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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 1 SC064472 Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a small organisation and is registered to provide care for up to three children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 7 September 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 22 February 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2020 Full Good 24/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well presented and in an idyllic setting. It provides beautiful spaces for children to relax in. Renovation and redecoration have been undertaken since the previous inspection and are ongoing. A bathroom replacement has been completed to a high standard and one of the lounges is currently being redecorated.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop positive relationships with children. They know children well and speak knowledgeably about them. The children said that they really care about the staff team and love living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do very well in education. They attend every day and have made good progress in GCSEs and functional skills. They took part in a successful school play in December.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know what to do if they have a complaint. Managers respond well to complaints and these are investigated thoroughly. The registered manager advocates for children. The registered manager sourced a private advocate for one child to share their views about their future when the local authority could not provide this resource.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to be independent and gain life skills in line with their age and understanding. Children also have opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities. One child said that they are lucky to have so many things to do and that staff support them in doing things they enjoy.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Difficult relationships between children have proved challenging since the last inspection. Staff manage these relationships well. However, the home would benefit from a clear strategy for staff to follow, to ensure a consistent response to helping children to resolve these difficulties. There is a risk that one child may have to leave the home if the children’s relationships with one another are not repaired.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has responded robustly to support the safety of one child with significant health concerns. The registered manager has challenged external professionals to ensure that the child receives the most appropriate support. There are good monitoring and review systems in place to ensure that staff closely monitor the child’s condition so that any changes are clearly recorded and reviewed. However, staff would benefit from specialised training regarding supporting children who self- harm.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing from the home, staff respond effectively and write detailed recordings of the incidents. Staff have useful discussions with children when Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 4 they return home, to try to understand their behaviour and prevent further episodes.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraint has been used twice since the last inspection. This has been used to keep children and staff safe. Staff make detailed records of these incidents. Managers have sensitive reflections with children and staff to ensure that lessons are learned. One child told the inspector that, although restraint rarely happened, they did not think it should take place at all.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s plans are comprehensive. They clearly identify and assess risk. They provide staff with clear information and guidance about a child’s needs and appropriate strategies to respond to their behaviours effectively.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has good practices to ensure that medication is stored appropriately and safely. Predominately, staff record the administration of medication accurately. There was one minor omission noted but this had no impact on the child. Staff take measures to ensure that children can safely take medication. When one child was storing tablets rather than swallowing them, staff requested liquid alternatives.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond sensitively and calmly during incidents involving a child who has self- harm behaviours. However, the child was moved without warning or explanation to respite accommodation for approximately one week. This has caused the child to feel significant resentment towards the registered manager and their relationship has been negatively impacted by the lack of open communication.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a significant change in staffing since the last inspection. This has had a negative impact on one child, who has felt unsettled by this. This has now been resolved by recruiting a stable staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers strongly advocate for children and challenge plans when they do not meet children’s needs. A local authority social worker told the inspector that the home communicates well with them, highlights the views of the child during meetings and will challenge plans that are not right for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a robust recruitment process that helps to recruit the most suitable adults to care for children. There is a thorough induction programme for new staff, followed by a supportive probationary period. New staff told the inspector that they feel very supported by the whole team, particularly the registered manager. All staff have access to regular, good-quality supervision.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has very good oversight of the care children receive. They understand the risks and vulnerabilities but also the strengths of each child. They support children to make progress and have high aspirations for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to children being involved in plans for their care and being able to express their views about the plans. 28 April 2023

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that all staff have suitable skills to meet the needs of children, including specialist training to better understand and respond to self-harm behaviours. 28 April 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 28 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 6 mutual respect and trust;

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.6

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to staff following clear guidance and responding consistently to children to promote positive and respectful relationships.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children’s home: SC064472 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Farm House, Gussage St. Michael, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 5JE

p.7

Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064472 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8