wma60 hotpoint not taking in fabric softner?

ive done all the cleaning in every nook and cranny of the drawer section ive put it on a 95 degree wash and its still not taking in the fabric softner ive also cleaned down in the hole where the softener goes my mam has the same machine as hers is great she told me that the water fills up into the pre wash rear compartment and takes out the softner from the front compartment if this is correct my machine is not filling up in that way as fast as the water is going into the drawer its going out the back of it nothing is touching the softner and there is no water coming down above the softner compartment is there meant to be? Help