Children's Home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC463852 Inspector David Morgan Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Registered person address Venture House 12 Prospect Business Park, Longford Road CANNOCK Staffordshire WS11 0LG Responsible individual Paul Anthony Callander Registered manager Justin Michael Evans Date of last inspection 18/09/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 06/03/2015

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Previous inspection improved effectiveness Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people outstanding Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

This service continues to provide a good service to children although ongoing recruitment difficulties and absences have had an impact on the organisation of the service in some areas. Nevertheless, the outcomes for children are outstanding and have improved to the point where they are ready for discharge to foster care. This is a substantial and rewarding achievement for all concerned. The quality of care to each child has been sustained at a correspondingly high level. Staff show a particularly commendable level of commitment, which is fundamental to children's progress. Children feel extremely positive about the home and are kept safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Improvements have been made to several areas of safety affecting both staff and children, including fire drills and risk assessments. The previous inspection's other recommendations have also been addressed. No requirements are made this time. Seven recommendations are made to ensure that standards are maintained. These apply primarily to leadership of the home and include the need for greater clarity about the deputising arrangements. There is also only a low level delegation of tasks, which makes the continuity of the service vulnerable in the absence of the manager. Insufficient permanent staff are employed, which increases the need for temporary staff. The staff training programme no longer includes sufficient training about child development and other issues that are key parts of the philosophy of the 3 of 10 home. These matters increase the potential risk of shortfalls in the future. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This a newly registered home for three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It specialises in preparing children and young people for foster care.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2014 Interim improved effectiveness 15/01/2014 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure children receive prompt feedback on any concerns or complaints raised and are kept informed of progress. This is with regard to allegations also being addressed through the complaints procedure whether or not a formal complaint is made (NMS 1.6)  ensure the home has a clear written policy on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts, discipline, control and restraint, that all staff understand and apply at all times. This is with regard to reflecting the policy on touch in children's behaviour management plans (NMS 3.3)  ensure the overall number of staff can fulfil the home’s Statement of Purpose. This is with regard to re-evaluating the overall number of permanent staff (NMS 17.1)  ensure there is a good quality learning and development programme to equip staff with the skills required to reflect the needs of the children and the business needs of the home. This is with regard to providing training

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Recommendations

about the therapeutic function of the home, and improving the delegation 5 of 10 of duties by the manager (NMS 18.1)  ensure the children’s home procedure about allegations is in line with Government guidance and requirements. This is with particular regard to it reflecting national minimum standard 20.7 (NMS 20.2)  ensure there are clear arrangements in place to ensure appropriate management of the home when the registered manager is absent. This is with regard to such arrangements being applied promptly (NMS 21.5)  ensure each child's placement plan is monitored by a key worker who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to- day care of that child. This is with regard to those requirements being clearly addressed in key worker sessions. (NMS 25.2) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

The outcomes for children are excellent. Children experience a happy and inclusive environment in which their individual needs are understood and addressed. By coincidence all three children are ready to move to foster care at about the same time. This has been their target since arriving at the home and is therefore a very significant achievement. Children are aware of the difference the home has made to them and clearly demonstrate the close bonds they have made with team members. They are also able to sustain fond relationships with each other now. These are substantially better than the previously destructive interactions that sometimes prevailed. All the children are able to use their new skills effectively and safely with children outside the house and some have overnight stays at friend's homes. Children are encouraged to apply their skills with their own families too, as appropriate. Some are currently preparing presents and cards for Mothers Day and they reflect excitedly

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

on recent celebrations such as birthdays and Christmas.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Each child is able to reflect on their emotional journey. The evidence, both in records and in the children themselves, shows their success, for example, in being loving, feeling hopeful, and acting responsibly. Children say they feel 'calmer' and that 'it’s good here; the staff are understanding'. Risk taking behaviours are now almost nil, which is a dramatic change for some children. Children are routinely involved in discussions about their care and specifically about how they will progress towards foster care. They test their skills and learn from the inevitable difficulties that arise. As a result they have achieved good insight into themselves and the needs of those around them.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Due to their new-found confidence and personal skills, all children make marked progress in their education. Attendance levels are excellent and are comparable or exceed those of their peers. Academic progress is clear and in some cases exceeds targets. Children understand their educational targets and benefit from extra support in specific subjects. They know that arrangements are made by professionals to help them succeed, for example when they move schools or need a smaller class. Their experience of home-life is one of ongoing learning and extension of their skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Transitioning to a new placement in foster care is the main objective for each child. They are included in regular discussions about how to achieve this. Specific individual targets regarding their understanding and behaviours, for example, are supplemented on a daily basis by practical training in the home. Children speak about tidying and improving their bedrooms and describe their contribution towards tasks in the kitchen. Consequently, their expectations expand and they value their own contributions to the household. 7 of 10

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Quality of care good

The quality of care provided to children is high. Outstanding practice is evident in several areas. Staff members are extremely enthusiastic about the children. They have particularly high expectations of them and provide continuous praise for their efforts as well as their achievements. Children are given repeated explanations about why certain behaviours or decisions are necessary. Staff are adept at framing such conversations in positive ways, which boosts children's confidence even when difficulties arise. High levels of consistent practice are achieved by the team.

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Quality of care good

Key working sessions reflect the thorough day-to-day work and consultation undertaken by staff. The sessions are very detailed and are supplemented by informal sessions, which are also catalogued. No direct work with children is undertaken by the therapists but therapists contribute every week to the work by staff. Records are extensive but do not always clearly show that such work is addressing the placement plan targets agreed with social workers. However, key workers maintain close and open contact with social workers who consider that the children are 'supported well'. External professionals feel that the service meets their expectations well and they anticipate placing children in the future. The arrangements for children's transitions to foster care include carefully itemised programmes that address the needs of each child, whether they are moving or not. This takes into account the practical and also emotional impact on the children over

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Quality of care good

several weeks. Children are in good physical health and they receive routine check- ups.

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Quality of care good

One-to-one staffing means that each child receives personalised care. Regular attention is given to their religious needs and any other needs arising from their backgrounds are met. Staff promote social diversity in their conversations with children. The team is culturally diverse and has a mix of ages and genders with which to provide children with a range of positive role-models. Each child enjoys a good range of activities and are encouraged to be involved in the community, for example, in football clubs. Seasonal, religious and personal events are celebrated. One child said, 'My birthday was cool!' These events raise children's expectations and show each person that they are highly valued. Children learn to accept this praise.

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Quality of care good

Children know how to complain and are supported to express their concerns. No formal complaints have been addressed since the last inspection. Concerns raised by children are treated seriously but do not always follow the complaints procedure. This means that opportunities to learn from such events and to feedback to children are missed.

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Quality of care good

The property is presented to a good standard throughout. Since registration several major jobs have been completed on the building. As a result, some areas inside and outside are now in need of cosmetic attention, which is in hand. There is space inside for each child to have their own private and social rooms, which contributes well to the therapeutic aims of the service. 8 of 10

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Children feel secure in their home. They express themselves freely and are comfortable around staff. The thorough level of recruitment and other checks mean there is a good level of physical safety too. Negative incidents, including the need for physical intervention by staff, occur from time-to-time but are increasingly rare and have decreased significantly in intensity. Children learn to recover quickly after challenging events have occurred. Records clearly show the improvements made by children. Since the last inspection almost no incidents have occurred that required referral under safeguarding or missing from home procedures.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Social workers feel there is good communication by staff with them. This means that negative incidents are usually anticipated and prevented. Good communication is also maintained with the police and other agencies.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Safety for staff and children has been improved recently in several creative ways. Fire evacuation drills now ensure that staff's understanding of the emergency procedures is sound. The drills are sufficiently flexible to avoid them becoming routine, which improves the safety provided to children. The process of assessing the level of risk of activities, for example, has also been much improved. This is now more objective and produces quantifiable results. This provides a much higher level of consistent application between staff and also shows children's progress more accurately.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Behaviour management techniques are effective and clearly recorded. Behaviour plans are in place for each child and reflect their individual needs. Policies are in place regarding appropriate physical contact with children but are not represented in behaviour plans. This is necessary to protect both staff and residents and to demonstrate appropriate touch to children who often have negative memories of it.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has an appropriate management qualification and substantial experience of children's homes. Since the last inspection he has ensured that the recommendations have been addressed and has overseen other improvements. As a result, there are now more effective fire drills. These now undertake differing scenarios that more accurately replicate real emergencies and therefore train staff more effectively. The manager also ensures that in the event of an allegation against a member of staff the individual receives a letter summarising the issues and the outcome. This practice reflects the national minimum standards but is not reflected in the company's written procedures. This increases the likelihood of staff not being adequately supported in the future. It is now clear when staff have read new documents. This keeps their knowledge about children and any other 9 of 10 developments up to date. Additional improvements have also been made in other

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Leadership and management good

areas, including the assessment of risk, as indicated above. These changes show that the manager is striving to improve the service.

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Leadership and management good

A written development plan is in place that shows clearly which areas of the service the manager wishes to improve. Progress has been somewhat reduced by illness and other issues. In these instances the deputising arrangements have not always been implemented as promptly or effectively as possible. This led to delays in staff meetings occurring, for example, which are vital for the coordination of care practices. The same circumstances also demonstrate a lack of delegation to and development of the staff team. This results in an unnecessary over-reliance on the manager and insufficient promotion of team member's skills. The capacity of the team to deal with unforeseen eventualities and to make further improvements is also compromised slightly by the ongoing shortfall in permanent staff.

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Leadership and management good

In most regards, staff are supported well. This is thoroughly reflected in the positive and energetic atmosphere in the home. Very few staff have left since the last inspection and only a small number of temporary staff are used. External professionals report on the 'passion' and 'warmth' demonstrated by staff. One-to-one supervision meetings occur regularly and are supplemented substantially by additional individual and group meetings with the clinicians. These meetings are an important contribution to the therapeutic approach of the service. The training programme for staff is under review as much of it is on-line. Also, essential courses, which usually inform new staff about key issues such as therapeutic parenting, child development and attachment, are not currently in use. This omission currently has a relatively low impact because most of the team have undertaken such training and each member has support from a therapist.

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Leadership and management good

The systems of monitoring the service are effective in maintaining standards and reflect the periods of pressure that the service has experienced lately. Reports by the manager show improvements in the evaluation of data and reflection of young people's progress. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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