Children's home run by Horizon Care Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 1 SC068223 Registered provider: Horizon Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

After the last full inspection, Ofsted considered the previous good judgements for the service and decided that enforcement action would not be taken, but that a number of requirements would be made of the home. Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, is of particular concern.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The provider agreed in writing that admissions would not take place for a period of at least six weeks from the date of the last inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is inadequate because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Risk management arrangements are poor and do not safeguard young people.  Poor leadership and management oversight of the service has failed to identify and address areas of concerns, and this places young people at risk of harm.  Young people’s health needs are not being met. This means that their emotional and physical health is compromised.  The home’s behaviour management policy is not consistently implemented.  Young people’s records are incomplete and lack the manager’s evaluation.  The independent visitor’s reports do not give a true reflection of the young people at the home.  The home does not have a missing from home policy. There has been considerable delay in reporting to the safeguarding agencies the young people missing from home who are at risk of child sexual exploitation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff have supported young people to pass GCSE exams.  Young people are supported by staff to make positive transitions to adult placements.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2017 Full Inadequate 15/03/2017 Full Good 06/07/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

5: In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff - (b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; (c) consider a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(b)(c)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

*12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff- (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (2)(b) That the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered

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Requirement Due date

so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 20/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 4 *13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that- (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (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; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(f)(h)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

34(1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out- (a) the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and (b) the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

35(1) The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (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— (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; 20/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 5 (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 also ensure that, within 48 hours of the use of the measure,

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Requirement Due date

the registered 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 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(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(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; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, maintain accurate staff rosters. 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 20/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 6

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are currently no young people living at the home. Previously, young people were working towards transitions to adult placements. Following the judgement of inadequate at the inspection in July 2017, young people moved on from the home earlier than planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there has been a further incident of risk-taking behaviour. A young person went missing from the home, and this had a detrimental effect on her welfare and safety. The manager failed to challenge a placing authority to address the serious risks associated with the episode of being missing from care. The lack of multi- agency working means that the risks were not managed effectively. The young person continued to be at risk of harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people’s health and well-being are not consistently met. Staff fail to take effective action to ensure that young people receive suitable medical advice. For example, a young person refused to attend an appointment at the sexual health clinic following a serious incident with an older man. There are no records of conversations to address this issue. There is no evidence to show that staff have conversations with the young people about risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing from the home and child sexual exploitation. This means that young people’s risk-taking behaviour can continue unchecked.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support young people to attend and engage in education provision. Young people have passed GCSE exams and some have gained childcare qualifications. Staff have supported and helped young people to prepare for college. They have worked with education staff and placing social workers to identify a suitable college placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is currently being redecorated and some carpets are being replaced. Home improvements continue to take place. Any damage and repairs are being addressed. Staff are working hard to provide a welcoming and homely environment.

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

Young people’s risk management plans do not identify or address the needs of the individual. For example, a risk management plan has not been updated since a young person’s admission to the home. The current risks have not been addressed. These include child sexual exploitation, being missing from care and internet safety. The plan was not signed or dated by the author. It failed to identify that staffing levels had been increased to ensure that the young person was supervised in the community at all times. The plan did not identify the strategies that staff are to use when supporting the young person. This means that young people are not receiving consistent care and support. This fails to make sure that young people are safe and protected from harm. Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 7 Since the last inspection, there has been one serious incident. Records show that this incident was not managed effectively. Staff did not follow the young person’s care plans.

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

For example, they heard a young person speaking to an older male on her telephone, yet failed to remove the phone. This continued over several days. The lack of action to protect this young person has seriously compromised her safety and well-being.

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

Since the last inspection, a young person has continued to be at significant risk of harm from child sexual exploitation. During a community activity, staff lost sight of the young person. They did not follow risk management plans and the young person was not supervised at all times. Staff failed to report her missing to the police for almost two hours. They left the area and returned to the home, despite being at a significant distance from the home. This resulted in the young person being missing from the home overnight and being found in the company of an older male. The young person’s risk management plan was not updated. It did not include all the known risks and strategies to safeguard and protect the young person. The incident sheets do not include a clear account of details of the incident. Records fail to identify risks and the actions of staff. Records are confusing and contain conflicting information. For example, three different

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

documents provided three different ages for an older male. This fails to show that staff are aware of the risks to young people and that they are taking appropriate action to ensure that they safeguard young people. The lack of consideration of all the risks to the young person has resulted in her suffering harm.

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

The home’s behaviour management policy is not consistently implemented. The responses to challenging behaviour do not always provide a reliable and positive message to young people. Consequences can sometimes be disproportionate, confusing and punitive. There is no clear management overview of why a decision was agreed. The manager does not have a consistent overview of the records or their appropriateness. For example, two young people had three sanctions imposed for refusing to settle to bed. There was no clear record of why this measure was appropriate. Records fail to show whether the consequences helped young people to learn from their actions. This shortfall does not assist staff to identify if the measure is effective. Neither does it show if it has helped young people to make changes to their behaviour.

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

The home’s visitor record fails to track the people who visit the home. Staff have not noted the time and date when visitors have left the home. This means that staff are not able to monitor who is in or out of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The permanent registered manager has the necessary experience and qualifications to manage the home. She has been in post since October 2013 and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. Management oversight and monitoring are poor. There are failures in identifying areas of weakness and a lack of action to resolve areas of risk and concern. These failings compromise young people’s progress and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager failed to secure a local authority strategy meeting to address the serious risks associated with a young person’s missing from care episode. This had an impact on the young person’s care and support, because staff were unsure how best Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 8 to manage the young person’s behaviour. This resulted in the young person continuing to be at risk of serious harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home does not have a policy in relation to missing from care. The manager provided the inspector with the home’s area missing from home policy in draft form and out of date. She was unclear at what point she should inform the police when young people go missing from the home or share details regarding those who are at risk of child sexual exploitation. There was a significant time delay in staff reporting a young person as missing to safeguarding agencies. This compromised her safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager lacks confidence and does not lead or manage the home effectively. Documents are chaotic, with information absent from both risk management plans and missing from home reports. Information is conflicting and confusing. The manager cannot show that she monitors and reviews young people’s documents because she has not signed them or made any comments. The manager failed to prove that she understood the safeguarding concerns. She could not show that she could identify risks and put in place strategies to keep young people safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose does not contain accurate information in relation to the home’s local designated officer. Staff duty rosters lack transparency and fail to identify he correct staff on duty. This prevents a clear audit trail of who is working within the setting, when and where. For example, some staff were recorded as completing the sleep-in shift. However, they were not on the rota as being in work. The lack of transparency regarding who is working at the home could place young people at risk and compromise the continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Independent monitoring visits have failed to identify the safeguarding concerns found at this inspection. Reports do not show a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding young people. For example, the report compiled for July 2017 was factually incorrect. This does not give the manager and inspector a true reflection of the young people in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, the manager has received formal supervision and support. Potential admissions will be discussed between managers and the organisation’s clinical team. This will ensure that any new young people receive a more suitable level of introductory activity and be better matched. Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 9

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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 difference 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: SC068223 10

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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

Jo Hornby, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068223 11 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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