Willow Tree Support Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services Willow Tree Support Services Registered provider: Willow Tree Support Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider in the south of England. They can accommodate up to 41 individuals in 7 shared or group-living premises, which are not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers. At the time of the inspection, 13 looked-after children aged 16 or 17 years were being accommodated.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to third-party concerns about leadership and management of the service, safeguarding and support of children and staff training and supervision. Following this visit, 4 compliance notices were issued.

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This monitoring visit

The visit included 2 premises and discussions held with 3 staff members. A separate meeting was held with the registered service manager and nominated individual. Four professionals gave feedback about their experience of working with the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the service has been managed effectively. Efforts are now being made to recruit a new management team. Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff complete training that is relevant to their roles. Mandatory training is in place, but this does not fully equip staff to manage children's behaviour effectively. In addition, staff do not receive adequate levels of supervision, meaning that they are not supported in their roles. Staff lack the confidence to de-escalate incidents and behaviours, meaning that children are not always appropriately supported and safeguarded. Staff struggled to prevent unauthorised visitors from entering one premises. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services Information regarding children has not always been effectively shared with partner agencies and other accommodation providers. This does not allow all children to be

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This monitoring visit

effectively safeguarded. Staff lack an understanding of trauma-informed practice and fail to provide emotionally warm support. Some language used in records is negative and blames children for their behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

Support plans are not in place and staff are not clear about how to support children with their specific needs. Children are not always adequately prepared to leave care and move into more independent accommodation at 18 years old. Staff do not consistently demonstrate that they know the children well or understand their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The risk assessments viewed provided an accurate and up-to-date picture of children's known and emerging risks and behaviours. Individual work undertaken with children on specific topics was of good quality.

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This monitoring visit

Not all serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted. This reduces Ofsted's ability to have effective oversight of how children are safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

The completion of the first quality of support review was significantly delayed, meaning that both Ofsted and local authorities had reduced oversight of the quality of support provided to children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the 'Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards'. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills appropriate for the work that they are to perform;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(c)(g)) 19 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

*The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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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

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(f)(iv)(vi)) 19 April 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services *The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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 plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

keep the child's support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child's needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(k)) 19 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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Requirement Due date

there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 19 April 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and improving the quality of support provided by the supported accommodation undertaking by completing a review ("a quality of support review") at least once every six months, which must take into account—

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Requirement Due date

the views of children, including any feedback and complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from individual children on the impact the supported accommodation has had on the child's life, especially regarding how well prepared the child felt for transition into supported accommodation and how well prepared the child feels for transition out of supported accommodation;

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Requirement Due date

feedback from each child's accommodating authority, staff and any relevant persons;

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Requirement Due date

any relevant research and developments in relation to the way in which the needs of children are best met.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of support review, the registered person must produce a written report setting out the actions the registered person intends to take as a result of that quality of support review.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the review report to the CIECSS within 28 days beginning with the day on which the report is completed, and make a copy of it available on request to each child's accommodating authority. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2) (3)) 1 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Willow Tree Support Services Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Stanley Tapera

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Inspectors

Eileen Bultitude, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Willow Tree Support Services 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

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

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