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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are encouraged, helped and protected by a consistent and knowledgeable staff team. They live in a caring, stable and supportive home that is making a positive difference to their lives.  The staff genuinely care about the young people, and have high aspirations for them. The positive relationships between the staff and the young people have assisted the young people to develop their confidence and enhance their interpersonal skills.   The manager and staff have forged positive and effective links with partnership agencies. They work efficiently with a range of safeguarding, education, health and social care professionals to ensure that young people’s known and emerging needs, risks and vulnerabilities are appropriately managed.  The home is effectively managed by a knowledgeable and proficient manager who provides clear and visible leadership for her staff team. Staff confirm that they feel well supported in the day-to-day care of young

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The children's home provision is good because:

people, and have good opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge through their regular and formal supervision sessions, annual appraisals and regular training opportunities.  The manager uses a range of internal and external quality assurance processes well. As such, she has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for continued developments, and strives to make any improvements in a timely way.  Three areas for improvement are noted at this inspection. These relate to young people’s risk assessments, challenging placing authorities when they do not provide relevant care planning documentation in a timely way and ensuring that Ofsted is informed of any significant incidents.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement with the wider systems, including any actions taken to escalate concerns. This is with specific reference to ensuring that each child's placing authority meets their responsibility in providing the relevant and up-to-date care planning documentation for young people (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3).  The registered person must ensure that where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. This is with specific reference to ensuring that each young person's risk

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Recommendations

assessment is clear and specific of how each perceived risk will be managed and addressed by the staff team (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5).  The registered person must notify Ofsted if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4) (a)-(d) occurs (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10).

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Information about this children's home

This home is one of a number of children's homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may need support with their emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

7 January 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17 March 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people report that they are happy and settled within the home. They benefit from a stable, consistent home life which provides them with a platform to develop close and meaningful relationships with the consistent, caring and nurturing staff team. The manager and staff speak affectionately about the achievements that young people make, and have high aspirations for them all. The manager and staff are driven to ensure that young people receive the correct level of support and services. The manager advocates strongly when young people do not receive what is expected, and challenges those agencies when shortfalls are apparent, such as ineffective education provision. This proactive and dedicated response ensures that young people are given every opportunity to reach their full potential, to achieve their own identified goals and to continue to make progress in all areas of their lives. One professional said, ‘The manager advocates strongly for (name) to make

p.6

Good

sure he gets what he needs and he deserves. She is committed and driven to get the best that she can for all young people. She wants (name) to succeed and get the best education that they can, and she does everything to ensure that this happens.’

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Good

Young people’s physical and emotional health is good. Staff promote good health through supporting young people to maintain good attendance at generic health appointments, maintaining a varied diet and participating in physical activities. Staff who are suitably trained clearly understand young people’s health needs, as these are plainly recorded within their health records. Good and effective links with health professionals ensure that young people get the correct level of health input, as and when this is required. While young people chose not to engage in regular community-based activities, some do enjoy regular skateboarding with their peers, while others enjoy playing football with the staff.

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Good

Staff understand the importance of prompting young people’s identity and culture through regular family contact. Young people receive good support from the staff team to maintain regular contact visits to their family members and those who are important to them. Staff also encourage young people to develop and maintain friendships. They welcome young people’s friends into the home and develop good working relationships with the parents of their peers, seeking out confirmation of any home visits as a good parent would. This ensures that young people have the same social experiences as their peers and that they are able to maintain links with those who are significant to them. The manager and staff actively support and encourage young people to take part in the development and reviews of their care plans and be systematically involved in the decisions that affect the day-to-day running of the home. Staff regularly

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Good

seek young people’s wishes and views. Regular house meeting, one-to-one informal discussion, detailed individual key-work sessions and a number of informal consultation feedback systems ensure that children and young people’s wishes and views remain central to their care planning and the development of their home. In a recent consultation completed by one young person, they wrote, ‘To all the staff. Thank you for helping me be a better person. I really appreciate it.’

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Good

Young people are gaining confidence and developing some useful independent living skills which will prepare them well for their preparation and transition into adulthood. Baseline assessments, which have recently been introduced, identify young people’s present level of knowledge and skills. These assessments provide a sound platform and identify where further support and services are required to ensure that the correct level of support and services are channelled in the right area to enhance further development. Staff support each young person considerately and sensitively to increase their knowledge and skills, in line with their age and level of understanding. Young people confirmed that they feel confident in preparing, purchasing and cooking foods, and are now able to use household appliances well.

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Good

Young people live in a large, comfortable home. It is well maintained and decorated to a good standard. Young people are encouraged to take ownership of their rooms by choosing the decor and personalising them with pictures, posters, and certificates which they have achieved. Staff respect young people’s privacy, and the size of the home allows them to enjoy their privacy and time alone while having the option of enjoying spending time together. Judgement grade

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Good

Staff receive good training and are aware of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They are clear about the procedures in place to safeguard young people in the event of any allegation, suspicion of abuse or unsafe practice, and confidently discussed their understanding of the whistle-blowing policy.

p.8

Good

Staff are fully aware of young people’s needs and the plans in place to support them in times of difficulty. Staff contribute well to devising young people’s individual risk management plans, which are reviewed and updated regularly. However, while these plans do clearly identify the risks and vulnerabilities that are apparent for some young people, they lack clarity on what actions and strategies that staff should take to manage these. For example, staff are not fully aware of what they must do, and when they must do it, when a young person goes missing from the home.

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Good

Young people report that they are kept safe and feel safe in the home. They confirm that there is no bullying and that the staff manage the relationships among young people well. They articulate clearly how the staff maintain regular contact with them while they are outside of the home, enjoying doing their chosen activities with their friends. They confirm that the amount of time that they are permitted to stay away from the home with their friends is extended in line with their wishes and views, once this has been agreed with the staff team and placing social workers, and understand that this is to promote their welfare and safety.

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Good

On the rare occasions when young people are unable to regulate their own emotional responses, suitably trained staff intervene appropriately to redirect young people’s advances to keep themselves and others safe. Young people are sensitively encouraged to discuss their experiences and reflect on how they can manage their behaviours more appropriately in the future. The manager routinely monitors and evaluates this practice, thus ensuring that any learning or changes to young people’s care plans are undertaken quickly and shared regularly with the staff team and placing local authorities.

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Good

Young people are motivated and supported to make good and safe choices. Staff educate young people well throughout their discussion in their young people’s meetings and individual key-working sessions. This increases young people’s knowledge and skill in engaging with their peers positively and safely. For example, young people have learned how other people’s actions impact negatively on themselves, alongside being educated around the dangers of substance and alcohol abuse. This ensures that young people can maintain appropriate and safe relationships, and have the skills and knowledge to make good and safe choices while out in the community.

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Good

The manager ensures that the relevant safeguarding agencies, such as the placing social workers, are informed following any significant incidents. The manager is proactive in requesting the necessary meetings to ensure that all the risks can be considered cohesively. She requests additional support and services to meet young people’s emerging needs quickly and appropriately. That said, while the manager does ensure that all the correct information is shared with the required safeguarding agencies, she has not informed Ofsted of a particular incident.

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Good

Robust recruitment and vetting procedures are in place, and visitors to the home are routinely checked and appropriately supervised. This, alongside a range of suitable health and safety checks, keeps young people and staff safe. The manager ensures that all the periodic assessments of the gas, electrical and fire safety appliances are undertaken regularly and that any repairs and damage are addressed quickly. This, alongside regular fire evacuation drills which are clearly understood by staff and young people alike, promotes staff’s and young people’s well-being and safety.

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Good

The home benefits from a manager who has been registered with Ofsted since January 2013. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and is considered by the young people to be caring, kind and always approachable. The staff team contributes its success in delivering a high level of care and support to all the young people to the support and leadership qualities that the manager and her four senior care staff bring to, and advocate strongly for, the home.

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Good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for continued development of the service, as she uses the internal and external quality assurance processes well. A working development plan, which is reviewed and updated regularly, keeps the manager focused on the areas which she and others have identified as a priority. Recent improvements are evident within the home, for example new carpets, some redecoration in the dining area and a new pathway outside, which was being undertaken during the inspection visit. In addition to the implementation of a robust performance management system, and the managers’ commitment to addressing the two good practice recommendations raised at the last inspection, this demonstrates her drive and commitment to improving and developing this service further.

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Good

The statement of purpose, which is updated and shared with placing authorities frequently, clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the home. The manager ensures that she and her staff team deliver the aims and objectives set out in this document, as she is committed and dedicated to improving the life chances and experiences of all young people. She has a good understanding of what they need, the progress that they make and what is required to progress them further, as she monitors and evaluates this frequently. This, and the manager’s commitment to fostering and maintaining effective working relationships with other agencies, ensures that their continued achievement is consistently sustained and improved upon.

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Good

There are an appropriate number of suitably qualified staff to ensure that each young person’s individual needs can be met. Staff confirm that there is an ‘open door’ culture within the home, and they are encouraged to speak and share any issues or concerns freely. Staff confirm that they feel supported by the manager and equipped to deliver a high standard of care to all young people, as they receive regular supervision and training opportunities that meet their needs. Staff are proud to share the achievements that young people make, and report that they enjoy their work. One member of staff said, ‘It is just like being at home, really. There is a lovely homely atmosphere and the boys are lovely. We all work well together as a team, and I think that is why the boys have excelled as they have.’

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Good

Detailed records reflecting young people’s experiences and progress are maintained satisfactorily. These records and achievements are shared regularly with parents and professionals, keeping them up to date and involved in young people’s lives. However, the manager has not made suitable efforts to ensure that all young people’s case files and records are up to date. Some care planning documentation, such as care plans, remain outstanding from January 2016. As such, the manager cannot be assured that she and the staff team are providing the correct amount of support and services to meet the young person’s present needs, nor can she highlight and challenge other agencies if they are not complying with their roles and responsibilities in delivering their aspect of the care plan.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’. An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. 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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based 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 Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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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