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

Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 1 SC440014 Registered provider: Horizon Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home is part of a large social care organisation. It offers support, education and therapeutic care for up to four children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma which has left them vulnerable. The manager of the home was recruited in January 2020 and has started the process to be registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 5 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 2

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children 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection in August 2019, five requirements and three recommendations were raised. The home’s management has addressed these shortfalls. Of these, one requirement and one recommendation have not been fully met and have been repeated. The manager has taken steps to meet one requirement which has been mostly met and is repeated as a recommendation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is enjoying a settled period. There has been a marked reduction in the number of physical interventions. Recording of physical interventions has also improved, as has recording in general. The manager is clear when to notify Ofsted of situations or incidents that happen within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ensured that all staff receive regular, practice-led supervisions to discuss their practice. Staff supervisions are happening monthly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s location risk assessment has been updated to consider risks in the local area. Suitable mitigation of these risks has been considered to keep children as safe as possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has undergone improvements since the full inspection. Fences have been replaced around the property and internal decor has improved. However, the home would benefit from further work. The manager has a development plan which includes having the exterior of the property painted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also updated the home’s statement of purpose. This now gives an accurate account of how children are monitored in the home. The motion sensor alarm on the landing has been disconnected. However, door alarms are used on children’s bedrooms at night. This is a blanket rule and therefore does not consider the individual needs of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Faulty fire doors have been repaired since the last inspection. However, another fire door was found not to close properly, and fire doors are still being propped open. Fire doors that are not used appropriately pose a risk to children and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live healthy lifestyles. Staff encourage them to eat healthily, to take regular exercise and to develop their self-care skills. Staff support children to attend health appointments. However, one child’s health assessment is significantly overdue, despite the efforts of staff to arrange a suitable appointment. This does not promote this child’s health and well-being. Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 3 An independent visitor makes monthly visits to the home. In the reports produced following a visit, the visitor does not gain feedback from children’s family members. Professional opinions are rarely gathered. Visits often happen during school time. This does not provide comprehensive monitoring and review of the home to inform the provider, children’s placing authorities and Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a clear missing-from-home policy which staff follow. Staff look for children and try to maintain contact with them if they go missing. There have been four missing episodes since the last inspection. However, it is not clear if, or when, return home interviews happen. This does not give a complete picture of the missing episode and does not enable staff to consider how such episodes can be reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff advocate on behalf of the children, know them well and understand their needs. Staff promote contact between the children and their families and significant people. Relationships with families are positive. Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2019 Full Good 14/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2017 Full Good 04/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 5

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(2)(c)) 07/05/2020

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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)) 12/03/2020

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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 and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 09/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, and relatives, as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—HMCI. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(7)(a)) 02/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 6

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Recommendations

 Staff should provide a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC440014 7

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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

Ricky D’Arcy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC440014 8 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 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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