Children's home run by Willows (Devon) Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 1 SC484790 Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a vacancy for the post of registered manager. However, a manager is in post and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. This application is currently being processed.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 September 2018

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2017 Full Good 24/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good 01/09/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 3

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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, 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

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

Within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(b)(i)) 26/10/2018

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 26/10/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home’s children’s guide specifically identifies the care that children can expect to receive in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any declarations made by prospective applicants in relation to disciplinary action taken in their previous employment; is explored prior to appointment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.19

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Recommendations

 Ensure that when a child returns home from missing they receive an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although there have been some mixed outcomes for children, children continue to receive good and individualised care and support. Staff develop positive relationships with children and provide them with genuine warmth and respect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak highly of the support and guidance that they receive from staff. They say that they feel safe and that staff listen to their views and opinions. Children say that they would speak to the staff if they had any worries or concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a well-maintained, homely and comfortable environment. They take pride in their home. Children say that they love their bedrooms and they have personalised their bedrooms with an abundance of family photographs and homely touches. A child gave 10/10 for living here and said to the inspector, ‘This place is the best thing that has happened to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they love the food. Mealtimes are a family-style occasion. Fruit trees in the home’s garden provide fruit for eating and cooking. In addition, children care for the home’s chickens, which provide fresh eggs. Children are involved in meal planning, preparation and the cooking of their meals. This encourages children to be more independent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a good range of activities that are available to them. They regularly visit theme parks, swimming, cinema, bowling and go on shopping trips. Children gave 10/10 for the activities. Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 5 Children benefit from attending the company’s school. From their starting points, children are doing well and attend school regularly. One child is attending a local college and is thoroughly enjoying this experience.

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improvement to be good

Restraint is appropriately used as a last resort to keep children and others safe. However, restraint records do not include the actual time an intervention was used. In addition, discussions with staff following the use of an intervention are not recorded. This does not demonstrate that reflective practice has taken place following the use of an intervention or whether any lessons have been learned. Some records in relation to behavioural incidents and restraint are not detailed. This does not ensure that there is a clear and concise account of events.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers ensure that they communicate safeguarding matters to safeguarding agencies and other professionals effectively. They respond to and manage safeguarding concerns effectively. The designated officer has not raised any concerns in the home’s reporting processes. However, leaders and managers failed to notify Ofsted of an allegation of abuse.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of children going missing from the home have significantly decreased in recent months. Staff take effective action when children go missing. They work closely with safeguarding agencies, local authorities and parents to ensure that children return safely to the home. Leaders and managers ensure that there is open dialogue with local authorities when there are serious concerns about the safety of children when they go missing and the ability of the home to keep children safe. Staff hold discussions with children on their return. However, not all children receive an independent return home interview.

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improvement to be good

Generally, leaders and managers ensure that a stringent recruitment and selection process is in operation. However, on one occasion leaders and managers did not ensure that a declaration made by a prospective applicant, in relation to disciplinary action in their previous employment, was explored prior to their appointment. However, effective action in relation to this shortfall was taken at the time of the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned but continues to work in the home in another role. A manager has been appointed and has made an application to register with Ofsted. She has worked within the organisation for several years and knows the children and staff well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a detailed review of the quality of care has been undertaken. The review identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the home and the steps being taken to improve the provision. Regular visits by the independent visitor continue to take place and the manager responds effectively to recommendations made from these visits. Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 6 Staff speak well of the support they receive from the manager. Staff say that she has introduced new systems and processes that benefit them as individuals and the team. Staff benefit from a wide range of training. As well as mandatory training, staff receive specific training that equips them to support the children well. Leaders and managers take effective action to address poor staff performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with detailed placement plans, and risk assessments that clearly guide staff in how to meet children’s individual needs. The manager ensures that these documents are reviewed regularly and updated. Staff have a thorough awareness of the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers take complaints seriously and take effective action to resolve concerns raised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that children are welcomed to the home when they move in. Children say that the home’s children’s guide is helpful. However, some aspects of the current guide are not specific to this home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC484790 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Granary, Hinton Business Park, Tarrant Hinton, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8JF

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Inspector

David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484790 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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