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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 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 privately operated home provides care for up to three children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (social and emotional difficulties). The home was registered in November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

There have been two changes of manager since the home was registered. The current manager was registered in November 2021.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited the setting on 4 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website. This is the home’s first full inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 3

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improvement to be good

This home provides spacious living accommodation for children. Soft furnishings and appropriate decor create a homely environment. There is some evidence of wear and tear, including to the kitchen cabinets. Some rooms are currently empty, and the home would benefit from some reorganisation to ensure that all the rooms are used effectively.

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improvement to be good

Despite one child isolating due to testing positive for COVID-19, both children spoke to the inspector about their daily life experiences. The inspector observed warm and nurturing relationships between staff and children. Children said they felt happy and enjoy living at the home. One child said: ‘Staff respect and listen to me.’ A parent said that the staff were good at communicating with her about the care of her child. Family time is promoted to ensure that children maintain positive relationships with their family members.

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improvement to be good

Although professionals report good working relationships with key stakeholders, a headteacher reported that, on occasion, information shared between the home and school is not always handed over to other staff members. A multi-agency approach is required to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively at school and that all parties agree a plan to keep children safe. A requirement has been made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have missed important health reviews due to refusing to attend their health appointments. Alternative methods to ensure that children are represented and that they have the correct medication have been delayed. Assessment and review of medication are important to ensure that children are on the correct medication dosage.

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improvement to be good

Relevant health documents are missing from a child’s records and therapeutic plans suggested by psychologists and health practitioners are not consistently followed. For example, a recommendation made to promote better night-time routines by minimising the use of electronic devices at night has not been implemented. The inspector noted a smell that indicated drug misuse and found smoking paraphernalia in one child’s bedroom. The manager reported that rooms are checked daily, however, this is not consistent with the presentation of the room. A requirement is made to address both health matters.

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improvement to be good

The views of children are not routinely captured. Children’s meetings are scheduled to take place once a month, however, the meetings are inconsistent. A requirement has been made to ensure that the views of children are noted and that they have an input into the quality of care they receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 4 Key-work sessions take place, however, sessions do not focus on how children can gain a better understanding of their actions. A social worker fed back that there can be a lack of consistency and reinforcement of information to ensure that children understand routine and boundaries.

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improvement to be good

Risk management plans do not identify effective strategies to manage current risks. The plans are not routinely stored in the relevant filing system. The manager found them difficult to locate, which indicated that staff were also unaware of where to find them.

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improvement to be good

One child frequently engages in drug misuse. This child is known to smoke in his room. The fire risk assessment is outdated and does not reflect the current risk factors for this child. There was little evidence to show that significant work has been undertaken with this child to help him understand the risks associated with drug misuse, and the negative effect on his emotional, mental and physical well- being.

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improvement to be good

A child who is considered to be at risk of sexual exploitation does not have a safety plan around mobile phone use. This is necessary to ensure detailed monitoring of the child’s activity, following a recent safeguarding concern linked to receiving inappropriate messages. The oversight and checking of mobile phone apps are not clear from records. Neither the manager nor the staff have a detailed understanding of potential risks relating to popular mobile apps and training is required to keep children safe.

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improvement to be good

In-house therapists have recently joined the staff team and offer support and guidance to staff in monthly therapeutic support meetings. At present, evidence shows that staff do not follow the recommendations made at the meeting to help and support children.

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improvement to be good

A consistent approach to ensure that children have clear routines and boundaries in place is lacking. One child has difficulties in sleeping at night and consequently has disruption to their daily routines, causing problems with attendance at college.

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improvement to be good

Overall, there was no evidence of a multi-agency safeguarding approach to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. The manager does not routinely attend important meetings, such as education and care planning meetings, for children. Attendance at such meetings would ensure that the manager has a thorough understanding of the needs of children in her care. This would also help to identify any emerging safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 5

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good

The manager is experienced in the role and was registered by Ofsted based on her previous experience and knowledge of managing children’s homes. The manager is caring and considerate to the children in her care.

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good

The inspector found insufficient management oversight of records. Files were disorganised and outdated risk assessments were still in children’s files. The manager reported that she had struggled with the provider’s filing systems. The lack of oversight hinders the ability to keep records, risks and strategies up to date. Records of supervision and team meetings indicate that minutes are missing, and the manager was unable to confirm whether supervision and/or team meetings had taken place. A requirement is made to cover leadership and management.

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good

The manager was unable to confirm that children’s health appointments had been rescheduled or that safeguarding meetings had taken place following the concern in school.

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good

Staff do not have the necessary training to support children with specific health needs, such as ADHD. Staff do not fully understand how to help and support those children to achieve their full potential.

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good

Staff report that a therapeutic overview is helpful, however, currently the therapeutic team do not physically meet the children before formulating therapeutic plans. A visible presence in the home to offer support to children would be helpful.

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good

Management oversight of key-work sessions contains critical comments from the manager. However, comments to improve staff recording are not appropriate on the records of children. A recommendation has been made to address this matter. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 1 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 7 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— 1 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 8 develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 1 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 9 support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and 1 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 10 children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, comments from the manager critical of staff recording should not be recorded on the child’s records. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 for children’s home: 2554918 11

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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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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 12 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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