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

Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several residential services provided by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children aged between eight and 18 who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post, who is currently undertaking his level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 2 September 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy living in the home and have positive relationships with staff. Children feel listened to and the staff team advocates on their behalf to ensure that children’s needs are met. One child rated the home ten out of ten and said there was nothing he would change about the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team is nurturing and genuinely cares about the children. Professionals spoken to said that the staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘The home is meeting [name of child’s] needs and have done very well to work with the challenges that he has presented.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in most areas of their lives. Purposeful key-work sessions and engaging children in direct work are strengths of the staff team. Consequently, children’s confidence, self-esteem and communication skills have improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles. Children’s weight, diet and health conditions are consistently monitored, with any support required obtained from the relevant health services. The staff team works closely with children’s mental health professionals and therapists, supporting children to attend regular sessions to improve their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

School attendance has increased for children, with one child sustaining their 100% attendance. The staff team works effectively with children’s schools to continue to improve attendance and celebrate children’s achievements. The staff are proactive in helping children to secure further education courses and plan positive transitions to their chosen colleges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Promoting family time for children is a priority in the home. Most children spend positive amounts of time with their family. Contact with family is safely risk-assessed and is at a pace that is in line with children’s wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Following the last assurance visit, the hallway area has been decorated, the carpet replaced and children’s bedrooms personalised. However, other parts of the home require replenishing due to damage caused by children and a leak in the dining- room area. The company has obtained quotes and has a schedule for the full refurbishment and modernisation of the home. This should be made a priority, to ensure that children live in a homely environment.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say they feel safe. Children’s risk assessments evidence that, in general, children’s risks have reduced. Risk assessments give staff clear guidance for safeguarding children, for example guidance on the frequency of welfare checks for children who may try to harm themselves and for children diagnosed with epilepsy. Staff understand how to help children manage risks and make safer choices. Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 4 One child has recently gone missing from the home on two occasions over a period of days, because of changes to his family contact plans. Staff followed procedures to safeguard the child and they are vigilant in trying to prevent him from going missing. The manager has implemented a safety plan, which includes working with the missing-from-home coordinator and an increase in staffing to support the child. An emergency care-planning meeting with the placing authority has been requested

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

by the manager, to agree a safe plan and to discuss family contact arrangements in line with the child’s wishes.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The use of restraint is minimal. Children and staff engage in debriefs following a restraint, to reflect on anything that could have been done differently. The manager’s evaluation is child-focused and evidences that any measures used are necessary. The staff team knows the children well and, because of this, staff respond quickly when there are signs that a child may try to harm themselves.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are not criminalised. Police support is used only if staff cannot determine a child’s safety, for example if they have barricaded themselves in their bedroom and staff suspect they may be at significant risk. Sanctions are rarely used and are restorative, to help children understand the impact of their behaviour. Rewards and incentives are used for promoting positive behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations made by children about staff working in the home are managed well and the appropriate professionals consulted with. The manager ensures that children and staff are safeguarded and supported throughout the process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and has a good understanding of how to meet their needs. He is a positive role model and is passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children. He will challenge local authorities or professionals where he feels decisions are made that are not right for children or their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they are well supported by a manager who takes time to help them with their continuous professional development. All staff receive regular reflective practice-related supervisions. Staff appraisals evidence that staff are valued, and they are set targets that are effective in developing their practice. Consequently, the manager has a stable staff team that promotes continuity of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive up-to-date training, including training that is specific to the needs of the children. The staff team is currently at a completion level of 98% for all training required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly team meetings provide staff with clear guidance about the manager’s expectations and he uses examples of practice to discuss lessons learned. Team meetings include learning tasks, to help staff develop their abilities in their role. Additional team meetings are scheduled if the manager feels the staff require extra support and reassurance following any serious incidents. Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 5 The manager must ensure that controlled medication is stored securely in a locked box within a medicine or first-aid cabinet. In addition, when administering controlled medication, two staff members should witness and sign the medicine administration record. When this is not possible because staff are lone working, an explanation should be recorded. During the inspection, the manager amended the storage of the medication appropriately. There has been no impact on children’s safety because of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s quality of care reports provide a clear and comprehensive evaluation of the service provided and improvements that the manager plans to implement. The manager also completes monthly audits to ensure that he has a thorough oversight of the operation of the home and children’s progress. Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 6

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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 make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that controlled medication is stored securely in a locked box within a locked medicine or first-aid cabinet. When administering controlled medication, two staff members should witness and sign the medicine administration record and when staff are lone working and this is not possible, an explanation should be recorded. 16 July 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children living there, and provides a homely, domestic atmosphere. This includes redecorating the home where damage has occurred. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9.)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 7

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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, Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2589392 8 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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