Children's home run by Willows (Devon) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 1 SC484790

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Willows (Devon) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a small organisation. The manager has been registered since 2018.

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This monitoring visit

During the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, Ofsted is not carrying out routine inspections of social care provisions. When Ofsted has judged a service to be high risk, we need to determine what activity is needed to mitigate the risk.

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This monitoring visit

This report outlines the steps taken to assess what action has been taken since the last inspection, and the current level of risk. This off-site monitoring activity included a review of the provider’s action plans to address the statutory requirements raised at the last full inspection in February 2020, when the home was judged to be inadequate. The inspector also reviewed weekly written updates from the provider, as well as safeguarding and risk management procedures, and had telephone discussions with the provider. This monitoring activity did not include a visit to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders are in regular contact with Ofsted and are moving the service forward. The action plan is realistic. Some immediate steps have been taken to improve the arrangements for children and to address the statutory requirements set following the last full inspection. The action plan from leaders and managers sets out the following:

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This monitoring visit

 Management overview and scrutiny of practice is improved and supervision at all levels is more directly linked to the continuous improvement of care practice.  The approach to sanctions has been reviewed and more effective management oversight is now in place to ensure that all sanctions are fair Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 2 and proportionate, and staff have received guidance about the use of sanctions.  Some of the staff training required following the last inspection was undertaken prior to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and further training is being delivered remotely.  Systems are in place to ensure that the response to serious and significant concerns is timely and consistent.  Carers have clear and unambiguous direction and management support to develop their decision making and working practice.

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This monitoring visit

There have not been any significant incidents since early February. The children are adapting well to the restrictions placed on them due to the current pandemic. They are accessing or attending education and being supported to complete their work.

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This monitoring visit

There are plans in place to address risks in respect of COVID-19 ranging from more frequent and rigorous cleaning regimes to ensuring minimal contact with others. Risk assessments and plans have been drawn up to address the current and emerging risks.

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This monitoring visit

The positive impact of the action planning can be seen in the weekly reporting; however, the new systems are not yet fully embedded in day-to-day practice and cannot yet be tested fully.

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This monitoring visit

Following this off-site monitoring activity, the evidence provided for Ofsted indicates that there are no serious and/or widespread failures that leave children being harmed, at risk of harm, or their welfare not being safeguarded.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/02/2020 Full Inadequate 19/09/2018 Full Good 20/06/2017 Full Good 24/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each

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Requirement Due date

child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that— satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3). The conditions are— that the care meets the child’s needs; that the care is delivered by a person who— has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(d)(3)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 20/03/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 4 12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 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; and that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 20/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 20/03/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 5 demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out— how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. The registered person must ensure that— 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— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when

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Requirement Due date

the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 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’)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 20/03/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 6 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 20/03/2020

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 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

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC484790 8 to 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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