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

Assurance visit report: SC475323 1 SC475323

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a private provider and offers care and accommodation for two young people who have experienced childhood instability, leading to trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2020.

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection judgement: not judged

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children's social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is leading Ofsted's work into how England's social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC475323 2

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The care of children

All the young people moved into the home when COVID-19 restrictions were beginning to be eased. Care plans are personalised and consider the COVID-19 outbreak. Staff understand these plans and implement them appropriately.

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The care of children

For one young person’s admission, the manager forgot to secure the views of the young person already living at the home. This omission creates a missed opportunity to ensure that young people’s views help to inform decisions. Despite this omission, young people are well matched and get on well together.

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The care of children

As restrictions have eased, young people have been able to attend important health appointments.

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The care of children

Staff have worked hard to help young people to sustain their learning despite some schools being closed. Staff have been creative in using online resources to promote academic success and to enable young people to reach their full potential.

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The care of children

During COVID-19 Staff supported and facilitated young people’s time with carers and family members, observing social distancing and ensuring that time spent together was safe for all involved. This enabled young people to retain positive links with people who are important to them.

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The safety of children

Staff use risk assessments as a working document. This helps them to understand young people’s risks and their vulnerabilities. However, the home also has therapeutic behaviour support plans that assess risk. The information in the two documents does not always match. This creates confusion and leads to errors in how staff monitor and review young people’s risks.

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The safety of children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager has ensured that young people and staff follow government guidelines by observing social distancing and only allowing essential visitors into the home. Precautions are in place at the home which continue to safeguard everyone. These include temperature checks being carried out for visitors and hand sanitiser being made available within the home.

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The safety of children

The home has clear protocols in place with the local police. This has enabled a coordinated approach to be agreed when young people go missing from the home. Multi-agency working ensures that strategies are in place to respond to any concerns relating to a young person’s welfare and safety. On occasions, young people have been absent from the home without permission. Staff have carried out welfare checks to ensure that young people are safe.

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The safety of children

Staff support young people who have complex needs to find ways in which they can manage their anxiety and reduce unwanted and harmful behaviour. There is good Assurance visit report: SC475323 3 evaluation of incidents, along with reflective work with both young people and staff that is overseen by the manager.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been in post since August 2020 and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership, health and social care.

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Leaders and managers

The manager sets high expectations for staff and young people. She uses staff meetings and supervision well to communicate the positive ethos of the home. Staff report that they find supervision helpful and supportive. Annual appraisals are used well to ensure that staff are provided with appropriate development opportunities.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is enthusiastic about staff training and development, which underpins the commitment of the staff team to make ongoing improvements.

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Leaders and managers

An independent visitor comes to the home every month. These visits include speaking with the staff, young people, parents and professionals.

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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 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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in 03/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC475323 4 the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i))

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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.

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) 03/10/2020

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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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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Agata Dokszewicz

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC475323 5 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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