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

Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 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 private company. The home provides care for up to three children aged between 10 and 17 years who have complex social and/or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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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: 8 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good 19/03/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and two children have left the home. At the time of this inspection, two children lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff build positive relationships with each other. Children explained to the inspector that they feel cared for and can approach staff with any concerns. The manager listens to the views of the children and acts on them. For example, the manager had sourced an external therapeutic service in response to the views of a child. As a result, children are accessing the support that they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage education in the home. Managers and staff have good communication with the children’s education professionals and have a good understanding of children’s capabilities. They use this understanding to support children to work towards their education targets in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their families and those who matter most to them. Staff sensitively help children to increase the time they are able to spend with their families. This enables children to make long-lasting positive memories and helps develop their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to develop life skills that will prepare them for adulthood. Children learn to use public transport and cook, and staff have supported one child to gain employment. As a result, children gain confidence and improve their self- worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a safe and warm environment where children thrive and make progress. The atmosphere is calming and welcoming, and it has a family feel. Children personalise their bedrooms, which are well maintained and unique. As a result, children feel that they belong and are comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, there are areas of the home that look tired and are in need of redecoration. In addition, there are locks on communal doors, such as the lounge and kitchen doors. Although they are not locked, these give an institutional feel and do not serve a purpose in the home. For one child, a door sensor had been used on their bedroom door. This was not necessary or proportionate to have in place.

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

Children feel safe, listened to and that staff will support them immediately when concerns arise. As a result, children feel secure in their home.

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

Children do not go missing from the home often. Staff have a good understanding of what they should do should a child go missing, and they put this into practice when Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 4 children do. When children return home, the manager and staff ensure that appropriate follow-up actions occur. Children are welcomed back to the home in a nurturing manner and are given the opportunity to speak to someone independent about why they left and their time away from the home. This information is used to inform how staff respond to children’s missing incidents in the future.

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

Children have not made complaints about the home or staff. However, children know how to complain should they wish to.

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

Staff have not had to use physical interventions to support children to manage behaviours that may put themselves or others at risk. When incidents have arisen, staff have been able to de-escalate them well. Staff and the manager consult with appropriate persons following incidents, including social workers, the clinical team and family members. Staff are encouraged to reflect on the incident to identify ways to improve practice.

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

Children understand how to stay safe online. Staff use their training effectively to help children understand the risks when accessing the internet. The provider’s internet system ensures that children access age-appropriate content. This is regularly reviewed by the staff and manager to ensure that children are having a safe and enjoyable online experience.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s plans. This is demonstrated through practice. However, risk assessments do not always contain the correct information around current plans for the children. Also, review dates are not always met. This could pose a risk to children if staff who do not know the children well follow incorrect plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified registered manager. The manager has a passion to achieve the best for the children. She is committed to upskilling her staff team so that they have the correct knowledge to help children achieve positive outcomes. The manager has a clear vision for the home, and this is to provide the best opportunities for the children to thrive. One professional told the inspector, ‘The manager is an amazing mother figure. She sees the qualities within the young people and finds a way of channelling the positives within them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective supervision sessions. Staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice and to find ways of developing it. The manager guides new starters through a thorough induction process. This enables staff to build confidence within their role, resulting in high-quality care being provided for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment of staff has improved since the last inspection. Management oversight of the process has also improved. As a result, leaders are more assured that staff are safe to work with children. Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 5 Managers have obtained most of the required records for children to inform how they care for children. However, on one occasion, the manager was unable to show how she escalated concerns that she was unable to obtain the looked after children review minutes following a child’s health assessment from three months prior. The minutes from the assessment remain outstanding at the time of inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work well with the child’s wider network. The manager has developed positive relationships with external agencies, and this has enabled the team around the child to work collaboratively to meet the individualised needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager develops the staff’s knowledge by providing them with bespoke training opportunities that are relevant to the children’s needs. In addition, the manager and staff undertake research to improve their understanding of how best to support the children. The manager works closely with the clinical team to explore how children’s needs can be better met. This ensures that staff have a wealth of knowledge to provide personalised care, enhancing opportunities for positive outcomes. Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32 (4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32 (5). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that provides a domestic rather than institutional impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 1276216 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, Unit 12, Venture House, Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspectors

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1276216 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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