Children's home run by Willows (Devon) Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 1 Registered provider: Willows (Devon) Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience emotional or social difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Staff in the home are referred to as carers. This is reflected in the report.

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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: 20 February 2024

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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: 2740654 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home has made marked progress. They have positive relationships with the carers, and carers know the child well. Last year the child was not attending college on a regular basis. They are now attending four days a week every week and has achieved 96% attendance. The child has developed friendships and now has the confidence to talk to others. They said that they like their home and the carers. The child was previously reluctant to talk to others, particularly professionals. However, they are now more involved in conversations around the home in general and those which directly relate to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is now using the bus independently to travel to and from college and to see their boyfriend, a noticeable development from their starting point. Carers have supported the child to manage money, budget, cook meals and negotiate difficulties well. Lots of nurturing conversations have taken place with the child about the need to do these things for themselves. Plans are clear about the steps needed to encourage the child and carers follow these. For a period, the child did some voluntary work in the local community, helping others. The provider supported this by paying the child for the hours completed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers have supported the child to learn about their own sexual health needs and how to meet these. The child is also responsible for their taking their own medication and carers help them to understand what the repercussions of not taking it correctly could be. Support to improve personal hygiene and general health is provided consistently well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are times when the child wants to spend a lot of time in her room, gaming. Carers attempt to motivate and encourage the child to do other activities. This is sometimes successful but not always.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to make choices. Carers were respectful of choice when the child refused to attend medical appointments. The consequences of not attending, for example being charged for dental appointments, are highlighted and they are encouraged to rebook appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s feelings and views about spending time with family are explored and they are supported by carers in line with their wishes. The child has enjoyed exciting activities and holidays, going to a themed film studio attraction and to Belfast. A large memory box holds lots of the child’s important mementos and photos. However, they are not organised or kept up to date, meaning important events could be lost.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home continues to be well maintained and very much like any family home. Fire signs and extinguishers are discreet, so they are not obvious when the child’s friends visit. The child’s interests are woven into the home; there is a Japanese area in the garden owing to their interest in Japan. The child has also chosen pictures and objects Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 4 to display in the home. The summer house has also been developed to provide some extra space and privacy for the child and their friends.

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

Carers have close relationships with other professionals involved with the child, particularly with their social worker. This has promoted thoughtful and cohesive care planning. The adults around the child have a clear understanding of relevant risk and how to help to safeguard the child. There have been few significant incidents since the last inspection, and this is partly due to the close relationships and clear planning in place.

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

There is a nurturing response from carers to incidents of self-harm. Resources such as help sheets setting out ways to manage emotions are provided. The child is supported to access outside organisations when additional support is required. The child’s plan gives carers a clear way of responding to self-harm, which is consistently applied. The child is encouraged to be involved in her own self-care. Carers are curious about the reasons behind self-harm and lots of conversations take place about how to manage these and to help the child navigate their feelings to prevent self-harm. Incidents of self-harm have remained at a consistently low level.

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

Carers are beginning to encourage the child to take age-appropriate risks. The steps have been small, with the child starting to take the bus to college or to see friends. Carers are also leaving the child on their own to lock up the house, which is helping them to develop important life skills. However, given the child’s age, progress with this has been appropriately slowly paced.

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

Carers understand the risks from gaming online and know who the child is talking to and gaming with. Direct work has been undertaken to help the child to recognise these risks herself and not to share personal information, and how to spot potential warning signs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a consistent core team around the child. No agency staff have been used and the wider internal support team has also been stable. Managers are ambitious for the child and have been keen to expand their world, which is evident in their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have systems in place for reviewing and monitoring care. Monthly overviews provided to social workers help to provide an at-a-glance view of the main issues and events over the month. Plans provide clear guidance to carers on how to support the child. This helps carers provides the child with a consistent standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team benefits from the support of an in-house psychotherapist. This has enabled the child to access support easily. It also provides carers with quick access to support in how to care for children. Carers can also access the psychotherapist to support them individually or as a team which helps them to understand the child’s evolving needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 5 Formal team meetings take place regularly and as the team is small carers come together regularly to discuss the child’s needs informally. Mandatory training is monitored and kept up to date. Managers arrange specific training to help carers meet the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers say they feel supported by their colleagues and managers and enjoy working in the home. External professionals speak of a dedicated team who are proactive in supporting the child, particularly in respect of their education. Professionals have noticed the close relationships the child has with the team and the progress they have made. Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the child’s memory books are kept up to date so the detail of events and outings is not lost. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)  The registered person should ensure that the child is supported to manage their own safety and is encouraged to take age-appropriate risks, particularly in preparation for moving on from the home and living independently. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: 2740654 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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Inspector

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2740654 8 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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