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

Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 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 owned by a large private provider. It is registered to provide care and support for up to three children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2019 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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 outstanding

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have exceptionally strong relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff speak highly of the children and have enormous pride in their achievements. Staff work to make sure that children have what they need and go above and beyond for them. This means that children know that staff care for them and they enjoy their time with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager have worked hard to ensure that children have a homely environment to grow up in. Bright, modern furnishings and individually decorated rooms show children how much the staff want them to live somewhere that meets their needs and provides a happy childhood. Staff are happy to do this as they are clear that the children deserve to have what they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in all areas of their lives. They have developed their skills in reading, self-care, cooking and social competency. Staff also play with children to help them to develop their cooperative skills and friendships. As a result, children are better able to cope when challenges within their relationships occur.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy countless activities and there are numerous toys and books in the home. Staff have encouraged one child with their interest in drama, which led to them being part of a stage production. Staff cannot talk about this without showing their enormous pride in this achievement. Children also enjoy holidays with staff. Staff give their time to do these things because they commit to children having memories to cherish for a lifetime.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have well-planned transitions when they move on from the home. Staff make sure that children settle into new places and take mementos of their time at the home. As a result, children have successful transitions and stay in touch after they leave.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their families when this is safe. Staff help children to prepare for this and, over time, families need less support from staff as a result. Staff understand how important it is for children to connect to their history and their family to help them to develop and understand who they are.

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

Staff manage difficult incidents with children well. The manager considers these afterwards and reflects with staff so that they can learn from these. Staff put in place risk assessments after the infrequent difficulties between children. They follow them and review them as needed. As a result, children are kept safe. Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 4 Staff work well together. They are clear on the boundaries and the approach they should use. This means that children receive predictable, routine care that helps them to feel safe. As a result of this clear approach, incidents have significantly decreased over the last six months.

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

The manager considers children’s needs, risks and behaviours before they move into the home. This assessment carefully includes the needs of the children already living in the home and the skills and experience of staff. The manager also seeks the views of children living in the home, even if children move in at short notice. This means that staff meet all children’s needs.

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

The manager provides clear guidance for staff through risk assessments and plans. The clinical team adds to this guidance using a newly implemented therapeutic plan. The clinical team also now facilitates reflective meetings that help staff to better understand children and their internal world. This helps staff to deepen their knowledge of the children in their care.

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

Staff only physically intervene with children to keep them safe. Staff complete records that aid the manager with his oversight of incidents. However, staff do not describe these physical interventions in a way that those who are not trained can understand. As a result, the narrative is more complicated for the reader, who may be a child. The manager is aware that this is an area for development in the home and has a plan in place to address this.

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

The registered manager always acts on concerns raised by children. He talks to relevant agencies and makes sure that he follows statutory guidance as needed. Staff records of complaints and concerns are clear. However, managers have not always clearly recorded decisions during on-call hours. The provider has noted this and has implemented a more comprehensive on-call log. This means that staff and managers can be held accountable for their actions and decisions if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have deep respect for the registered manager. The registered manager is aspirational about children’s futures and has high expectations for them. Staff are fully committed to these aspirations, which means that they make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Parents and professionals think highly of the registered manager and staff. They know that staff devote time to children and have faith in the care they provide. The registered manager forges respectful relationships with partners and is influential in bringing about positive change if needed. This approach means that everyone around the children supports their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has clear systems in place to monitor the home. He uses these effectively. He pays attention to details and provides feedback, which helps staff to be clear about how they will carry out their role. In addition, the registered manager is aware of the strengths and areas for development in the home. Staff are Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 5 keen to take on more responsibility, which results in them developing their own leadership in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager actively seeks feedback about the children’s care from staff, parents, professionals and the children themselves. He then acts on this feedback. For example, children wanted to brighten up their bedrooms. This resulted in a child-led makeover of the home. Children have chosen individualised wallpaper for their bedrooms. They see the home as theirs, which has resulted in damage in the home significantly decreasing over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff complete mandatory training as needed. The manager also arranges additional training that is specific to children’s needs. The registered manager identified that training could be better put into practice. The registered manager is supporting staff to do this, which makes a difference to children’s lives. The result of staff commitment and the registered manager’s forward-thinking approach is that staff provide increasingly excellent care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager meets with staff regularly for supervision. He balances personal and professional needs well, and staff feel highly supported. The registered manager puts in place aspirational objectives in appraisals so that staff know how they can develop. The combination of support that staff receive helps them to be the best they can be in supporting the children in their care. Inspection report children’s home: 1277734 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of physical interventions include a full description of the intervention so that any reader, including children, can understand them. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that decisions made by on-call managers are clear in records. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.14)

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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: 1277734 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: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited, 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: 1277734 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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