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

Inspection report children‟s home: 1276216 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group 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

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people aged between 10 and 17 years old, who have complex needs and/or require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently working towards her level 5 qualification in leadership and management, and has over 10 years‟ experience in residential childcare.

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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 good

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good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Recent inspection history

This is the home‟s first inspection since registration in July 2018. Inspection report children‟s home: 1276216 2

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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

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. (Regulation 36(1)) 31/05/2019

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Recommendations

 Children‟s home staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements, based on the individual child‟s needs and developmental stage, about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. Staff should discuss the decision with the child‟s placing authority where appropriate. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, Page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people‟s day-to-day experience is good. One young person told the inspector, „Staff do an amazing job. I have finally found a care home that looks after me, understands me and listens to me.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to live an active life. The registered manager and the staff ensure that they work closely with the organisation‟s clinicians to help young people find new ways of managing their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people routinely attend school and are making good progress in their education. The manager and staff are committed to helping young people achieve educational success by working closely with teachers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote family contact. This support ensures that young people can maintain contact with people who are important to them. Inspection report children‟s home: 1276216 3

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

Young people report that they feel safe and listened to. Young people can identify a member of staff who they can talk to about any concerns.

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

Young people are aware of their right to advocacy. This means that young people can seek independent support to help them raise issues about their care.

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

Staff work in partnership with other agencies, including schools and health services. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. However, staff do not ensure that risk assessments consider young people‟s levels of understanding when it comes to recognising danger.

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

When incidents occur, they are well recorded. When young people go missing from the home, staff take action. For example, staff will go to look for the young person and speak with their parents, the police and the young person‟s social worker. By working closely with everyone, staff ensure that the young person returns home safe.

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

Young people are provided with key-working sessions on topics that are outlined in their care plans. Key-working sessions provide young people with the opportunity to express their wishes and feelings.

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

Young people are provided with consistent and clear boundaries. Staff use de-escalation strategies to respond to young people‟s presenting behaviour, and see physical restraint as a last resort.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about the quality of care young people receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the staff are aware of the home‟s strengths and areas for further improvement. The registered manager regularly seeks feedback from the young people, their parents and professionals, to make sure that there are ongoing improvements to the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff receive regular supervision in line with the organisation‟s policies and procedures. This means that they get feedback on their practice and feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Agency workers are used on occasions to supplement the number of staff on duty. The registered manager tries to ensure that the same workers are used, to provide consistency for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people‟s case files do not contain all the required information. For example, they are missing the young person‟s placing authority care plan. This leaves the staff without Inspection report children‟s home: 1276216 4 sufficient information to ensure that they can meet the aims and objectives of each young person‟s main care plan.

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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: 1276216 5

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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

Sarah Junor-Fitzpatrick: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1276216 6 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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