Children's home run by Willows (Devon) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 1 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 the inspection, two girls were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2023.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection of a new home. Children have trusted relationships with, and are known well to, the carers that look after them. Carers regularly talk to the children about all aspects of life, including sexual health, bullying, vaping and healthy relationships. These conversations happen both in response to concerns and in a proactive way. Children and carers eat together and take turns to cook. This supports the children to develop independence skills and creates a real sense of a family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a wide variety of experiences. One child’s passion for horses has been embraced and encouraged. The children’s views are sought in respect of the activities that they want to do, and these take place. Children are clear on what is expected of them; ‘wish lists’ encourage positive behaviours, and rewards are given for achievements. Children know the rules, for example around using their phones and free time, and they say that these rules are fair.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress. Both children are attending school and are supported in their education by being encouraged to revise and do homework. The home has high expectations for them, and as a result, the girls have higher expectations for themselves. This was seen during the inspection when one child was thrilled to be offered a place at college for next year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans are in place for children moving into the home. Learning was identified in relation to two children moving on from the home in quick succession. However, the learning was not applied when three other children moved into the home in quick succession. This did not allow time for relationships between the children and carers to be built. Care planning for children coming into the home does not fully address the impact this may have on the children already living here.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and well presented. There are locks on the carers’ sleep rooms. Snacks such as chocolate and crisps are locked away in one of the rooms, and there is no assessed need for this. The manager changed this when highlighted.

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

Both children were able to identify an adult that they could speak to if they were worried. Conversations take place with children regarding risky behaviours, both following incidents and in a preventative way.

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

When allegations of harm have been made against carers, these have been taken seriously and reported appropriately. Advice was sought and taken from safeguarding agencies. However, decision-making around the management of these allegations is inconsistent, and the impact on the children could be significant. There are clear contingency plans in place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 3 When children go missing from home, carers are proactive in looking for them. Carers know the processes and follow these. Plans identify that the British Transport Police should be contacted when children go missing. Direct work is undertaken when the children have gone missing from home together, to empower them not to follow each other’s negative behaviours.

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

There is a nurturing response to incidents of self-harm. Carers know how to address this and explain the need for searching for sharp objects when this has been needed. Conversations take place with children following these incidents to try and understand why this has happened, and the team is proactive in seeking further support. Professionals and parents are notified quickly.

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

There has been one occasion of physical intervention. The records lacked detail about what was happening during the incident. The manager was able to explain this, but it was not clear in the written records. Overall, recording of safeguarding incidents is clear.

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

There are good links with other professionals, and communication is quick and effective. Referrals to supportive agencies and therapy are considered, made and followed up quickly. Work with the children to reduce risk is proactive and thorough.

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

During recruitment, concerns were identified regarding one applicant. This was questioned by senior managers, but the rationale for decision-making here is lacking, meaning there are no plans in place should this issue present itself again. This does not promote children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is run by a reflective manager who knows the children well. This has been a difficult time in a new home. The manager has a good knowledge of the care provided, and her oversight can be seen in the recording of incidents, supervisions and team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers speak of feeling supported by their manager and senior managers. There is an open-door attitude, and managers are reported to be approachable. Both children also identified the manager as a person they could come to with any worries. The manager has high aspirations for the children and is proactive in providing support to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was highly reflective about the learning from incidents and gave consideration to what could be done differently. She was able to set out a clear plan moving forwards and put the current children’s needs and the needs of the staff first.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision and team meetings provide a good level of reflection and a balance of practical issues. There are systems in place to track care and staff needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 4 Professionals speak of good communication with the manager, which ensures that children’s needs are met quickly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 5

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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, The 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when allegations are made about a member of staff, there is a consistent approach to managing these concerns to ensure children’s safety. 10 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 6 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that robust recruitment processes are in place which demonstrate risk assessment. 31 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and 10 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 7 plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this means that plans need to consider the needs of the child moving into the home and the impact this may have on existing children.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this means that certain foods should not be locked away unless there is an assessed risk. 30 April 2024

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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: 2724884 8

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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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Inspector

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2724884 9 and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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