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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While there are no particular improvements since the last inspection, the service continues to be highly effective and the outcomes for young people are positive. There has been no change in residents since the last inspection in September 2016 and young people remain settled, in long-term placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have excellent relationships with staff. As a result, they engage in their placements and accept support and guidance from staff whom they trust. A parent reflects: ‘Xx (young person) loves the staff. He thinks they are all great. He knows that no matter what they will be there for him.’ Comments made by young people include: ‘I forget that it is care. You get so comfortable and relaxed it’s not like being in care.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to attend school or college on a full-time basis and each has aspirations for future careers. The team supports young people when incidents occur during a school day, working closely with schools to agree appropriate support plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people spend risk-assessed, unsupervised time in the community and are starting to develop independent living skills. As they arise, safeguarding concerns are identified promptly and are reported on appropriately through local authority safeguarding procedures. Social workers are confident in safeguarding practice and confirm that multi-agency working is highly effective. A young person was asked whether staff talk to them about keeping safe. They responded that this happens ‘every day’. This and other comments show that young people have opportunities to reflect on events and receive guidance aimed at helping young people keep themselves safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management is effective, resulting in young people’s behaviour being very good within the home. There have been no incidents resulting in the use of physical intervention since the last inspection, and only one sanction used in the management of behaviours. Staff prioritise talking to young people to bring about change and encourage young people to consider their actions. Since the last inspection, the then registered manager has left her role. This change has been well managed by the provider, who recruited to this post promptly and organised a handover period. This effective planning reduces the potential for a change in manager to have a detrimental impact on the staff and young people. The inspection took place only two weeks into the new manager’s employment. She is very enthusiastic and, while she does not plan to make any broad changes, she spoke about organisational changes planned for paperwork and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

electronic recording systems. Positive development areas are focused to emphasise the recording of outcomes for young people and to evaluate the effectiveness of care provided. The team has a core of long-standing staff, who are experienced and well trained. This means that young people receive consistent care from staff who know them well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider monitors the quality of care through the oversight and support of a regional management structure. Monitoring is also undertaken via contracted independent visits to the home. The organisation addresses areas of weakness, and staff show that they are always looking for ways to improve each young person’s personal circumstances.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a large private organisation, registered to provide care and accommodation for two children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/09/2016 Full Outstanding

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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 that 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 whom 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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