise to help inform care and behaviour support plans. Leaders and managers monitor any incidents of self-harm effectively and ensure that young people have the relevant support to meet their emotional needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people set themselves targets and rewards with the team, and this promotes positive behaviour. Young people said they feel that ‘the rules are fair’. The team members have received training to help them to use de-escalation strategies to support and calm young people when they become anxious. Restraint is used as a last resort. On the occasions when it has occurred, it has been used only to prevent young people from significantly harming themselves or another person. Leaders and managers have a protocol in place regarding police involvement in the home. However, this has not yet been agreed with the local police force.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care. There is an ongoing workforce development plan that identifies new training needs, and this includes key areas such as identity, self-harm and young people’s rights. Leaders and managers have met the two requirements from the previous inspection.

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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 have 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 31/10/2016 Full Good 15/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the responsible persons must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

2(b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. In particular, that records evidence when an independent return home interview has been completed, and that these records are stored with the young person’s records. Also, that better evidence is provided to show that staff understand risk assessments and the expectations that they are working within when an allegation has been made about them. 11/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the protocol for police involvement is agreed with the local police force. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 that 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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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