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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 1 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 home is operated by a privately owned company. It provides care for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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 good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 21/12/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good 19/09/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good all-round experiences of living at this home. Children benefit from living in a family environment. The home environment feels calm and relaxed. The children’s rooms are personalised to their tastes and adapted to meet their specific medical needs where appropriate. One child said, ‘It isn’t like any children’s home. It is a real home, a family home.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s therapeutic model of care is well established, and children experience consistency. Staff are confident in delivering this approach, and this has now become second nature to them. The approach can be seen in all aspects of children’s care, for example in how staff connect and communicate with children and the caring language that they use when talking to children and writing in their records.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good educational progress, and their outcomes are improving. Staff have helped one child who has had a difficult educational history to transition to a new school successfully. The child feels more positive about learning and now enjoys going to school. A school staff member for another child described the staff at the home as ‘unbelievable’ in how they have supported the child. They said the staff and manager ‘see the children and the solutions for the children’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a wide range of experiences and activities. Some children need lots of encouragement to take part in activities away from the home. When children choose not to participate, staff listen to their wishes and then seek to find something new to pique their interest. Children are having fun and learning new skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children knowing their life story. One child is being well supported to understand his journey. Staff ensure that children receive specialist support when this is needed. This includes working alongside a play therapist to help the children communicate their feelings. Staff use the advice they receive from specialists to inform the children’s care. Children receive good care that is responsive to their needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have free access to all areas of the home. However, the sensors on children’s bedroom doors continue to make a sound, despite the manager saying they are turned off. The children’s individual plans identify that these sensors are not in use.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in the planning for their move to independence. A bespoke and personalised approach has helped one child to live independently. The manager strongly advocated for the child to ensure the right support was available. The child said, ‘It was like they customised everything for me. [Name of staff] put everything in place. I learned how to use money, and they trained my mind.’ The Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 4 child has remained in touch, and the manager and staff continue to support them emotionally and practically.

p.3

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

Children’s individualised risk assessments capture their needs and consider how staff are best placed to help children be safe. The documents are regularly reviewed and kept up to date. Staff know how to help children and keep them safe.

p.4

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

Staff work collaboratively with children. This is helping them achieve good outcomes. Staff frequently talk to children and complete work with them about things that are important. The work is targeted and aligned with children’s goals and key issues that arise for them. The child-focused sessions routinely capture the children’s voice, and their wishes and feelings are acted on.

p.4

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

The recruitment of staff is generally in line with safe practice. The manager follows up on any practice issues and provides a clear rationale about the decisions made. However, on one occasion, a member of staff had a gap of several months in their employment history. This was not addressed during the recruitment process.

p.4

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

Staff use their knowledge of the children to promote positive behaviour. When incidents occur, they are dealt with effectively. When children are upset, staff use their relationships to connect with them and seek their views. When situations escalate, staff use their knowledge of what works for the child to help them to better regulate. The frequency and duration of incidents are decreasing. Children are learning how to manage their emotions better.

p.4

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

When children behave in a way that may cause harm to themselves or others, staff consistently apply the home’s method of physical intervention. On one occasion when the manager was involved in holding a child, they also completed the management review of the intervention. This was completed outside of the timescales set out in regulations. Independent scrutiny of the incident was not achieved in a timely manner.

p.4

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

Children’s complaints and allegations, including those against staff and peers, are taken seriously. The manager and staff understand the relevant procedures and ensure they are followed. The manager writes to children to keep them informed. Children feel heard and well supported. This is helping them to develop empathy and tolerance. Staff are also well supported while investigations take place. This helps to keep all involved, particularly children, safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the staff and children well. While she is a newly registered manager, she has significant experience and knowledge from her previous role as senior residential support worker. She is child-centred and demonstrates a clear drive to ensure that children receive good care. She understands the home’s strengths and where improvements can be made. When weaknesses are identified, Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 5 she responds with plans to address these. Consequently, the management oversight of the home is effective.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been some staff turnover. The manager understands the impact of this on children and staff and puts measures in place to minimise the uncertainty of change. Agency staff who are familiar with the children and the home are used when needed to ensure safe staffing levels. The home is adequately staffed to meet the needs of the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision considers both personal and practice issues. Staff feel able to raise concerns about their peers and other professionals, and they have an opportunity to reflect on children’s needs. Actions are set and reviewed. Staff feel well supported.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with relevant training and creative learning opportunities that help them be effective in their role. When children have additional needs, for example medical needs, staff are provided with specific training. Staff are continuously developing their skills and knowledge. Children are cared for by staff who are skilled to meet their needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are relevant, well written and kept up to date. The local authority care plan for one child was not available on file. This does not help the manager ensure that children are being cared for in line with local authorities’ expectations. Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that all door alarms are silenced when not in use. 20 June 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that any gaps in employment for individuals are identified and fully explored. 20 June 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 20 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 7 In particular, the registered manager must ensure that when they are involved in a measure of control, they appoint an authorised person to review the measure and speak to the child within the prescribed timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that copies of the children’s local authority care plans are held within the children’s records. 20 June 2023

p.7

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: 1245572 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Oliver Scrimshaw

p.8

Inspectors

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1245572 9 and inspects 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.8

Inspectors

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9