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

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a large private provider. The home supports up to two children who have experienced trauma and can display complex behaviours and/or children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was re-registered in February 2020 due to a change of company name. The registered manager has been in post in this home for over two years and is appropriately qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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. Assurance visit report: 2569994 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Staff develop positive relationships with children. While there have been some recent staff changes these relationships remain positive. New children to the home are welcomed warmly and sensitively and this helps them to feel at home quickly.

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The care of children

Children who move on from the home are supported with this by staff every step of the way. Independence work includes budgeting, life skills and parenting skills and this foundation has enabled young people to make progress in their own lives and be able to live independently with their own children. One young person who has recently left the home told the inspector that, ‘you’ll never find another home like it,’ and they are grateful for the support from staff. Children stay in touch with staff and visit the home after they have left, which emphasises how important those relationships were.

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The care of children

Children continued with their education during lockdown and the importance of education is emphasised by staff. Children have started this school year well and communication between schools, social workers and the home is good. These cohesive networks enable children to be emotionally and consistently supported and help them to be settled.

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The care of children

Children are supported to see family and friends, and during the recent period of social restriction this continued where possible. While staff will support contact with friends they are also tenacious in ensuring children’s safety. For example, when one child stayed with a friend overnight without permission the staff made sure they found them and returned home safely with them. Children benefit from this commitment to them.

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The care of children

Children live in an environment that is carefully decorated and well cared for. Staff and the manager take pride in the home and this shows in the warm, welcoming atmosphere.

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The safety of children

Some risk assessments for children are not clear. For example, the risk of allegations about staff from children is referenced in too many places and so lack cohesion and consistency across risk assessments and behaviour plans. While there are some useful strategies for staff to follow, this remains confusing. In one child’s allegations risk assessment there is an allegation outlined that staff had not shared with the registered manager and had not been picked up when it was reviewed. Staff are not, therefore, following their own policy, and this has the potential to leave children and staff vulnerable. There are also risk assessments with incorrect children’s names Assurance visit report: 2569994 3 in them. This lack of attention to detail in risk assessments and protocols does not safeguard children or staff.

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The safety of children

The registered manager has not ensured that impact risk assessments include all known information about children or the impact on the dynamics of the home. This is a shame as the registered manager works hard to gain information about children before any decisions are made about children moving in. This lack of evidential analysis means that while information may be known it is not well captured in children’s records. There is no indication that children are wrongly matched to the home or are left unsafe as a result.

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The safety of children

On the rare occasions when children have gone missing from the home staff show considerable tenacity in ensuring they are safe. This shows the commitment that staff have to the children in their care.

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The safety of children

Staff rarely need to physically intervene with children. But when this does happen it is necessary and proportionate. The quality of some areas of record-keeping needs to be strengthened.

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The safety of children

Staff did not engage with the dental practice about one child’s struggles with attending. As a result, this child has been removed from the roll at his dentist as he refused to attend. This means that he is no longer able to access dental treatment other than in an emergency. This does not promote his health.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager shows exceptional commitment to the children in her care. Children feel safe with her and know that she is available to hear their worries and concerns and will act on them. One child arrived in the home without an education placement and the registered manager advocated in her best interest, and found and arranged an appropriate course in a matter of days. Children see this as evidence that she acts in their best interest and cares.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager builds and maintains excellent relationships with other professionals. As a result, these professionals have faith in the manager and the care that children receive.

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Leaders and managers

Professionals outside the home note the resilience staff show when children show behaviours that challenge; they do not give up on them at these times. The registered manager supports her staff so that they can in turn support children when they need it. The resilience staff show is a testament to the support they receive.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager takes complaints seriously and addresses these with children quickly. She has made sure that staff reiterate to children that they have the right to complain and this shows the openness of practice that the registered manager strives for. Assurance visit report: 2569994 4 Staff are up to date with training other than where this has not been possible due to the restrictions connected to COVID-19. Recording in various areas of the home needs to improve and the registered manager is aware of this. She has a plan in place to address this through practice workshops in conjunction with another manager. This will help records to be clearer for staff, and, more importantly, for children.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager’s monitoring of the home needs to be strengthened. The manager has a good grasp on the day-to-day practice, knows the children exceptionally well and challenges staff practice as needed. For example, where the manager did not agree with a sanction she reflected with the staff involved and discussed her clear expectations in a team meeting. However, there are some errors in incident reports. One missing-from-care protocol is not up to date and the rota does not include full names of staff, including those covering from other homes. There have also been times when notifications to Ofsted have been received late. These managerial shortfalls are in contrast to the leadership of practice that the registered manager demonstrates.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner. (Regulation 10 (1)(b) (2)(b)) 14 January 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 14 January 2021 Assurance visit report: 2569994 5 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

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

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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)(h)) 14 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)) 14 January 2021

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Recommendations

 Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 63, paragraph 14.10) Assurance visit report: 2569994 6

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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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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance visit report: 2569994 7 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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