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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 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 home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 to 3 July 2019. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued the provider with two compliance notices under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection, concerns were identified relating to poor safeguarding arrangements that left children at risk of harm. In addition, risk assessments failed to include relevant information that staff needed to know to keep children safe. Leadership and management were poor.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to the home on 6 August 2019 to monitor the actions that the provider had taken to comply with the notices issued following the last inspection. At this visit, it was identified that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the actions identified in the regulation 12 and 13 compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is not currently working in the home. During the monitoring visit, the inspector found that the organisation has secured effective temporary management of the home, which has enabled improvements in the quality of care practice, and consequently more settled and positive relationships between staff and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 2 children.

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This monitoring visit

In terms of the protection of children standard, the responsible individual had taken action to develop new risk assessment and action plans. They now identify all of the individual known risks, including online gaming, child sexual exploitation, internet and mobile phone usage and lone working. Staff have been provided with time to look at all the new plans in place and to ensure that they understand and implement the strategies within the plans, to safeguard children effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual had supported the acting deputy manager and staff team in implementing new ways of working. A clear and concise action plan was devised and provided to the inspector. This included evidence of the work undertaken to update all policies and procedures, introducing internal monitoring systems and the clear and effective auditing of all children’s care records. This has improved the quality of care provided within the home.

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This monitoring visit

Compatibility risk assessments have been reviewed. This will ensure that the needs of children already living in the home and those moving in are carefully considered. Since the inspection, no children have moved in or out of the home. However, staff are now better equipped to support children during these times.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding practices had been discussed at team meetings and supervision sessions. This has been used as an opportunity for learning and ensures that all staff are now fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff confirmed that they had all received individual supervision sessions which had focused on safeguarding and protection for children. One staff member said, ‘We are clear now on what we have to do to safeguard children. The home is so much better. Its organised and we have clear systems in place and feel listened to.’

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual had taken steps to ensure that all children had a detailed plan in place. He had arranged meetings with local authorities to discuss the care planning arrangements for individual children. Placement plans now include objectives from local authorities’ plans, which demonstrate how staff will meet the health, education and care needs of all children. This means that all professionals working with children are fully aware of their needs and are working towards an agreed plan.

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This monitoring visit

The provider and responsible individual are now delivering training, coaching and modelling of effective childcare practice. They are using reflective individual supervision and team meetings to challenge and support staff to improve. They demonstrate skill in positive and proactive approaches to building warm and nurturing relationships with children.

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This monitoring visit

Children are now responding well to clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. They are now engaging in healthier lifestyles, attending college and forming positive relationships with staff. This has improved their overall progress and experiences. The home is now being led and managed in a way that is Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 3 consistent with the approach and ethos outlined in the home’s statement of purpose, and delivers the outcomes as intended.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has introduced robust systems to consistently monitor the home’s practice and has ensured that the information is used to improve on the quality of care provided. There are enough staff now in place and staff are now enrolled on the required childcare qualification, with clear timescales for completion.

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This monitoring visit

No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place to review how these improvements are being embedded to improve the quality of care provided.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/07/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ─

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ─

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to ─

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(vi)(c)(i)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings. 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 5 (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(ii)) In order to meet the education standard, the registered provider must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (2)(v)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

*The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) 03/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure ─

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that ─

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ─ 03/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child’s relevant plans are followed (Regulation 14 (1(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home. (Regulation 28 (b)(ii)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 7 that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3)

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d)) The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 8 (Regulation 39 (3)) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 9

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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

Michelle Edge, social care inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2531921 10 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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