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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2554918 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

A private company owns this home which is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place following a safeguarding notification involving young people and a hazardous incident of fire-starting at the home. The visit was conducted to establish whether there had been any serious and/or widespread failures in the protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

The home was registered in April 2019 and has not yet had a full inspection. The manager of this home was registered in November 2019. At the time of the visit, three young people were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people report feeling happy. One young person said, ‘It is the best home I have ever lived in.’ A social worker said that she had noticed a big improvement in her young person. ‘He is happy to engage in conversation and open up. We are able to have some difficult conversations in a really mature way which I feel is testament again to how happy and settled he is feeling.’

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This monitoring visit

The ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and lockdown measures, have made this a challenging time. Young people are missing positive social interactions. All young people have engaged in some level of education or training. However, some young people have found education challenging. One young person has preferred to complete online learning rather than attend school without his peers. Overall, concentration and motivation are varied. Staff ensure that worksheets are Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2554918 2 completed so that young people are on track with their learning. For one young person, the manager has been a good advocate to identify the correct learning provision. Multi-agency meetings with key professionals, such as the virtual school, social workers and headteachers, have been evidenced.

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This monitoring visit

Behaviour support plans include therapeutic input from the clinical team. The plans provide guidance and support to manage behaviours. More importantly, they encourage staff to be therapeutic in their approach. Consequently, staff have a better understanding of early childhood trauma and how they can support young people to overcome some of their emotional setbacks.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no reported episodes of young people going missing from the home. Young people are settled and enjoy positive relationships with staff.

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This monitoring visit

All young people have risk management plans. Young people who may have had previous issues relating to fire-starting have received additional input to their assessments from health and safety officers to help mitigate risk. Although there has been a reduction in incidents, the home may consider revising house rules and prohibiting items on the premises, such as aerosols and lighters, to minimise further risks. After significant incidents, debrief sessions have taken place with young people and staff. Debriefs help the manager to assess and evaluate lessons learned and measures to improve practice. Further discussions have taken place in team meetings to ensure that there is a consistent approach.

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This monitoring visit

Young people are encouraged to seek support from specialist services to help with substance misuse. There have been some aspects of low-level bullying and coercion in the home. This has been centred around substance misuse. Staff have addressed some of the concerns through key-work sessions. A comprehensive and consistent approach is required to ensure positive and healthy relationships among young people. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support young people with independence plans for future transition into semi- independent living. Some young people may require additional input from adult services. The manager has completed assessments that help support transition plans.

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This monitoring visit

An independent visitor continues to provide independent monitoring and evaluation of the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

This home has not yet been inspected. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2554918 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged to develop positive relationships with others, both inside and outside the home, as set out in the positive relationships standard. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to be aware of and manage their own safety, both inside and outside the home, to the extent that any good parent would. In particular, this relates to the appropriate use of mobile devices. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made by the children’s home since it was registered.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2554918 4 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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