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

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three girls who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 7 September 2021.

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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 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

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 21/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC064472 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers know children well and understand their plans. Carers listen to children and set clear boundaries about what is expected. While some children do not always like the boundaries set, they understand the rules and the reasons for the carers’ actions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. Both children receive education and have consistently good attendance at school. The home has high aspirations for the children, and both children are achieving well. The children took part in a recent Christmas show, and their achievements were celebrated by their carers and a wider team of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A positive family style atmosphere is encouraged. Children sit together with carers and each other for meals and take turns to cook. This has helped to develop their independence. Meals are home-cooked and nutritious. Carers support the children to try new experiences and develop interests and hobbies. The children are asked to give suggestions for outings and activities, and they are supported to understand the value of these. Children are praised appropriately when they take part.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well to move in and out of this home; the impact on the child moving and on the other children is carefully considered. Children’s views are obtained in respect of children moving in and out. Leaders and managers work closely with other professionals to ensure these moves are planned. For one child moving out, a positive ending was promoted, and the needs of the other children were considered sensitively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well presented and has a warm and comfortable feel. Plans for improving the home are underway, with some rooms currently being decorated. Children are supported to keep their rooms tidy and are involved in the day-to-day running of the home.

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

When there are worries about children, carers respond appropriately. For example, when children go missing from home, carers know what to do. They follow the right processes to return the children home swiftly. Carers work effectively with other professionals and have conversations with the child to reduce this reoccurring.

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

Appropriate care is taken when children self-harm. Carers have had training in this and know how to respond, including searching for items, giving first aid and providing emotional support. Physical interventions have been used on four occasions since the last inspection. These have been necessary to keep children and/or carers safe and have been for short periods of time. Inspection report for children's home: SC064472 4 Records relating to children’s safety are comprehensive and detailed. The manager has good oversight of these incidents and is able to track and understand patterns. The manager is proactive when reviewing incidents and takes decisive action, for example contacting local shops in relation to selling alcohol or energy drinks to the children.

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

The police have been called on occasion. A system has evolved where the police have asked the home to report all instances of assault on carers to assist them even when charges are not brought. This is not a child-focused approach and needs review.

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

Carers work hard to create and maintain positive relationships between the children. This is challenging at times. Appropriate decisions are made when leaders and managers recognise that they can no longer meet the needs of the children safely alongside each other. They work with other professionals and the children to ensure that endings are sensitively managed.

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

A delay occurred in reporting allegations made about a professional who works in the wider organisation to the appropriate agency. There was no impact on the children involved. However, there needs to be a review of the arrangements for managing complaints and allegations that children make about professionals in the wider organisation to ensure actions are completed in accordance with child protection procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the children and knows these children well. She has good systems in place for monitoring the quality of care and ensuring tasks are completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers are provided with good support that enables them to do their job effectively, for example a good induction, bespoke training and regular and reflective supervision. They have opportunities to meet and discuss issues as a team. Carers appreciate this support, and morale is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager advocates strongly for the children and challenges other professionals when services are not provided or do not meet their needs effectively. For one child, the manager made a formal complaint to challenge decisions being made regarding funding the child’s school place. She tried to find alternative ways to support a child’s mental health and was tenacious when the first option was not successful. Professionals speak positively about the manager’s communication with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider has a thorough system in place for the safe recruitment of staff. Agency staff have not been used, providing consistency of care in the organisation for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Previous requirements have been addressed, and the manager is reflective on feedback and accepting of learning. Inspection report for children's home: SC064472 5 Inspection report for children's home: SC064472 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should agree with their local police force the procedures and guidance on police involvement with the home. In particular, this means that the current procedure of informing the police about every assault on a member of staff should be reviewed so that any incident that would not normally be reported if it occurred in a family home would not be reported. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)  The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. In particular, the registered person must review the current arrangements for managing allegations made about the wider organisation or school and ensure actions taken by the designated safeguarding lead are suitably independent. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Paula Lahey, 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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