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 requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left the company. A new registered manager is now in post, following his formal interview with Ofsted. Although he was aware of the previous requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection, he has not had sufficient time to address them all. He has taken action to undertake supervision with all the staff and has ensured that, prior to young people moving into the home, detailed compatibility assessments are undertaken. The registered manager has identified further areas of improvement, which include developments in the home’s paperwork and staff practices. He has also introduced ‘journey through care’ photo books and achievement folders for each young person. This will support young people to reflect on the care provided

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to them and to gain a better understanding of their life experiences. Transition plans for young people moving in and out of the home carefully consider the individual needs of each young person. Furthermore, the detailed compatibility assessments helpfully inform the young person’s risk assessment. However, managers and the staff have failed to date and sign all documentation and, on occasions, documents do not evidence who has completed the assessment. The manager recognised this as a further area for improvement. Since the last inspection, two young people have moved into the home and one young person was appropriately supported to move to another children’s home. Young people reported that the staff had been ‘kind and friendly’ throughout the time of their transition. Education progress for some young people is limited and does not ensure that they are supported to reach their full potential. This weakens their future life chances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While some young people are attending school on a regular basis, other young people are not making measureable progress or realising their full educational potential. The registered manager has challenged the placing authorities about delays in education placements being provided and has arranged meetings with the virtual head and social workers. However, in the home, there were no clear education plans in place for young people who refused to attend school or did not have an education placement. Some staff remained unclear about the expectations and routines for young people during their education day. This means, some young people do not gain clear expectations around the need to attend education. They are also not engaging in suitable structured activities during school times. Therefore, some young people are not being sufficiently supported to regain confidence in their ability to learn and prepare for a school day routine.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say they are safe living in the home. They are confident in approaching their key workers and other staff if they are worried or have concerns. They do not identify bullying as an issue in the home and are fully aware of the home’s complaints procedure. The staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities around safeguarding. When concerns have arisen about staff practices in the home, immediate action was taken to report all concerns to the local authority designated officer and other safeguarding professionals. The detailed records clearly demonstrate all action taken by the managers and staff to protect young people. There continues to be a number of errors with the recording and administration of medication. On occasions, young people are not given their medication at the correct times or as prescribed. Furthermore, the staff are not consistently signing the medication policy agreement as required by the provider, to demonstrate that

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they are fully aware of the procedures. The registered manager has taken action to address this issue and arranged for a local pharmacist to attend the home to help improve the staff practice. This visit took place on the morning of the inspection; therefore, the registered manager had not had the opportunity to implement the required changes. The effectiveness of the pharmacist’s support is still to be tested. The home’s behaviour management policy is still not being implemented consistently. The staff’s inconsistent responses to young people’s challenging behaviour hinder young people’s learning about acceptable behaviour and, thus, to make safer choices in the future. The behaviour management records, including physical intervention, lack detail. The records do not consistently document the measure used and, on occasion, physical interventions have not been recorded. Shortfalls in behaviour management records weaken the ability to monitor the staff

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

practice in order to ensure that their actions are appropriate. This requirement is, therefore, repeated. Since the last inspection, there have been occasions when young people have been missing from the home. The registered manager and the staff informed the inspector of the efforts they have made to locate young people who have been missing from home, for example contacting young people and their friends. However, some records do not reflect the staff’s actions and omit important details, such as the time the young person went missing and when the police and other safeguarding professionals were informed. This does not support effective monitoring of staff’s safeguarding practice. On occasions, young people have not been provided with independent return interviews within the required timescale. Consequently, opportunities have been missed to support young people and gain a clear understanding of any further support that may be required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although a range of assessments are in place to address young people’s risk-taking behaviours, such as cannabis misuse, the staff have not routinely reviewed and updated them to ensure that they reflect all changes. Some staff have also failed to sign and date these assessments to indicate they are fully aware of their contents. Consequently, the registered manager cannot be assured that all staff are aware of the risks associated with behaviours, or whether additional safeguards are required to reduce risks to the young person or others. The registered manager recognised this was a further area for improvement. Young people have started to build positive relationships with the staff who are caring for them. During the inspection, young people confirmed that they were happy living in the home and had staff they could talk to if they were upset. They confirmed that they have been encouraged to go to their ‘house meetings’ and had

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

talked about their home, the activities and the food. One young person said, ‘I think I’m going to be ok here. The staff seem to look like they care and they spend time with us, trying to get us to try new things.’

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home for three children who have 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

04/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must: (1) ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2)(a)(i) in particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

23: Medicines The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(c)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records (3) The registered person must ensure that (a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes 08/03/2017 (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (’the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered

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Requirement Due date

person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and (c) within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child, which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, and must ensure that they are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 08/03/2017

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that records are kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home and actions taken by staff. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.31) In particular, support should be provided to young people on their return home.

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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 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 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 at: 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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