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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 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 privately run and provides care for up to four children. The children receive care and support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021. He is experienced and has recently completed the level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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 this setting on 22 and 23 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 outstanding

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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: 5 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the strong, nurturing and consistent care provided by the staff. The children told the inspector that this is a good place to live.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The very positive relationships built between the children and staff have resulted in the children trusting those who care for them. In turn, this helps the children to listen to the staff’s guidance and they start to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have made good progress in all aspects of their lives. They have become increasingly safer, their education attendance and attainment have improved and their physical health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Every effort is made by staff to help prepare the children for the next step in their lives. Children have gained good independence skills, and have increased emotional resilience and self-confidence. These skills will help children with the challenges that they face in their daily lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend health assessments and routine check-ups, for instance going to the dentist’s and optician’s. There is a focus on health, following a balanced diet and encouraging engagement in leisure interests that promote physical activity. The staff access the psychologist, who assists them to work therapeutically with the children. Therefore, the children’s immediate and longer-term health needs are being met effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child has a placement care and support plan, along with other supporting records. These set out how the child is to be cared for. Staff follow and implement the plans to support the children’s continued progression.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children flourish because of the wealth of good-quality direct work undertaken with them by the staff. This is where children have discussions, receive guidance and the staff listen to the children. This important work assists children to learn how to keep themselves safe, manage their emotions and gain further social and life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children attend school or alternative placements full time. Teachers report that all children’s attendance has increased since coming to live at the home. Children receive a strong message from staff about the importance of attending school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where education placements are not meeting the needs of children fully, the manager and staff are proactive in addressing these matters. However, on the occasions when children are not attending school, the home does not have all the necessary resources. This does not assist children to undertake schoolwork in line with their curriculum and study options. Therefore, this falls short of supporting the children to maintain and reach all expected educational targets and goals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 4 Children thoroughly enjoy social activities and hobbies that the staff promote. Children have regular social and leisure outings. These include mixed martial arts sessions, playing pool, going go-karting, visiting adventure parks and meeting friends. One child has a pet hamster, and as a group the children regularly play board and electronic games. This increases the child’s participation in leisure

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

pursuits, promotes their interests and builds their self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Talking to children and gaining their views and opinions is part of everyday life. The staff include children in decision-making, such as the choice of meals and activities and about matters that affect their care and future. This empowers children and builds their confidence in contributing and making decisions about their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit enormously from seeing their families. These relationships have been strengthened and visits have now increased. Staff recognise the importance of this to children. Staff have established a very good rapport with parents and others. This makes certain that children’s connexions with their family continue to be positive. The children remain connected to those who are important to them. A parent said: ‘My son is doing brilliant. We are getting on so much better. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff and the care my son receives.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they have a really nice home to live in. There has been a lot of time, thought and care dedicated to improving and making the house a home for the children. The downstairs has been decorated and lounges and other areas have been further personalised. There is an array of photos of the children, pictures, ornaments and soft furnishings. This makes the environment a pleasant place to be.

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

The staff are fully aware of all safeguarding procedures and implement the measures they must take to keep children safe.

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

Staff know the children extremely well and demonstrate a good understanding of the care, potential risks and vulnerability of each child. Detailed records are kept that specify the action staff must take to reduce any identified risk and vulnerability. The staff implement the strategies identified. This assists in keeping children safer.

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

When allegations are made, they are reported to the local authority designated officer and placing social workers. Suitable and immediate action is taken, following procedures and protocols. The matters are investigated to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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

Missing-from-home incidents have recently reduced, with no occurrences in the last month. Staff work tirelessly to find children when they do go missing from home and call on the police to assist in line with protocols. When children return, they are welcomed home and supported with care. Staff carry out direct work with the children to identify the triggers for such episodes. They help children to understand the dangers of not returning home. This action supports children to become increasingly safer. Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 5 The ethos of the home celebrates and focuses on children’s achievements, and frequent praise and positive behaviour are routinely acknowledged. Children benefit from clear boundaries and rules. The children are frequently rewarded for their positive achievements. Consequences for negative behaviour are rarely used. The consistent and positive care that children receive helps them to feel safer and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an especially defined vision and high ambition for the children in his care. He is fully aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He inspires and has established an exceptional culture of nurture, understanding and guardianship that assists staff enormously to provide the best care and support for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is excellent partnership and collaborative working with professionals and agencies. The manager and staff have highly efficient and effective communication skills and systems. This ensures that all relevant parties are kept up to date about the child’s care and the areas where additional support is required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Where professionals and agencies fall short of providing the best for the children, the manager makes professional representation and challenges this. This makes certain that children receive the support and care that they require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit enormously from being cared for by a committed and child-centred staff team. Staff receive monthly formal supervision that is highly reflective, with a focus on their development and understanding of the children that they care for. In addition, staff receive clinical supervision. Staff remain focused on achieving the development goals set. This enables the continued development of staff skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are daily shift handovers and in-depth regular team meetings, including meetings with the clinical support team. The manager embraces staff contributions, and this generates creative ideas. This enables the staff to provide strong, consistent care, through frequent discussions about how they are to best support and care for the children and meet their diverse needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The provision of high staffing levels ensures that the children receive the care and attention identified to meet the individual needs of all.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff undertake all mandatory training, which includes safeguarding, first aid, medication, and health and safety. They receive more specialist training in areas such as foetal alcohol syndrome, child trauma, gangs and drugs awareness. This equips the staff with the knowledge and skills to care for children and keep them safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a comprehensive internal and external monitoring system of the care and service provided. This assists immensely in the detection of omissions and shortfalls, Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 6 which are swiftly addressed. The development plan for the home sets out the areas for improvement and the action to be taken to address these. This helps tremendously to maintain the very good quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 7

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that staff support each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn independent study skills and helping them to practise those skills. In particular, children should have educational study materials and relevant books at the assessed level of learning to support achieving educational targets and to achieve expected grades in exams. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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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: 2494962 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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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2494962 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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