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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 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 children’s home is privately owned. The home is registered for four young people and offers long-term residential placements for children and young people of either gender.

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This monitoring visit

This is the home’s first inspection since it opened in July 2020. To date, four young people have had the opportunity to live in the home, with three of those young people still living there at the time of the inspection. Two of the young people are happy and settled. The third young person is still adjusting to living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager’s matching processes when young people move into the home are not effective. For example, matching documents do not detail how known risks will be reduced. As a result, young people who are at risk of going missing from care are moved into the home when staff have had limited training on this subject. Furthermore, not all staff have completed other relevant training in respect of managing the risks associated with criminal exploitation and gangs.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager does not get all the required information from the local authority prior to young people moving into the home. For example, young people’s care plans are not always obtained. This limits the information the registered manager and staff have about young people before they move in. At the time of the inspection, the registered manager had requested this information and had challenged the local authority about the delay in this being provided.

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This monitoring visit

One young person moved into the home prior to an educational placement being organised. The registered manager is working with the local authority and the virtual Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 2 head to identify a school placement for the young person. However, in the interim period, the young person is not receiving the education he needs.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager communicates effectively with other professionals including social workers and the police. He takes a multi-agency approach when trying to manage the risks associated with those young people who go missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

When young people do go missing, staff follow the missing from home plans and try and encourage young people to return home. However, these plans are limited in detail. For example, there is no guidance for staff to follow if a young person does not respond or keep in touch with staff when they are away from the home. This makes the plans ineffective.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff have developed a good understanding of the children and young people’s needs, risks and behaviours. A social worker shared that the staff are in tune with the young person’s needs and work with the young person to address any challenging behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has updated the home’s location risk assessment to identify risks within the local area. Despite this, the registered manager has not fully considered how the location of the home presents a risk to those young people who may go missing.

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This monitoring visit

The house is decorated and maintained to a good standard. This provides young people with a homely and comfortable environment to live in.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager uses the feedback from the independent visitor’s monthly reports to try and effect positive change. He has implemented an action plan and is aware of the areas of development needed in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the staff team has limited experience of working in a children’s home. However, the registered manager supports staff well with regular supervisions. The registered manager completes competency assessments with staff to identify and address any gaps in their skills and knowledge. Staff are up to date with training. For example, staff have completed training in fire safety, understanding child sexual exploitation risks, managing self-harm and infection control. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 3

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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 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— that staff— 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)) 18/12/2020

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 18/12/2020

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 18/12/2020

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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)(a)) 18/12/2020

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Recommendations

 Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 4 presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  Children’s home staff should act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.12)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 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: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited, Venture House, Unit 12, Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Mr Karol Keenan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2578355 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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