Children's home run by Horizon Care Limited

Inspector Maria McGranaghan

Previous inspection judgement Sustained effectiveness

p.2

people living in the home are

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

p.2

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from personalised care that helps them to address problem areas in their lives.  Young people are provided with appropriate educational support in order that they can reintegrate into the education system or maintain their current educational placement. On the whole, educational achievement is consistent.  Healthcare management is good. The nurse for children looked after frequently visits the home and works with both staff and young people to ensure that healthcare needs are consistently addressed and met.  Young people live in a home with suitable routines, safe boundaries and consistent staffing.  Detailed impact assessments are undertaken for all young people who are to become resident in the home. Evidence highlights that, in most cases, only young people who are matched to the current residents are offered a placement.  Young people with a history of becoming missing from home reduce this

p.3

The children’s home provision is good because:

behaviour. Responses to young people being missing are consistent.  In the main, the physical environment for young people is well maintained, safe and secure and protects them from harm or the risk of harm. However, the driveway is in need of repair.  Young people benefit from a consistent staff team. Strong relationships are formed between young people and staff.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirements Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 15/04/2017

p.4

Requirements Due date

The registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child effectively from harm, with specific regard to the home’s driveway and garage. (Regulation 12 (2)(d)) 15/04/2017

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. ( ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  Ensure that young people are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care and the work undertaken with them, in order to support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  Ensure that staff are alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from relationships, including with other children, and that they therefore should take appropriate steps to protect a child. Specifically, this is with regard to friendships in the community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)  Ensure that, in the event of a child’s room being searched, a record is made of

p.4

Recommendations

any items that are removed and where they are stored. ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and understand the key role that they play in the training and development of the staff in the home. ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  Ensure that the manager’s work-force plan includes the process for improving performance and how this is monitored. ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Ensure that managers actively seek scrutiny and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement and identify patterns and trends. ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home offering care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/07/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

Recent inspection history

19/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.6

Good

The majority of young people living in the home have experienced numerous placement breakdowns resulting in disengagement with education and difficulty in forming and sustaining relationships. Since living at this home, young people make progress in all areas, including education, behaviour management and forming trusting relationships.

p.7

Good

Prior to admission, some young people have not engaged in any form of education for eighteen months or more. This home creates an environment where education is part and parcel of the daily norms, and this enables young people to take positive steps back into the education environment. Attendance and attainment are significantly improved. On occasion when issues of non-attendance arise, staff take the most appropriate action and this reinforces the importance of education in the home.

p.7

Good

Contact with family and friends is maintained in accordance with the placement plan. Young people have regular contact and, when necessary, this is supported by the staff team. Likewise, young people are encouraged to maintain appropriate friendships and develop new ones. Consequently, some young people develop friendships within the community, and this helps them to develop a sense of belonging. However, staff are not always aware of whom young people are mixing with when they are away from home. Consequently, should a young person fail to return for curfew, staff have limited starting points from which to conduct a suitable search. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.7

Good

Relationships with staff are good. Because of this, young people have gained the confidence to express their views and opinions openly. Young people are provided with good opportunities to discuss matters as a group in the young people’s meetings, individually in consultation sessions and with an independent advocate. The advocate said; ‘The staff team works well to support the young people and ensure that they have access to advocacy if they want or need it. Staff work well with myself and the manager displays good leadership’.

p.7

Good

Young people feel valued and respected in the home and say: ‘The staff are good. I feel I can talk to them if I have a worry because they always listen.’

p.7

Good

Young people are registered with services such as doctors, dentists and opticians and have regular health reviews with the nurse for children looked after. Young people benefit from regular key-work and group sessions that address matters such as healthy diet and exercise. This inspired some young people and staff to join weight- reduction programmes and develop healthier lifestyles. Young people are now more involved in menu planning and daily exercise, which is fully supported by staff.

p.7

Good

Placement planning is good. Young people say that they are clear about the aims of this placement and state that they feel that they are making progress towards their goals. Regular key-work sessions are undertaken and include matters such as contact, behaviour, misuse of drugs, risk and health. However, young people are not consistently involved in the ongoing development or review of their plans in order to evaluate their progress. The registered manager said: ‘It is difficult to get young people engaged in the planning and review of their care.’ A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.8

Good

Planned and unplanned activities take place on a regular basis. Individual interests are well supported and include cinema, horse riding and day trips with staff. Young people say: ‘We do lots of stuff. Sometimes we do games in the house or we will go out. We go out with our key-worker mostly and this is better.’

p.8

Good

On the whole, young people are happy and settled in the home. However, since the emergency admission of a new young person there has been a significant increase in missing-from-home episodes. Staff are consistent in following safeguarding procedures, including a request to review a placement and strategy meetings, to determine the level of risk to the young person. This level of communication has resulted in some progress being made. Consequently, there is a recent reduction in young people being reported as missing.

p.8

Good

Risk assessments are developed in partnership with placing social workers and young people. They clearly detail the action to be taken to reduce and minimise risk and the response to identified risk. Staff say: ‘We review risk all the time. We talk about all the young people in staff meetings so we all know their individual plans and risks.’ There is evidence of young people’s risk-taking behaviour reducing. However, records of risk assessments being reviewed and updated are inconsistent because they do not clearly state whether risks are reduced or increased or whether the methods for managing risks have been revised. Consequently, some records do not accurately reflect some young people’s reduced level of risk. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.8

Good

Records of room searches being conducted are held in the home. A search only takes place when it is felt that a young person may be concealing something that may potentially harm them. Records clearly state what has been removed, and these are signed by both staff and young people. However, records do not state where these items are stored for safekeeping. Consequently, there is a potential for some items to be mislaid. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.8

Good

Physical intervention is rarely used in the home. Staff focus on de-escalation and re- direction techniques in order to defuse situations. This has proved successful, as there have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection in July 2016.

p.9

Good

Staff now promote a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and are vigilant in monitoring episodes of bullying in the home. The topic of bullying is now regularly addressed in key-worker sessions and young people’s meetings. Consequently, young people feel confident to raise matters while also having the opportunity to learn about the impact of bullying on themselves and others in a safe and caring environment. A young person said: ‘We had issues before but they are sorted out now. The staff make sure we are safe and we feel that, if anything was to happen, it would get sorted out quickly.’

p.9

Good

Young people live in a home where their safety and well-being is suitably supported. Detailed individual missing-from-home plans are in place, and this ensures that the correct procedures and strategies are implemented without delay. External agencies work with staff and young people to ensure that a consistent approach is maintained should a young person go missing from home.

p.9

Good

Young people know how to complain. Information is provided in the ‘Young person’s guide’ and organisational complaints documents. On the whole, procedures for managing complaints are in place and evidence demonstrates that they are handled fairly and suitably investigated by the registered manager or external nominated person. Young people say: ‘The staff are fair and they do listen to us. If we want to speak to an external person they always arrange it.’ However, records of a recent complaint including the investigation and outcome were not available in the home. Therefore practice recommendations are not always followed up, monitored or reviewed. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.9

Good

Individual behaviour management plans are developed and identify triggers for negative behaviour and agreed responses to manage this. However, plans are not developed with young people, who say: ‘I know I have a plan but I am not sure what’s on it. We have consequences that staff give us.’ As a result, young people are not afforded the opportunity to learn about their own behaviour or offer guidance to staff about what they feel works for them. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter. Judgement grade

p.9

Requires improvement

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced registered manager. There is a strong and stable staff team which forms good relationships with young people.

p.10

Requires improvement

Internal and external monitoring takes place at regular intervals. Records highlight areas for development, but are not a reflection of the matters identified within this inspection. For example, shortfalls in record-keeping, joint working with young people, training and aspects of safeguarding are not highlighted as deficits. Critical monitoring is essential to ensure consistent quality of care in the home and highlight areas for development. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.10

Requires improvement

The home employs a committed and enthusiastic staff team, suitably qualified with the level 3 diploma. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Staff also receive company training. However, staff say that the quality of some training does not support them within their role with more complex young people. For example, training covering areas such as advanced safeguarding, attachment, mental health and self-harm is provided through an online system. Consequently, staff cannot share experiences or scenarios in order to translate this training into practice. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff receive supervision and support from the manager. Young people are invited to provide monthly feedback on all staff, and this helps to inform their annual appraisal. A staff member said: ‘The manager is great. We can call on her anytime. We all try our best and want the best for the young people. We are a very good team.’ However, when practice recommendations are made regarding specific staff members, these are not consistently followed through in supervision. As a result, staff are not consistently monitored for improved performance. A good practice recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.10

Requires improvement

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides.

p.10

Requires improvement

The interior of the home is well maintained. Young people design the style of their own bedrooms and have some influence in the design and decor of the home. Within the exterior of the home there is a well-maintained rear garden. However, the garage situated in the staff parking area is not functional and is in need of repair or removal. Likewise, access to the home is via an unadopted road. This road has large potholes and uneven surfaces, creating a hazard both for walking and driving. A requirement is made to address this matter. The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under Regulation 40 and has been consistent in the reporting of all incidents occurring in the home. This practice ensures that information is shared with the regulatory agency, in order that the actions and outcomes for young people can be suitably assessed.

p.10

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.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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 children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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 that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

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. Whenever 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.

p.13

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 .

p.13

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.

p.14

Information about this inspection

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 .

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

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.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14