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

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people aged between 10 and 17 with complex social and/or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is experienced and qualified to level 5 in leadership and management.

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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. 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: 1276216 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

At the time of this visit, one young person was living in the home. The young person told the inspector that he is happy and he feels safe living in the home. His social worker confirmed this and said, ‘Staff meet his needs very well and he is happy at this home.’ Two young people have recently moved out of the home and staff have supported their transitions well. The inspector was able to speak to one young person, who shared very positive feedback about the care he received during the two years he lived at the home. In preparation to return to his birth family, staff completed a memory book to capture milestones and happy memories. This contributes to a positive ending for young people.

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The care of children

Staff provide young people with good-quality and individualised care to meet their needs. Staff develop positive relationships with young people. Young people are encouraged to express their views, wishes and feelings in a variety of ways. Staff take these on board and make changes where appropriate. Key-work sessions and day-to-day discussions provide young people with opportunities to influence the care they receive.

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The care of children

Staff have followed the national guidance that was put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, this has meant that staff have needed to be creative in helping young people to remain in touch with people who are important to them.

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The care of children

The current young person has recently been permanently excluded from school. Staff and the registered manager have worked closely with professionals to ensure that an appropriate education provision is identified in a timely way. The young person had the opportunity to visit three provisions during and following the inspection. In the interim, a tutor is providing the young person with one-to-one support twice per week. However, engagement with this is not consistent, despite staff’s efforts.

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The care of children

The registered manager and staff have worked to ensure that the home environment is warm and welcoming. It is decorated and furnished to a high standard.

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The safety of children

Staff ensure that written risk assessments and behaviour support plans are clear, concise and regularly updated to reflect new and emerging risks. These assessments ensure that staff have access to the most current information about how to safeguard young people. Assurance visit report: 1276216 3 Staff take appropriate actions and measures when young people leave the home in an unplanned way or are missing from home. When young people are missing from care, staff go above and beyond to bring about their safe return. Staff share great care and compassion towards young people and prioritise their well-being and safety.

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The safety of children

Staff practice is underpinned by a therapeutic approach. This is the cornerstone of the progress young people make. Staff acknowledge that young people will experience uncertainty, which may result in difficult thoughts and emotions. In response, they work together to find solutions and help young people to develop new strategies to manage their behaviours and anxieties. This has been evident in the progress young people have made.

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The safety of children

The manager carefully considers whether new young people can move into the home in consultation with staff. Robust matching has been key to ensuring that there is minimal impact to current young people, alongside skilled staff who are flexible and dynamic in their approach to meeting the needs of young people. There is much evidence and feedback from current and previous professionals to support the ‘brilliant’ care afforded to young people.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has good oversight of the home. Monitoring systems provide opportunities to address improvements needed. There are clear action plans in place to ensure that any gaps are addressed swiftly by staff. Both requirements raised at the last inspection have been met.

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Leaders and managers

The standards set by the registered manager provide a high benchmark which the staff strive to achieve. Staff believe in, and feel well supported by, the registered manager. They want their home to be the best, and they all have high aspirations for young people.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision. The registered manager uses this as an opportunity to reflect with staff about young people and to further develop and support staff in their roles.

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Leaders and managers

The staff team has been stable but recent recruitment does not meet regulation. There are gaps due to references not being sought where necessary. The registered manager has not ensured that staff who are employed are safe to work in a children’s home.

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Leaders and managers

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have been able to maintain high levels of training with little training courses lapsing. Where this has happened, there are appropriate plans in place for training to be undertaken.

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Leaders and managers

Managers and staff place the well-being of individual children at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges they may present. Assurance visit report: 1276216 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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 (1) (3)(d)) 20 January 2021

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Agata Dokszewicz

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Inspector

Ann-Marie Jones, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1276216 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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