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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 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

A private provider operates this home. It can provide care for up to three children with learning disabilities, emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home reopened in February 2022 after a period of closure.

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Information about this children’s home

The new manager has been in post since December 2021, and she is suitably qualified and experienced for the role.

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Information about this children’s home

A sibling group of three children live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2022 Full Good 01/08/2019 Full Good 01/05/2019 Full Inadequate 14/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 3

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outstanding

Children excel and continue to thrive, making continued progress in all areas of their lives. Since living in this home, the children have made excellent progress in education, they enjoy improved health outcomes and have become more confident and self-assured.

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outstanding

The children have established extremely strong relationships with the dedicated staff that care for them. These strong bonds have enabled the children to fully trust the staff. In turn, the children respond constructively to the care, support and guidance that the staff provide.

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outstanding

The house where the children live is a home. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard. There are photographs on display of the children and staff out on activities. Soft furnishings, ornaments and a considerable number of children’s games and books are located all over the home. In addition, the children’s bedrooms are decorated with their choice of wallpaper and colour schemes. During the hot weather, the children have enjoyed playing in the outside portable swimming pool. The children live in an environment that positively supports their everyday family life.

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outstanding

Children receive all health check-ups and have accessed additional health support to significantly improve their current and long-term health needs. The children have now had their immunisations, and have had extensive dentistry appointments and treatments. Consequently, the children are healthier and are more confident.

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outstanding

Further health assessments have been identified to take place. These include mental health and speech and language assessments. The manager has pursued the undertaking of these assessments with the relevant professionals. However, there has been some delay and these assessments are yet to take place.

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outstanding

Children attend school full time, and this is assisting in them making academic progress. Where particular children have experienced challenges in school, the staff have fully advocated for the child. This results in the child returning to school full time, after having a reduced timetable for a period. Children respond positively to all the encouragement and support from the staff to undertake their studies and aspire to do well.

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outstanding

Children have experienced a wealth of new life experiences. They have taken up hobbies and are fully supported with new interests, for example going to the fun fair, attending a concert, playing board games, swimming, playing cricket and joining the cadets. In addition, they have taken part in festival celebrations such as Eid with traditional food, music and dance. More recently, they have been on a holiday to Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 4 London. All of these activities assist the children to enjoy life and make happy childhood memories.

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outstanding

The children benefit immensely from the consistent care provided by the staff. They have learned how to better care for themselves, learning new everyday life skills. Staff are understanding and approach personal care matters thoughtfully and sensitively. This makes certain that the children are gaining the independence skills appropriate to their age and understanding. This has built children’s self-esteem and confidence enormously.

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outstanding

Seeing family is recognised as essential. The children look forward to having family time, seeing their parents weekly and keeping in touch by telephone. This makes sure that children feel connected to those who are important to them.

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

Children are safe due to the actions of the staff who act as responsible parents. The children say they ‘feel safe’. Clear guidance and strategies to follow are recorded in written risk assessments for each child. The manager and staff demonstrate a great understanding of the vulnerabilities and potential risks posed to the children. This helps to ensure that the children are better protected from harm.

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

Children follow the rules and boundaries of their home. These include, as in most families, times for getting up for school and set times for settling to bed. These routines are now part of everyday life for the children, and this helps them to feel safer and secure in their surroundings.

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

The staff team has remained constant, with no change since the children moved into their new home. This, again, supports the continuity of care and helps the children to remain settled and content in their home environment.

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

There have been no missing from care incidents since the last inspection. Furthermore, there have been no incidents where children have needed to be held by an adult to keep them and others safe. Children respond to the calm approach of the staff, who help the children to become less anxious or angry.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. The children have built strong, trusting relationships with the staff that make them feel able to share and discuss any worries. This enables the staff to provide the appropriate support and guidance, and act when needed in the best interest of the children.

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

Staff are knowledgeable and use safeguarding protocols and procedures when required. The staff have reported incidents to other agencies and professionals to ensure that all actions are taken to keep children safe from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 5 Children benefit enormously from the ambition and drive of the manager to provide excellent care. The manager leads by example. This ensures that there is a strong nurturing culture, where only the very best for the children is acceptable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Extremely thorough internal and external monitoring systems are well established. This comprehensive auditing makes sure that all aspects of care and the running of the home are maintained to a high standard. Any deficits are swiftly addressed. Records are well organised and kept up to date. Staff are clear about the specific care, support strategies and goals for each child. This ensures that the children’s progress is methodically and closely observed in conjunction with their individual and specific care and support plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Excellent communication systems exist. These include detailed shift handovers, monthly staff meetings, weekly discussion meetings with children, clinical support meetings and communication logs. This keeps staff up to date at all times with the children’s current needs, and maintains the delivery of high-quality and consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff routinely receive supportive formal supervision that allows them time to discuss the care of the children, their role and training. This allows the manager to support and continually develop the skills of the staff. Clinical support meetings provide a regular opportunity to reflect on care practice, and to make necessary changes to better meet the children’s needs, therefore further enhancing the care provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The majority of the staff hold a level 3 qualification in caring for children and young people. The skills of staff are further enhanced by a wide range of mandatory and more specialist training. This includes behaviour management, safeguarding, PACE (playfulness, acceptance curiosity and empathy training), internet safety, trauma, and attachment. This results in a knowledgeable and skilled workforce that can respond and meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and children have enjoyed an organised ‘bonding day’ of activities. Both have completed research on topics of interest, and meet to discuss these together. Staff and children have given presentations on subjects such as internet safety, child exploitation and grooming. This joint learning has been invaluable to all, and further enhances their trusting relationships and the children’s understanding of the world around them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective collaborative and partnership working with other professionals and agencies ensures that there is a multi-agency approach to provide the best care to the children. All report that staff communication is excellent, keeping them up to date with all developments and essential information. A professional said, ‘The staff follow up on everything to support the children. They have built such trusting relationships with them. The children are safe, settled and doing amazingly. I couldn’t wish for any more from the staff.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home has a key role in organising and ensuring each child’s attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. In particular, that the manager and staff continue to pursue with vigour the outstanding health assessments for the children. These include speech and language assessments, learning, and mental health assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 34, paragraph 7.11)

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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: 1257073 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 WS11 0LG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Oliver Scrimshaw

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 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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