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

Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 1 SC463852 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run home offers support and therapeutic care for up to four children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma which has left them vulnerable.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has an experienced registered manager who has the necessary management qualification and has been in post since January 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2021 Full Good 25/09/2019 Full Good 19/12/2018 Full Good 10/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and two children have moved in. At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. Three of them have lived in the home for over three years and the fourth has lived there for almost a year. All children are making significant progress from their starting points.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported one child to have a successful move into their own accommodation. Leaders and managers did not consider the impact on existing children of quickly moving a new child moving into the home after this child left. Additionally, they did not have sufficient information to assess a child’s needs effectively. As a result, managers and staff had a poor understanding of this child’s complex needs. The child left the home earlier than expected and the experiences of children already living in the home were compromised. Managers learned from this experience when moving another child in and this child quickly settled.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff sensitively support children with their health and well-being. They work closely with clinicians to understand children’s emotional needs. Staff seek specialist help when necessary and carry out research to meet the specific needs of the children they care for. The multi-team approach means that children’s health needs are promoted effectively.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff give children’s education the highest priority. All children achieved good results in their recent GCSE exams and now attend the school or college of their choice. When children experience barriers to learning, staff advocate for them with teachers in the way a good parent would. As a result, children continue to learn and to make progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff speak highly of children. They know them and their achievements very well. They encourage children to acquire additional skills outside school. Children take driving lessons and are encouraged to volunteer and to work part time. As a result, children are aspirational and talk positively about their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to have a positive relationship with the people who are important to children. They have a good understanding of family dynamics, and they support children’s relationships in line with their wishes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop skills for independent living by supporting them to carry out everyday routines and chores. Children take turns to cook a meal for other children and staff every week. They learn budgeting skills by shopping for this meal. Staff have a clear expectation that children regularly clean their room and do their laundry. When the time is right, children are supported to travel independently. As a result, children naturally become more independent, at a pace they are comfortable with. Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 4

p.3

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

Staff know children extremely well. They are constantly vigilant and are professionally curious when they notice changes in children’s behaviours. When children’s risks escalate, staff take decisive action to keep children safe. They then use their strong relationships to set out clear rules and boundaries, which children follow. As a result, children feel safe and contained and emerging risks do not escalate.

p.4

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

Managers and staff have an excellent relationship with the local police. Staff share any safeguarding concerns and ‘soft intelligence’ with them. Managers update themselves about risks in the community through close liaison with the police. This ensures that risks in the community are fully understood and children are kept safe.

p.4

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

Regular consultation with clinicians is used well and is effective in improving staff practice. This allows staff to understand the reasons behind some behaviours and provide an excellent nurturing environment for the children. Staff follow the principles of restorative practice. They manage inappropriate behaviour through natural consequences, which helps children to take responsibility and learn from their behaviour.

p.4

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

Incidents are rare, and staff have restrained children on only one occasion since the last inspection. On this occasion, managers did not have sufficient information to assess if the measure used was necessary and proportionate. They were not professionally curious when staff failed to record strategies used to de-escalate a child’s complex behaviours. This was a missed opportunity for managers and staff to consider other strategies. The child left the home earlier than planned because managers and staff could not meet their needs.

p.4

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

Staff work hard to keep children safe, by holding regular planned meetings and ad- hoc discussions. They use online resources with children to discuss topics such as child sexual exploitation and online risks. Staff regularly involve children in completing their own risk assessments, so that children understand their own risks and strategies to keep them safe. This approach enhances children’s feelings of safety and security.

p.4

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

Staff ensure that children live safely together. Children have not reported bullying in the home, which demonstrates how settled and protected they feel. Consequently, this creates a settled and nurturing environment where children are safe, calm and comfortable. Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a highly motivated and committed leader and an inspirational presence in the home. She is an exceptionally positive role model because she places children at the centre of her practice. Children enjoy spending time with the manager, and they talk about her attending their birthday parties and going on holiday with them. This outstanding practice has resulted in children thriving, achieving and progressing.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say the manager is ‘brilliant’ and ‘an exceptional manager’. Staff morale is high and staff turnover is minimal. No agency or bank staff have been used since the last inspection and any shortfalls in staffing are covered by existing staff and the manager. As a result of this exceptionally consistent care, children have close and trusting relationships with adults who know them extremely well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is exceptionally positive. One social worker described the support from managers and staff for their child as ‘fantastic’ and said, ‘I think the staff are just wonderful with her.’ Another social worker praised managers and staff for their excellent partnership working and said, ‘They take on board what I am trying to achieve.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The passionate and motivated staff receive regular reflective supervision and consistent support. Most staff hold the required level 3 diploma and receive a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. As a result, children receive high-quality care from skilled and well- informed staff who are fully invested in children’s progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains constant oversight of the home, using a range of review and monitoring systems. These effective systems provide a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. This means that managers can quickly address issues and plan developments and improvements across the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent relationships with partner agencies, which ensures that children’s needs are met effectively. For example, she consults with the local mental health team when children are at risk of self-harm, and with drug and alcohol services. This means that children have quick access to local and specialist resources for support with their mental health and emotional well-being.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s views are central to the running of the home. Staff consult children in all aspects of their care and support them to take increasing control of decisions that affect them. Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

p.6

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: SC463852 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Karen Gillingwater, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC463852 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8