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

Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 1 SC411054 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

The home is registered to provide care for two young people. It is part of a large social care company.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s statement of purpose says, ‘Our aim is to create a warm and caring environment where young people can come to terms with their past and prepare for the future in a setting that meets their individual needs and cares for them in a non- institutional way.’

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post for approximately one year. She has a relevant leadership qualification to level 5.

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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: 16 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2018 Full Good 02/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/12/2016 Full Good 24/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 3

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Recommendations

 Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the home. Staff should support children to

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Recommendations

understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that the home is an environment which supports this (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10). This is particularly with respect to identifying the potential for young people to be radicalised.  Decisions about overnight stays with friends should be delegated to children’s homes staff by the placing authority for looked-after children. The level of delegated authority should be recorded in the placement plan. Where children wish to stay overnight with friends, staff should carry out the same kind of checks that responsible parents might make in similar circumstances to seek reassurance that the child will be well cared for and safe. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.9)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two young people live here. They are extremely settled and are involved in all aspects of home life. All staff are skilled and motivated. They have formed close therapeutic relationships with both young people. One young person said, ‘I am happy living at [the name of the children’s home] and get on with all the staff. I can do any activities that I want to and I enjoy doing this with the staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are particularly good at supporting and helping young people. They give sensitive advice and guidance to help young people overcome their past difficulties. They hold young people in their thoughts when they are away from the home, and work openly with their families and friends. Every day, staff write positive messages and note down memories for young people in their individual diary books. They use email, text messaging and phone calls, as well as conversation, to keep in touch with young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 4 Young people develop confidence and socialise more because of the supportive atmosphere that staff create.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff accept young people’s very complex individual needs. They are creative and determined in helping young people to overcome serious barriers to their emotional health and learning. As a result, young people progress as much as they can. One young person’s social worker said, ‘He has achieved a considerable amount – more than in the five years [before being placed here].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, staff have not been consistent or persistent enough in their challenge of local authorities. For example, young people have not received timely psychological help due to funding and referral issues. There have also been long delays in obtaining the authority to make decisions about overnight stays. There have been delays in local authorities sending the necessary documents for young people’s passport and bank account applications

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

Young people are well protected. They feel extremely safe in the home. There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care, police involvement, allegations against staff or damage to the house. This is because all staff manage young people’s behaviour with empathy, acceptance and a positive approach.

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

Staff make good use of the advice of their organisation’s clinician to explore ways of helping and protecting a young person who struggles to sleep at night and to come out of his bedroom during the day. Staff successfully use notes, food and drinks, small group activities and skilful therapeutic communications. This young person feels safe with all the staff and wants to stay here.

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

Staff teach young people the difference between good and exploitative relationships. They create regular opportunities to discuss safe internet use and how to avoid bullying, grooming and exploitation, online or in real life.

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

Staff are vigilant yet proportionate in their approach to young people’s individual risks. They listen to young people’s views and act as good parents would. However, they have not identified the potential risk of radicalisation associated with some of young people’s online activities .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people thrive because of the registered manager’s ability to inspire staff and lead them ambitiously. Together they plan young people’s care with skill, consistency and insight. The manager and staff respect one another as professional equals. They pool their training, individual strengths and experience to great effect. A home tutor said that this is the best team and the best atmosphere in any children’s home that she has been Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 5 to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example and has embedded the highest quality therapeutic practice in every member of staff. One member of staff said, ‘She empowers us with confidence and gives us tools to work independently and collectively.’ The team respects and follows the advice of the manager and the organisation’s clinicians. The staff’s well- planned, empathic, curious and playful approach helps, protects and develops each young person as much as possible.

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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: SC411054 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

Rachel Britten: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC411054 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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