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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2572132 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

The home is part of a large private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered in March 2020. Ofsted has not previously inspected the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this monitoring inspection in response to information provided to Ofsted by the independent visitor who identified that children have caused harm to each other. Additional information indicated that there were fire safety concerns in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted completed a risk assessment and made the decision to carry out the inspection at the home. At the time of this visit three children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the home has experienced periods of staff absence. This has meant that staff from sister homes in the company and agency workers have covered shortfalls in staffing. The management team has worked hard to ensure that these staff are qualified, experienced and, where possible, familiar to the children. Furthermore, leaders have recently increased staffing levels in the home to provide additional support for children. However, the inconsistencies in the staff team have had an impact on the quality of care received by children.

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This monitoring visit

A lack of awareness and poor decision-making by staff result in children being placed in situations where they are at risk of harm. For example, when one child was Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2572132 2 having family time, a member of staff also took another child with them. This resulted in a lack of supervision for one child who was able to mis-use illegal substances. In addition to this, the situation created tension between the children and led to further incidents in the home. On another occasion, an agency member of staff was supervising two children while on an activity. This led to an incident in which one child made threats to physically harm another child. These shortfalls compromise the safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not effectively safeguard children from bullying in the home. There have been significant incidents when children have intimidated and caused harm to another child. One child informed the inspector that other children at the home call her names and make comments about her appearance. During one incident, the child was forced to run away from the home’s vehicle as she was scared that another child would harm her. Consequently, the child informed the inspector that she was frightened of another child living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The response of staff to children who go missing from the home is inconsistent. On some occasions, staff have failed to supervise children, and this has led to children going missing from the home. Staff do not always respond appropriately when children go missing from the home. Staff have also failed to act promptly in seeking out information when a child has been reported missing. For example, on one occasion when a child was missing, a room search of the child’s bedroom was not completed until the following day. Furthermore, staff did not carry out checks in known areas frequented by the child. These shortfalls contributed to the child being left at risk of harm. However, during other incidents, staff have followed protocols more effectively. On one occasion, staff took decisive action in searching the local area while in communication with the police. This led to a child returning safely to the home. The action taken by staff was praised by the police.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not provide staff with clear guidance on how to keep children safe. This is because risk assessments are not always reviewed following incidents and so fail to capture up-to-date information. As a result, key learning is not used to develop improved strategies to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff respond promptly to address fire safety risks in the home. For example, when a child has been smoking in her bedroom, staff have taken action to manage the risks effectively. Senior leaders have worked with the health and safety team, and risk assessments have been reviewed. In addition, specialist equipment has been installed in the home. These actions help to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

During the inspection, a serious incident came to light, which is being investigated by the police and local authority. The responsible individual has acted immediately to involve the relevant external professionals in this matter.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit a compliance notice has been issued in relation to regulation 12 (the protection of standard). Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2572132 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.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

*have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

*that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 14 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2572132 4 This relates to staff understanding and implementation of children’s risk assessments, and their role in keeping children safe, particularly with regards to risks of bullying.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(a)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager’s oversight and monitoring of children’s risk assessments and staffing in the home. 14 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2572132 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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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2572132 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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