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 who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this visit was carried out remotely. Therefore, evidence was gathered from written records and discussions with professionals, children, and those who know the home and children well.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following concerns from two recent safeguarding notifications involving children. This visit was completed to ensure that children are safe and safeguarding procedures have been followed.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has recently resigned. However, an acting manager has been appointed and will commence the process to become the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

Records of safeguarding incidents, notifications and updates to professionals are detailed and provide an accurate account of actions taken and outcomes. Ofsted receives notifications in a timely manner. These measures ensure transparency in safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

This has been a difficult period for the home. A recent safeguarding incident has had an impact on the children living in the home, staff and management. Managers have demonstrated a thorough approach to safeguarding, immediately responding to concerns when they arose. The manager ensured that this incident was referred to the designated officer, the local authorities and Ofsted without delay. Measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of the children while this is being investigated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2554918 2 A child was able to leave the home through a downstairs window during the night. This would have remained undetected if it wasn’t for the actions of a child who alerted staff. Safety measures introduced following this incident are not robust. Daily window checks introduced to prevent the reoccurrence have not been completed at the set intervals. Further inaccuracies were identified within training records,

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This monitoring visit

identifying the need to further embed monitoring and review systems in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Behaviour risk management plans are used as live documents and reviewed following each incident. However, the window checks introduced to manage risks were not reflected within this document.

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This monitoring visit

Staff complete meaningful regular one-to-one sessions with children. These sessions encourage children to learn from previous events and situations, and promote a sense of belonging. Staff provide a nurturing environment that reflects the individual needs of the children .

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This monitoring visit

Children’s plans include therapeutic input, providing guidance and support for staff, detailing how to manage behaviours. This ensures that staff have a better understanding of trauma and how they can support children to overcome some of their emotional setbacks.

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This monitoring visit

Previous recommendations were not considered at this visit and remain from the last inspection. These will be carried forward to the next full inspection. Two requirements were set at this monitoring visit under regulation 12 and 13.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2554918 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 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— 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)) This specifically relates to ensuring that checks are completed at the correct intervals and records are maintained to accurately reflect the training needs of the team. 1 April 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. 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; 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)(b)) 1 April 2021

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2554918 4  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. This is particularly with regard 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 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.

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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

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2554918 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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