Children's home run by Horizon Care Limited

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is judged to have sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is run by a permanent Registered Manager who has over nine year’s residential experience. She is supported by a stable and experienced staff team who form trusting and close relationships with young people resident in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between young people and staff are well established. Young people speak highly and say, ‘The staff are great. They help us a lot. We do lots of different things like activities and they help us with school work and if we have a problem.’ Consequently, young people feel they are suitably supported in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection and as a result of the admission of one new young person, the home has experienced a period of instability. In preparation for a new admission, the Registered Manager took suitable steps to impact assess the placement. Additionally, the needs of the young people already in placement were considered during the matching process. However, the behaviours exhibited by the new resident negatively impact on those already placed. For example, some young people have been the victim of bullying incidents, staff are assaulted and there has been damage in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has been proactive in assessing most risks and taking suitable action to reduce these risks. For example, where young people have been targeted, she has utilised additional staff and provided respite care in order to defuse situations. Staff have provided intensive support including additional keywork sessions and daily activities. Likewise, staff maintain a consistent approach to challenge inappropriate behaviours. While some progress is made, the Registered Manager has assessed the new placement as unsuitable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say ‘The manager and staff try really hard to sort it out and it is better but it can be really frustrating.’ Another young person said, ‘Sometimes staff will take me out and we won’t come back till bedtime, just to avoid any more kick offs.’ Records of bullying incidents are maintained including the action taken to address bullying episodes. Communication with senior managers and the placing authority evidence the Registered Manager’s attempts to reduce the negative impact within the home, including the decision to terminate a placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there have been four episodes of young people being missing and two reported absences. Staff are extremely proactive in undertaking a locality search in order to locate young people. Staff say, ‘We have a high staff ratio so we know where the young people are most of the time. We will always follow them should they leave without permission.’ Risk assessments are routinely updated and shared with staff to ensure the most appropriate action is taken to reduce risk and secure young people’s safe return. There are no incidents of young people being missing overnight.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s good health is promoted in the home. In-house and external agencies work well together to ensure young people receive the most appropriate support. As a result, young people eat healthier, enjoy activities and have a better understanding of achieving healthy lifestyles.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a history of poor educational attendance and attainment. Since residing at the home, all young people have secured a full-time education placement with attendance on the whole, being very good. Likewise, where difficulties arise such as a young person struggling with confidence, staff are assertive in establishing and providing professional tutoring. This enables young people to suitably prepare for their return back into the educational forum.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placement plans are updated on a regular basis to reflect the current needs and changes for young people. They are clear and suitably reflect both the long and short term plans for each young person. However, there is little evidence of young people being involved in the development of these plans. Likewise, risk assessments are also regularly updated. Similarly, young people are not involved in the identification or review of their individual risks. The Registered Manager said, ‘It is difficult to get young people to engage in reviewing their plans.’ This is an area for further development and therefore a recommendation is made to address this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Comparatively, on the whole, risk assessments reflect the current risks for young people. However, some assessments are not clear. For example, one record identifies a young person as being both not vulnerable and vulnerable. Risk assessments are an essential feature in the consistent care management of young people, therefore precise records are essential. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints and allegations are suitably managed in the home. Young people know how to complain and feel that appropriate action is taken quickly to resolve matters. An independent visitor regularly visits the young people providing them with impartial advice and support where necessary. Likewise, any allegation made in the home is responded to immediately. The Registered Manager ensures the correct measures are taken such as, notification to the designated officer, local authority and where applicable the police. Therefore young people are protected because allegations are suitably managed and investigated by appropriate external agencies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have access to the internet and mobile phones. In-house internet connections are restricted in order to reduce the time young people spend on devices. However, mobile data is not regularly reviewed. Young people do not hand their phones in at bedtime and therefore are able to access mobile data throughout the night. Risk assessments do not suitably assess specifically the risk of ‘on-line grooming’ or the need for devices to be regularly scrutinised in order to maintain the protection of young people. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is maintained by an independent provider and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with 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

19/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/11/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What does the children's home need to do to improve?

Ensure the staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm with specific regard to the use of internet. (The Guide to the Quality Standards 9.12 paragraph 5 page 43) Ensure staff are familiar with the homes policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Specifically with regard to clear risk assessment. (The Guide to the Quality Standards 14.4 paragraph 2 page 62) Ensure children are actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards 14.6 paragraph 4 page 62)

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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. 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

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 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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