Children's home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 1 SC475347 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 a group of homes operated by the same organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children who need help and support with their emotions and behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2020 and has worked in the home for over nine years.

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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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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

Date of last inspection: 18 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2020 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Outstanding 31/08/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager carefully considers information she receives before children move into the home. This is to make sure that children’s needs are compatible and that staff can meet these needs well. The registered manager works with social workers to ensure that transitions are child centred. Social workers spoken to were highly complimentary about this process. This excellent practice results in children quickly feeling part of the home. Children who already live in the home are happy to have new friends to play with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children are able to take part in a variety of activities. For example, children go trampolining, visit farm parks and go on holidays with staff. Staff also understand the need for children to have low-key activities, such as baking, playing chase and with toys. This well-rounded approach to care means that children enjoy a family like experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children value the relationships they have with staff and this is reciprocated. Staff show boundless energy to give children a homely environment. They offer consistent emotional support. As a result, children feel comfortable with staff, and they know they are cared about.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in areas of their lives that are important to them. For example, staff help children who experience enuresis to manage this difficulty without shame. This builds children’s confidence. Staff also help children to develop age-appropriate independence skills. This means that when children leave the home, they have life skills that will help them in later life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children who live far from home to maintain contact with the people who matter to them. If it is safe to do so, staff welcome parents to the home so that they can see how staff care for their children. Staff work hard to maintain positive relationships with parents and families. They do this because they understand how important these relationships are for the children, who they care deeply about.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and external professionals respect the registered manager and staff. One professional told inspectors that they could not speak highly enough of their hard work and dedication. This results in parents and professionals having confidence in the care and safety in the home.

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

Staff manage difficult incidents well. They are able to guide children apart when they are struggling to get on, even when this is serious. Staff support children after incidents to help them understand what has happened and reassure them that they are safe. This means that children remain settled. Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 4 Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when they do go missing from care, staff look for them and the children quickly return. Staff also respond empathetically when children show self-harming behaviour. This means that children seek support and reassurance from staff, which helps to keep them safe.

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

Staff are clear on the boundaries and rules for children. They work consistently, and children experience routine and structure. For children who have experienced difficult starts to life, this helps them to feel safe and emotionally regulated. Staff respond thoughtfully when children show challenges in their behaviours. This predictable response helps to prevent situations escalating.

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

Staff complete risk assessments about areas where children struggle. The registered manager also receives guidance from the in-house clinical team. Unfortunately, not all staff read this guidance in a timely way. In addition, not all known information has been included in one child’s initial risk assessment. As a result, staff do not always have all the information they need to make their practice most effective. Due to the skills and experience of staff, this shortfall has not had a detrimental impact on children’s safety and welfare.

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

Staff rarely physically intervene with children. When they do, this is necessary and proportionate. On one occasion, a member of staff who was covering from another home intervened with a child as they did not have sufficient knowledge of the child. The registered manager did not talk to the member of staff afterwards and they did not complete the record about the incident. As a result, learning was limited.

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

The registered manager oversees recruitment. She makes sure that all relevant checks are complete, so that only appropriately vetted adults work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager leads with clarity. She has high expectations and supports staff to develop and achieve for children. She is also adept at challenging senior managers when it is in children’s best interests. This has led to a planned refurbishment of the whole house. Children benefit from the registered manager’s confidence and the confidence she instils in staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that children receive the help and support they need. For example, when the local NHS trust delayed a child’s operation, she raised this issue to the chief executive of the trust. Within weeks of her receiving a response, the operation took place. This tenacity means that children receive the support they need when they need it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager thoroughly investigates any complaints and allegations from children. She reaches measured, clear conclusions. The registered manager puts children at the centre of everything she does and understands that children need to feel heard. As a result of this approach, children can safely raise concerns and know they will receive a considered response. Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 5 The registered manager knows the home, children and staff exceptionally well. Without exception, staff respect the registered manager and how she strives with them to get the best for children. Staff regularly meet with children and their views influence all areas of the home. These factors combine to mean that children receive care that is focused on their well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of the home. However, some areas lack attention to detail. For example, the minutes for one child’s statutory review could not be found, and the children’s guide does not provide all required contact details. Staff are also not following the guidance in the health and safety risk assessment, which means they reverse the car off the driveway onto a busy road. While these issues have not had a demonstrable impact on the quality of care, they are shortfalls that need to be addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are regularly supervised and receive guidance on their practice. However, records are variable. This does not detract from how supportive staff find these meetings. Staff access training to support them in their work which is relevant to the children in their care. Overall, these structures ensure that morale in the team remains high and children benefit from a staff team that really wants to care for them. Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 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 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

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that records are complete, that staff read key information about children in a timely way, and that staff follow health and safety advice and the guidance in the location risk assessment. 27 September

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff receive a reflective debrief after incidents which promotes learning and that staff involved sign the record as accurate. 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 27 September Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 7 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that documents are received after statutory meetings and these are kept in the children’s files.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that information about how children can access advocacy support and details for the office of the children’s commissioner are included in the children’s guide. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered person should ensure that as she becomes aware of information regarding children’s behaviours and associated risks these are incorporated into children’s risk assessments. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for all staff and that the record is suitably detailed and of good quality. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: SC475347 8

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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 WS11 0LG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rebecca Grimshaw

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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC475347 9 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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