Children's home run by Horizon Care Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 1 SC063759 Registered provider: Horizon Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 9 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Based on their starting point when first entering the home, young people make significant progress in all areas of their lives.  Young people benefit from living in a structured environment with clearly Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 2 defined boundaries that still allows for individuality to thrive. There are plans that include strategies to address areas of personal risk. These plans are individualised to reflect identity and need.  Staff have high aspirations for young people, and they advocate strongly on their behalf to ensure that young people’s rights are preserved and their outcomes maximised.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people in long-term placements have benefited from being looked after by a staff team that has had little change over the years. This has provided a consistency of care that has allowed young people to develop strong, long- lasting relationships with a group of adults whom they like, trust and respect.  An experienced, child-focused manager is well supported by staff who work with a team-centred approach and have contributed positively to the ethos, culture and working practices developed in the home over the years.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager has a clear vision and high expectations of how she expects the home to function and progress. She will advocate strongly to ensure that any potential external negative factors do not impact on young people or the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Strengthening processes for the reflection on and evaluation of working practices will ensure that the home continues to move forward, and progress should continue. For example, management and staff should continue to review how evidence that reflects the high standards of care in the home is retained and presented.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/05/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 3

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Recommendations

 Review the use of the monitoring devices used on bedroom doors to see if they are still required with this current group of young people. Introduce regular reviews if still required. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, section 3.16)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living in the home have done so for some time, and have benefited from the experience of living in a stable, long-term placement where they have grown, developed and matured. The strong relationships they have with a staff group that has experienced little change over the years are trusting and respectful. A real strength is that both parties like each other. A staff member remarked to the inspector, `We treat them as though they are our own.’ This has resulted in the young people, over the years, making significant progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The levels and consistency of care are high. This enables young people who have experienced much disruption to their lives to settle, develop appropriate relationships with adults and others, and adopt a lifestyle that is more socially acceptable. This view is supported by others. For example, a social worker told the inspector, `This placement for him has been amazing. He was so disengaged at first after having so many previous placements and disruption in his life. He has matured, he is much more chatty, and has got a good network of friends.’ The parent of another young person said, `He has come on in leaps and bounds. He has even got manners.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress young people make can be evidenced by tracking the range of planning documents, assessments of risk and the strategies used to manage behaviour. They are reviewed and updated regularly, which keeps them current. High quality reports written for reviews, and other documentation introduced by the home such as monthly evaluation of progress, all reflect the positive journeys young people take during their time in the home. A young person told the inspector, `I have changed a lot since I came here and it’s all for the better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are beyond school leaving age. For them, formal education proved to be difficult and staff had to work hard to maintain placements. As a result of the efforts of staff, the education outlook for all young people is now much brighter. For example, one has just completed a full and successful year in college and is about to embark on the final year with a view to going on to university. All young people have educational plans, with college placements identified for the forthcoming academic year. Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 4 The home has good arrangements in place to promote young people’s health. They all enjoy good health, with their everyday health needs being addressed effectively through community-based facilities. Health plans are updated regularly. If required, more specialist services can be accessed through the strong links the home has with local mental health services, which have served the home in the past.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The promotion of fitness and good health is an area that is under constant review. For example, through their independence programmes young people regularly plan and prepare food for themselves. Staff and young people consult regularly about healthy eating and nutrition, with young people having developed a lot of knowledge around this area. For example, during a meal shared with young people and staff, the inspector observed a young person pointing out the perils of the sandwich a staff member was eating.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are of an age where they live a relatively independent lifestyle. They are well integrated into the local community, with each having their own circle of friends and social networks. They lead active lives which promote their fitness, partaking in activities such as going to the gym, skateboarding and football.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The strong relationships between young people and staff generate high levels of communication. This results in consultation, and forms part of everyday life in the home. For example, staff and young people were observed in regular conversations regarding subjects such as where to go for a meal, or where a young person intended to go that afternoon. Such consultations allow young people to make decisions for themselves and to have some control over their lives, while at the same time keeping staff fully informed about their intentions and whereabouts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Due to the length of time young people have lived in the home, they are now at the stage of preparing for life beyond the home. Transition plans are clear, and young people know and understand what the future is likely to hold for them once they have moved on. Staff have worked alongside young people to develop their skills and give them the experiences that will serve them well in the future. For example, young people have learned about handling money, planning contact with family members and traveling independently to different parts of the country. The manager is currently looking at ways in which they can address the loneliness that could occur when living independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a home that blends well into the local community. It is spacious and has good standards of repair, fixtures, fittings, décor and equipment. All bedrooms are single occupancy and personalised to the taste of the occupant. Due to past issues, bedroom doors are fitted with alarms that go off when a young person leaves the room during the night. Currently the alarms remain active. When challenged why, the manager agreed that their use, based on the current needs of young people, had not been considered for some time.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has good systems in place linked to keeping everyone safe. For example, Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 5 detailed assessments that identify risks, both around the home and in the local community, are in place. The risk assessments are reviewed and updated regularly, which keeps them current. Appropriate service contracts are in place to ensure that safety equipment is well maintained, which adds to the levels of safety in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has good contact and relationships with those external agencies charged with keeping young people safe. Staff are familiar with and understand the safeguarding procedures in place, recognising their own roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe. All staff have received training in this field, which is refreshed regularly.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Although developing their independence and living a more independent lifestyle, young people live in a structured environment with clearly defined boundaries and regular routines. It is a structure they accept and feel comfortable with. The boundaries have developed some flexibility as a result of young people’s growing independence, and are used as a caring component that would be expected of any family with teenage boys. For example, staff remain in touch by phone at regular intervals when young people are away from the home. This adds to the safety and security that young people feel.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Serious behaviour management events have reduced significantly as young people have grown and matured. For example, there have been no incidents of physical intervention for more than a year, and the number of sanctions imposed are minimal. Young people live in a non-punitive environment where support is the key. They are encouraged to take calculated and assessed risks, knowing that support is there should things go wrong. For example, serious consideration is being given to allowing a young person to go away with friends for a short break.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Bullying is not a live issue in the home. Incidents of young people being reported as missing are rare, and those that do occur are generally the result of late returns or young people pushing their levels of independence beyond the limit. Young people are not unhappy and do not abscond from this home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff retention is high, which means that young people are being looked after by staff whom they know and trust. The recruitment and clearance procedures for new staff are thorough and meet with regulatory requirements and current guidance. It is pleasing to see that young people take an active role in this process. Longer serving staff are being re-checked regularly, which is deemed to be good practice. This ensures that young people are only being looked after by staff who have been suitably cleared and recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The whole organisation and management of the home is totally child focused. The home is extremely well organised and managed by an experienced and fully committed manager who leads by example. Her aspirations for young people are high, and she has the ability and confidence not to let outside pressures interfere with this. The expectations for staff are the same, with high standards demanded. This has earned the full respect of the staff team, and goes some way to explaining the home’s high staff Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 6 retention rate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff buy into the ethos, culture and working practices they have helped to create in the home over the years. This has created a culture and willingness to work with a team- centred approach. Young people’s needs are put first, and staff are prepared to work extra hours or work flexibly so that those needs can be met. For example, regular staff, including the manager, will provide cover in times of staff shortage, avoiding the need to use agency staff, or other staff not known to the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported. Formal supervision and performance development takes place consistently every calendar month. Young people are consulted to gain their views about staff, which makes a significant contribution towards the annual process of staff appraisal. This is viewed as outstanding practice. Communication levels between staff are excellent, which aids the general organisation of the home. Staff morale is high, and as a visitor you immediately experience the happiness and warmth that abounds throughout the home, creating a happy and positive environment for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are encouraged and supported with their training needs. There are clear expectations placed on them to complete the core staff training programme. The programme develops and refreshes skills. More specialist training can be accessed when necessary. For example, recently a staff member completed a course on human trafficking and modern slavery, and will be sharing the knowledge gained with the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The internal monitoring of the home is of a consistently high standard. The manager monitors all aspects of the home, which is reflected in her own records. The manager is fully accepting of any advice or issues raised through external monitoring, linking it with her own critical analysis and then translating it into development plans. These plans identify strengths and areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has an excellent record of compliance. The report from the previous inspection did not contain any requirements or recommendations. However, the manager has critically reviewed various areas of practice since then and has made a number of significant improvements. These include promoting training to align the theoretical models that underpin the practical working practices adopted by the home. This has given staff a greater insight and understanding into why they work in a certain way. A new filing system, which includes the home’s records, has been created. These are just two examples of how the home is prepared to review and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This is a home where aspirations for young people are high. Staff have worked supportively with the current group over a number of years, without rejection and in a non-judgemental manner. This has led them all through a number of challenges and troubled times. Young people are emerging from their journey through the home with a real sense of ambition and optimism for their futures. Reflecting on his journey at a recent review, a social worker reported how a young person summed up his views about the home and staff by saying, ‘It’s good. I am loved.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Venture House, 12 Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, CANNOCK, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector(s)

Graham Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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