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

Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 1 SC063759 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 home is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children. The home specialises in providing care for children who are behaviourally challenging and emotionally vulnerable.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/05/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and make sure that the plans in place to manage these risks are clear. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) In particular, that all children’s risk-taking behaviours are assessed and that clear plans are in place to reduce these risks.  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, that staff have training and development opportunities that reflect the specific needs of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people make exceptional progress living here. Staff are passionate about their work and are child-focused. They believe that children and young people can achieve their full potential and staff successfully inspire children and young people to believe in this too. For example, one young person recently delivered a speech to some children who are in care. In this speech they said, ‘I don’t know about you guys, but I want to travel the world and eat food from different countries. I also want to make an impact on the world and I am starting in this room. Don’t ever forgot your dreams and make sure you’re true to yourself.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children, young people and staff have excellent relationships with each other. Children and young people are able to express their wishes and feelings and staff listen to them. Staff, children and young people all have mutual respect for each other. They also care for each other. This is a key strength of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage children and young people to explore their individual interests. This helps them to express their feelings and emotions in a positive way. Furthermore, this helps them to grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children and young people arrive at the home, they are not engaged in education. Staff quickly ensure that children and young people have a good educational routine and start to enjoy learning again. Consequently, children gain recognised qualifications, move Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 4 on to further education and have clear goals and aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people receive the support that they need to make a positive transition to independence. Furthermore, staff continue to offer support and guidance once they have moved on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of care practice is excellent. Practice is informed by good assessments, clear planning and continuous monitoring and review.

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

Staff provide a safe and trusting environment where children and young people can grow and develop and children and young people respond well to this. As a result, challenging behaviours reduce considerably in a short space of time. One young person said that ‘staff never gave up on them even when they should have done’.

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

Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They work within policies and procedures to keep children and young people safe. However, staff do not routinely assess all presenting risks. Consequently, safeguarding plans and the strategies in place to minimise risks are not clear enough. When risks are assessed appropriately, staff analyse the risks well and risk management plans are clear.

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

Staff manage safeguarding concerns effectively and in a timely manner. They follow procedures well. Recording is clear and provides the reader with a good understanding of the situation and the actions taken.

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

Staffing levels are good, which allows children to have access to good levels of support. Staff are sensitive and insightful to the needs of children and young people. As a result, children and young people confide and trust in staff. This helps staff to keep children safe.

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

Staff support children and young people to access healthcare. However, staff do not always have the required knowledge to ensure that all of children’s health needs are being identified and subsequently assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The ethos of the home is to ensure that children and young people achieve the best possible outcomes. This is fully embedded in the working practices of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 4 January 2013 and holds a relevant qualification. She is passionate, committed and leads by example. The responsible individual is also passionate about the home. Together they provide excellent leadership and management of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have worked at the home for a considerable length of time. They work together to ensure that children and young people have consistent care and Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 5 support. Children and young people recognise this and say that this has helped them to make positive progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision and training is available to enhance their knowledge and skills. Staff say that they like working here. Staff thrive on the achievements that children and young people make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff seek support and guidance from other professionals when required. Young people benefit from this multi-agency approach. Professionals speak positively about the home and the progress that the children and young people make.

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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 6

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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

Lisa Gregoire-Parker: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063759 7 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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