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

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place two months after Ofsted’s interim inspection. At the interim inspection in December 2016, the home had declined in its effectiveness. Young people were not progressing and they were not being adequately protected or helped. Staff were not providing good-quality care, and a series of complaints and allegations were not investigated robustly or timely. Staff and the manager were not managing young people’s behaviour effectively and so the number of unsafe incidents escalated. In the two months since the last inspection, there have been changes in the young people group, a few new staff members and a change of manager. The registered individual, locality mentor and quality assurance manager have helped to plan improvements, including some staff training and changes to the layout of the home. Some regulatory requirements made at the interim inspection are still not met. Nevertheless, there is now a firm leadership base, and staff have regained

p.2

This monitoring visit

some confidence in their practice. Young people are once again making progress. One young person has moved in a planned way to another of the organisation’s homes. This move was planned with him, his placing authority and the organisation’s clinician. He is now living in a smaller home and has settled quickly. He is coping with being back in school for the first time in many months, thanks to beneficial support from staff at the new home, assisted by staff from this home working some shifts. Two young people remain in placement. The regular staff team is now working more consistently and more openly with young people. Agency and cover staff are not used at present. Staff have devised up-to-date and relevant care, risk and behaviour plans that they follow. This means that all staff have a better idea of what they are doing. Staff said that they feel more confident and are being more open with young people about what they can and cannot do. However, young

p.2

This monitoring visit

people’s plans are still long and sometimes unclear. Young people still do not receive user-friendly plans and agreements of their own. For example, risk assessments about what should happen if young people go missing are long and confusing. Essential information, for example young people’s personal mobile telephone numbers, is missing. No young person, staff or neighbours have made any allegations or complaints against staff since the last inspection. Staff who have been subject to allegations surrounding incidents involving physical intervention are due to return soon and have completed fresh training in physical intervention. Staff have made minimal use of physical intervention since the last inspection and are talking more about de-escalation and positive behaviour management. Staff said that they feel more empowered. The staff told the inspector that they plan shifts and talk things over together so that their practice is more consistent.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A new manager from outside the organisation has started at the home. He has quickly established a pattern of regular supervision for all staff and fortnightly staff meetings. The new manager said, ‘Morale has really come up and I am excited with the changes.’ A high priority for the manager is to ensure that the advice in young people’s therapeutic action plans, written by a clinician, is used to best effect. This involves ensuring that the advice is included in young people’s behaviour support plans and that staff know how to best help young people in the light of their background difficulties. Staff feel more confident and well briefed about the quality of care that they should deliver. They are helping young people to develop interests, such as going to the local stables and having friends over to the home. However, the existing staff team and the manager are still not familiar enough with the strategies contained in the therapeutic action plans. They still act in a defensive

p.2

This monitoring visit

and risk-averse way at times. For example, they stop one young person showing another young person her phone rather than talking about this and being more proportionate and helpful. Long-standing staff have still not trained in attachment, self-harm, or the therapeutic model of practice that is promised in the home’s statement of purpose. Staff are now having helpful conversations and sessions with young people. Young people’s meetings have been reinstated. The new manager has asked each young person a number of questions about their lives here and has written back to them to explain how he is taking forward their views and suggestions. However, one young person does not know why she had a change in her key worker. Staff are working more effectively with young people’s education providers and families. However, one young person still has no formal education.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home specialises in preparing children for family placement. The home forms part of a large social care company.

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

8: The education standard In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a) that staff— (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. 17/04/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a) that staff— (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; and (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. 17/04/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must— (2)(b)ensure that staff— (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; and (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 17/04/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard 17/04/2017 In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must— (2)(a) lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (c) ensure that staff have the experience and skills to meet the needs of each child; and (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Information about this inspection

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, 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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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

p.7