Children's home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1249183 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who may exhibit emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers crisis intervention and short-, medium- and long-term residential placements for children and young people aged between eight and 18. The manager has been registered since February 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people who were living at the home at the last inspection continue to make progress in all aspects of their development. A new child moving into the home was well supported by the thorough planning process. He has settled well, is making good progress and says that he enjoys living at the home. Staff deal with any poor behaviour which arises because of the new peer group dynamics. This includes staff challenging children’s and young people’s attitudes to promote diversity and tolerance. This helps children and young people to develop positive behaviour and relationships.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people have good attendance and benefit from increased attainment in education. One young person was well prepared to take their exams and now has clear plans for their future, starting with further education. Proactive planning Interim inspection report children’s home: 1249183 2 by the manager resulted in him quickly securing the right school for a new resident. This offers structure and support to minimise any disruption with their education.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The small but consistent and stable staff team knows the children’s and young people’s needs well and provides highly personalised care. Staff provide good boundaries and structure and the children and young people respond well to the nurturing environment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from living in a home where the staff team genuinely cares about them. Children and young people enjoy the strong relationships that they have developed with the manager and staff. This results in their improved emotional health and a reduction in children’s and young people’s self-harming behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The resilient staff team remains positive when children and young people present with challenging behaviours. The consistent and nurturing response means that restraints are rarely used as children and young people learn to regulate their emotions. This is reflected in a significant reduction of negative behaviours and damage within the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The good safeguarding practices, which include high levels of staff supervision, keep children and young people safe, protected and at reduced risk of harm and sexual exploitation. There have been no recent episodes of going missing. When children and young people are absent without authorisation but their whereabouts are known, the committed staff complete visual checks. This ensures that children’s and young people’s welfare is safeguarded.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the requirement and most of the recommendations from the last inspection, demonstrating the home’s capacity to improve. A recommendation is carried forward as work is still being completed to make children’s and young people’s care plans more child-friendly. The manager’s challenge to the placing authorities has resulted in children’s and young people’s records being up to date. The manager is a strong advocate for children and young people. This resulted in a change of social worker for one young person who was not feeling listened to.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2018 Full Good 07/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/07/2017 Full Inadequate Interim inspection report children’s home: 1249183 3

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 59, paragraph 11.19) In particular, to make the home’s plans more child-friendly so that children can have a more active involvement in their completion.

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1249183 4

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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

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1249183 5 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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