Children's Home run by Willow Bloom Group Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2859012 1 Registered provider: Willow Bloom 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

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were both registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home, and both were spoken with.

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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 outstanding

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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: 2859012 2

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Summary of findings

Children are making good progress. They receive consistent and predictable care from staff. The nurturing care children experience from staff helps them to build positive relationships and gain confidence to enjoy learning and social activities.

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Summary of findings

Staff provide individualised care that helps children to be safer. The manager and staff work cohesively to provide children with a homely environment. The manager provides excellent leadership to the staff, who enjoy the team’s learning culture. Staff are highly motivated by the manager’s enthusiasm and therapeutic approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home became registered, 2 children have moved in. Children make progress in all areas of their life; they enjoy new opportunities and establish secure relationships with the staff. Staff are committed in their efforts to ensure that children’s lives are enhanced. These relationships with staff provide children with a strong foundation to flourish. One professional said that a child ‘has their spark back’ after moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the importance of education for children. Staff attend parents’ evenings at school and help children with their homework tasks. One child has made good progress in learning numerical times tables and has improved concentration in lessons. Another child has re-engaged with learning opportunities. Staff understand the child’s worries about attending education and work proactively with education professionals to remove any barriers. As a result, the child has several options to choose from about which education provision they would like to attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood by staff. Staff work with specialist agencies to improve their skills and knowledge about one child’s diagnosis. Staff adopt a nurturing approach when speaking with children about their health. Staff use child-centred information created by the manager to help explain a child’s diagnosis in a way the child can understand. The child has developed a greater understanding about their condition and staff ensure that this does not limit the child’s involvement in physical activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend clubs and social activities. One child enjoys attending a cricket club and thrives on playing as part of a team. One child enjoys spending time with friends and having sleepovers. Additionally, children enjoy trips to local attractions and caravan holidays. This means children expand their social development and make positive memories together with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care that is sensitive and responsive to their identity and family history. Staff understand the importance of family ties and support children to spend time with people who are important to them. Additionally, staff recognise the importance of Inspection report for children’s home: 2859012 3 children being able to make sense of their own life story. The manager has created a colourful and creative book for one child that is helping them understand their past experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is beautifully decorated and maintained. The space allows children to spend time together with staff as well as individual areas for more quiet time. Children's bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interest and personality. Games and books are naturally placed around the home so that children can access them independently. Children participate in day-to-day decisions and staff value the children’s opinions.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and have good knowledge of the different risks and vulnerabilities that children may experience. Information about children’s needs is included in clear, well-written individualised plans that staff follow. Children have developed trusting relationships with staff and understand that their safety and wellbeing is a priority. As a result, children are increasingly safer since moving into the home.

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

Children do not go missing-from-home and staff understand what action to take to safeguard a child if this happens. On the one occasion, when a child did not return at the agreed time, staff took prompt action to locate the child. This included contacting the child’s friends and looking in known areas which ensured that the child returned home safely.

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

Staff are role models for children and promote positive behaviour in the home. Incidents are rare and staff use consistent and appropriate behaviour management strategies to meet the children’s needs. Staff understand potential triggers and use de-escalation techniques effectively. Children recognise what their feelings mean and have begun to develop strategies to manage their own emotions.

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

Children become increasingly more independent with appropriate support and encouragement. One child is helped to take age-appropriate risks such as using public transport and spending time with friends in the community. The manager is steadfast in removing barriers to children’s participation. In one example, the manager ensured the child had private swimming lessons at the same time their class had group swimming lessons. As a result, the child learnt how to swim and gained confidence to wear swimwear. Additionally, the child has returned to swimming lessons with their class. Staff ensure that opportunities are individualised to children and improve their self-esteem and confidence.

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

Planned and opportunistic supportive conversations take place with children. The effectiveness is regularly reviewed, and the conversations are meaningful to children. However, on a couple of occasions that could have been considered serious, staff did not fully explore the incident with the children. This is a missed opportunity to further educate children and to reassure them that staff had taken the appropriate action to keep them safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2859012 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s leadership of the team is excellent. She has created a nurturing environment for children to thrive in. The manager is supported by the responsible individual who shares the manager’s vision for the home. The manager leads by example and sets high expectations that staff understand. She has established a team culture that is therapeutic and child focused. The therapeutic model used in the home is embedded, and the manager has created helpful practice-related resources to help enhance staff skills and knowledge. This means staff provide children with individualised care that meets their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is held in high regard by staff and external professionals. The manager demonstrates professional challenge while maintaining working relationships. This has helped to ensure that one child received a suitable education provision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say they feel motivated and supported in their role. They embrace learning and training opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff receive regular supervision sessions that enables them to reflect on and improve their practice. Staff say they feel supported by leaders and managers and that they work together as a team. One staff member said, ‘The support from managers is fantastic, perfect. There is more than enough training, it is quality and relatable.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that decisions made in the home benefit the children. She knows the children well and is a strong advocate for them. For example, when the manager identifies gaps in information for children, she actively creates her own resources. This includes books around a child’s life story and another book around their health diagnosis. An agency that is a specialist in the health diagnosis has asked to use this resource for other children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective oversight and monitoring systems are established. This enables the manager to address any shortfalls and provide support to staff. The manager is aware of the strengths and areas for development. She welcomes external scrutiny from the independent visitor and strives to make continuous improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2859012 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are carry out and record conversations with children following incidents that could be seen as serious. Children should be helped to understand how staff have responded and any future possible implications. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.14)

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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: 2859012 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Willow Bloom Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Portland House, Belmont Business Park, Durham DH1 1TW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Burlison

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Inspectors

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector (lead) Amber Merriman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2859012 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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