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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258434 1

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Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home, registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home was first registered on 20 December 2017.

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This monitoring visit

Following the last visit, Ofsted served a restriction of accommodation notice and made 10 requirements. Since the last inspection, the one young person who was living in the home has left. The registered manager has not admitted any further young people to the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager submitted a detailed action plan to Ofsted. This visit confirms that significant progress has been made in addressing the previous shortfalls in the quality standards regarding the protection of children, and the leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff review risk assessments regularly. These now provide the detail and clarity to ensure that staff are able to care for young people safely. The registered manager has ensured that staff have received training and support to improve their understanding of risks and behaviour management. This has included regular team meetings and training events. Since the young person has left the home, the registered manager has ensured that her team of staff have continued to work together with each other in another home within the organisation. She has maintained regular contact with them and continues to supervise them. This has assisted in developing a team ethos, despite the staff currently working away from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to the young person moving on, the registered manager and staff worked in partnership with substance misuse services and others. Staff undertook key-work sessions which supported the young person in developing their understanding of Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258434 2 their risk-taking behaviour. Staff followed risk assessments and recorded incidents in detail when they were liaising with the British transport police and looking for the young person. When the police returned the young person from being missing, staff showed skill in engaging the young person, who was reluctant to invest in the home. Independent return interviews have not been conducted consistently. This represents a missed opportunity to develop understanding about the young person’s ‘missing’ behaviour to inform strategic planning.

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This monitoring visit

As there have not been any new young people admitted to the home, the registered manager reviewed an existing impact risk assessment. She was able to reflect on how the staff could not meet the young person’s needs, due to the home’s location. She served notice on the young person’s placement, and worked with the placing authority and the young person to support a move to a placement which meets their needs and wishes.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reviewed the statement of purpose so that it is more specific, and has used team meetings to enable staff to develop their own team vision and identity. Staff have engaged well in team-building activities and training. Consequently, they are better prepared to welcome a young person into the home. The registered manager has supported staff to devise development plans and has sourced specific training which staff have identified, in addition to planned training. There are sufficient staff employed now to re-open the home and to provide continuity of care for young people. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258434 3

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Recommendations

 When a child is found, they must be offered an independent return interview. The independent return interview should be carried out within 72 hours of the child returning to their home or care setting. (‘Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care’, January 2014, page 14, paragraphs 31-32)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Rebecca Quested, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258434 4 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, 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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