Children's home run by Horizon Care Limited in Cannock Chase

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the requirements and recommendations have been met. The young people were involved in the re-design and update of the children’s guide. This now contains up to date and relevant information. Young people moving into the home now have access to information in a format they can understand and is easy accessible. Both the staff and young people were involved in a project to help them all gain a better understanding of each other’s religion and beliefs and identified additional support systems that can be accessed by young people and staff to further their knowledge base. One young person said ‘ When I moved in they asked me what was important to me and talked to me about my religion, the types of food I could eat and how they could best support me.’ This means staff are addressing the cultural needs of young people living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have successfully returned to live with their family. Transition plans were designed with the input from both the young people and their families. This involved a gradual increase in overnight stays and a planned re-integration to the family environment. Prior to the day of moving celebration events were held to celebrate the progress the young people had made and to wish them ‘luck in their future’. One auntie said ‘without the support and ongoing work with the staff we believe this never would have worked, we are so pleased and cannot thank them enough.’ A young person said ‘Thank you for making my life a whole lot better and easier. Even though I did not always show it I am very grateful for everything you did to get my life back on track.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transition of young people into the home is managed sensitively, with planned visits to the home and an opportunity to meet other young people and staff. Additional staff were accessible for all young people, to ensure they had sufficient support during this transition period. One young man said ‘I lived in other children’s home and this one is the coolest out of them all, the staff really do care here and tell you what’s right and wrong.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people living in this home are happy and settled. They are developing personal skills and making good, informed decisions that are in their best interests. They took part in the Macmillan coffee morning to raise money for charity and they have got actively involved in supporting the local foodbank scheme. The young people enjoy their lives and as a result, their confidence and self-esteem continue to increase. They benefit from excellent, warm relationships with the staff that care for them and feel they are important. One young person said, ‘they (staff) always tell me what’s happening and they tell me off if I’m out of order, they are just really calm and don’t shout’. This results in young people making good and sustained progress in all areas of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education attendance for all young people has improved. Young people are making progress and are on the right track to achieve successful outcomes. Examples of this being, one young person was struggling to cope in mainstream education, with the support of the staff and regular meetings with school the young person is now attending full time and is on track to achieve her formal qualifications. Another young person, who prior to moving to the home had not attended any formal education, is already engaging in education activities, with a plan to return to a full time provision in the forthcoming week. The manager successfully challenged the local authority around the ongoing delays in compiling a plan and with the assistance of the virtual head, identified a local provision and supported the young man to attend planned meetings. The registered manager and staff continue to have regular meetings, in some instances, daily

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

communication with education provisions to support young people. The young people, to their credit are ambitious and want to do well with their education, understanding the importance on how this will impact on their future.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is well established and excellent. For example, there is regular contact with the local community police officer who shares valuable information with the manager and staff, which ensures young people are kept safe. The psychologist, who works for the organisation, is a regular attender at team meeting in order to address any emotional and behavioural issues affecting young people and offer support and guidance to staff. One staff member said ‘This support has been invaluable; it has helped us understand why young people might act in certain ways, taking into consideration their history and current situation, it really makes you stop and think.’ Young people are safe in this home and continued to be kept safe by excellent staff practice. The registered manager and staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and their role within this. When concerns have arisen, staff have taken immediate action to contact the local safeguarding

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

team and reported and document issues as they have arisen, while supporting the young person appropriately throughout. Young people going missing from care and displaying risk-taking behaviour, such as drug misuse and smoking has significantly reduced. For some young people, who have previously been at risk of sexual exploitation this has been effectively tackled. Through clear risk management plans, effective key working sessions and therapeutic interventions young people have been fully supported to reduce these risks. Consequently, they are safer, able to reflect upon previous experiences and have made better-informed decisions about their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviours both in their home and in the community has significantly improved. Communication, negotiation and compromise are apparent in the relationships between the young people and staff. This avoids the need for constant sanctions and consequences as a way of managing behaviour. Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of physical intervention. This was used in accordance with the homes policies and procedures and was recorded appropriately. Both the young person and the staff member involved had an opportunity to discuss the incident independently and use this time to reflect. The registered manger has a clear overview of all incidents and carefully considers their effectiveness. These are then used as an opportunity for learning and development with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team continue to be experienced and knowledgeable. They benefit from professional supervision, which takes place regularly. They also have team meetings and ongoing consultation from the psychologist on a weekly basis. Staff members feel valued and gain satisfaction in their work, a staff member stated, ‘I think we try really hard to get only the best outcomes for our young people, it is what they deserve.’

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/01/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. procedures set out in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

regulates and inspects 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information

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Information about this inspection

Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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