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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to two children who need support with their presenting behaviours and emotions and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since March 2022 and has the relevant qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 14 September 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, there were no children living at the home. One child had recently moved out and one child was due to move in in the next week. At this visit, children’s experiences since the last inspection were considered.

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The care of children

Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned. Staff support children’s moves into the home by spending time with them before they move in. This supports children to build relationships with staff and helps them settle in. Similarly, staff ensure that placement endings are managed sensitively. Staff have been out for several meals with the child who recently moved out of the home. This has supported the child to have a positive ending to their time at the home.

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The care of children

Staff spend time with children exploring their thoughts and feelings about their day- to-day experiences. Conversations focus on the children’s individual needs, with staff giving the children guidance and support on matters they most need help with.

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The care of children

The home is well presented. Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to the home environment. New flooring has been fitted downstairs, several rooms have been painted and new furniture has been ordered. This means that the home is a welcoming and comfortable environment for children to move into.

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The care of children

Children’s health needs are prioritised. Staff support children effectively with all their health needs. This helps children to have enhanced health outcomes.

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The care of children

Staff support children to have well-planned daily structures and routines. They implemented a consistent night-time routine which helped one child to have a better sleep pattern. This resulted in the child having improved attendance at school. When children struggle at school, the manager and staff quickly communicate with education professionals to ensure that the child is getting the right support they need to succeed in their education.

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The safety of children

Managers and staff understand and manage risk effectively. Detailed behaviour support plans and risk assessments are in place. These are regularly reviewed and updated and include appropriate actions for staff to follow to reduce risks to children. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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The safety of children

Incidents are well managed. Physical interventions are few and are only used as a last resort. Records are detailed. Managers have oversight of all incidents and they Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 3 provide staff and children with a reflective debrief after the use of the intervention. Managers challenge any poor practice identified. This ensures that, when used, physical intervention is proportionate and necessary.

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The safety of children

Managers respond quickly when there are allegations or concerns about staff practice. They ensure that the local authority designated officer is always informed and that all concerns are investigated. This helps children to be confident to raise any concerns, as they know staff will take them seriously.

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The safety of children

There is a well-coordinated response when children go missing from home. Staff follow the children’s individual protocols by searching the local area and liaising with social workers and police. Interviews with children take place when they return home so they can share any concerns they may have with staff.

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The safety of children

Staff have relevant skills and training to meet the needs of the children in their care. Specific needs-led training is being facilitated to ensure that staff can safely and knowledgeably support the child who is due to move into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is managed by a permanent, suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. She is extremely committed and enthusiastic. She has developed a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have worked hard to improve the quality of care. As a result, all requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have implemented new audit systems and have made good use of external monitoring to support the continued development of the service and care practices. However, when completing the review of the quality of care, the manager has not considered the impact the care provided is having on outcomes and improvements for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Practice in the home is reflective and staff are very positive about the support they receive from the manager. Staff receive regular good-quality supervision and annual appraisals. This supports them to feel valued and to develop and improves the quality of care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager ensures that staff understand their roles and responsibilities. She provides staff with relevant training to help them to develop in their roles and meet children’s individual needs

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager manages complaints well. She liaises with other professionals to ensure that there is a robust response to complaints or issues of concern. She also ensures that the complainants are informed of the outcomes of their complaints. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 4 The manager normally informs Ofsted when there are safeguarding concerns. However, on two occasions, the manager failed to notify Ofsted about a serious safeguarding concern. This means the regulator may not have all the relevant information to understand what is happening in the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 30 March 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when completing the review of the quality of care, they focus on the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 6

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

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569994 7 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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Inspector

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