Children's home run by Willow Care Group Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2777986 1 Registered provider: WILLOW CARE GROUP LIMITED

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by an independent provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There are two children living at the home currently.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: This is the first inspection of this home.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children's home: 2777986 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are well understood prior to them moving to live at the home. The manager is proactive and liaises with the placing local authority to gather essential information to inform the care to be offered. Staff are therefore able to anticipate behaviours that may put children at risk and plan accordingly for how these will be managed. Children are beginning to develop trusting relationships with staff and as a result they are beginning to settle at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand the reasons why they have come into care and are encouraged to share their feelings. Children are beginning to engage more proactively in one-to-one discussions with staff and in children’s meetings. There is a growing acceptance of the boundaries in place and children’s routines, particularly around personal hygiene and sleeping routines are improving as a result. Children now understand that they can use these forums to influence their care and are responding more positively to staff interactions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has been proactive to liaise with local schools to secure educational placements for both children in the Autumn, recognising that both children have not accessed education with any regularity historically. Staff are encouraging of children’s learning and ensure that this has been quickly built into their routines. This is supported by a designated room for learning within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children being able to see their families, particularly for children who are living out of area. Where there have been concerns about family time, these have been quickly acknowledged by staff and challenged where appropriate. This ensures both the safety and consistency for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's care plans and behaviour support plans are clear and informative. They assist staff to think about the triggers to behaviours and ways that they can effectively respond. The manager acknowledges that these documents continue to be updated as staff get to know children better, and a more nuanced understanding of their needs develops.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's bedrooms were sparse and impersonalised. Staff need to remain proactive to ensure these remain clean, tidy and hygienic spaces for children to be. Staff must ensure that there is consistency of standards throughout the home so that all spaces feel warm and inviting for children. Children have however recently shown greater interest in how they would like their bedrooms to be decorated and the Manager is keen to progress their wishes. Inspection report children's home: 2777986 3

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

Children have only recently moved to live at the home. Children have not had any incidences where they have been restrained or gone missing from the home. Where one child went missing following family time they were quickly located and creative planning by staff ensured they returned safely to the home. Staff are growing in their confidence to both understand and respond to the behaviours of children. Changes needed to make the home a safer environment for children have been quickly addressed by the manager.

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

There have been two complaints received by the manager from a child living at the home and a family member. The manager has a clear process to address concerns raised and has ensured that those complaining have an opportunity to be heard. A collaborative approach has allowed for agreements to be reached that all parties are happy with. There have been several complaints received from neighbours to Ofsted. The manager has taken steps to better manage behaviours from children that could impact the local community. There are plans in place to nurture more positive relationships with neighbours moving forward.

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

Staff understand what is required to keep children safe. Risk assessments acknowledge the children’s vulnerability to be criminally exploited and that they have been known to use substances such as vapes. Staff have thought creatively about how children can be educated about these risks and to make more positive choices for themselves. The manager has engaged appropriate external services to ensure bespoke support is offered, taking into account their young age.

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

Staff undertake appropriate practices to ensure the safety of children including regular room and phone searches. Recording of searches and incidences occurring at the home could benefit from clearer, more detailed information about actions taken by staff and how this is in line with the therapeutic care approach adopted by the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a committed and passionate manager. She is ambitious for the home and the children and was able to identify focused areas of improvement following the home recently opening. She is advocating effectively for the children, particularly with external professionals. She has responded appropriately to concerns raised to her and is encouraging of staff to adapt their practice as they understand the needs of the children better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite some challenges in staff retention there is good morale at the home and staff report that they enjoy working there. Staff feel well supported by the manager, they shared she is available to them and is appreciative of their hard work. Staff are receiving regular supervisions and access to team meetings. Staff feel that their views are listened to, and they can contribute to the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff received appropriate introductory training and the manager has identified training that is tailored to the needs of children for staff to access soon. Staff have been enrolled Inspection report children's home: 2777986 4 quickly onto the necessary courses with managers recognising the importance of the qualifications in underpinning and informing their work. Senior managers ensure that qualified and experienced staff from another home are supporting the team where this is required on shift.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the importance of regular and evaluative monitoring of the home. Appropriate auditing systems are in place to understand the care being offered to the children and to track their progress. These are however newly developed and the impact of these is not yet fully imbedded into practice. Inspection report children's home: 2777986 5

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Recommendations

 For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 children's home: 2777986 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: WILLOW CARE GROUP LIMITED

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Staniforth Partnership, 219 Burton Road, Derby DE23 6AE

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Inspector

Louise Copping, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2777986 7 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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