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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483710 1 SC483710 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 privately run and provides care for up to three children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. During the inspection, one child moved into the home. This resulted in there being two children resident during the inspection. Discussions with and observations of children have informed the judgement of this report.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has an experienced registered manager.

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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: 11 January 2023

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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: SC483710 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2023 Full Good 30/11/2021 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Full Outstanding 18/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483710 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like staff and enjoy spending time with them. Staff provide children with nurture and have built trusting relationships with them. Children speak openly with staff and seek them out to give them a hug. Children very much see the house as their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have come a long way from their starting point at moving into the home. Relatives appreciate the positive change they have seen in the children. Children who have low school attendance are encouraged to attend and complete exams. Children have been supported to attend college open days and complete applications. Although not all children attend education, staff have advocated strongly on their behalf.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make clear plans for supporting children with independence. Children have a good understanding of their care plans and options for their future. There is a strong emphasis on staff to support children with life skills, such as applying for jobs. One child has been supported to get a regular part-time voluntary job.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have a good knowledge of children’s relatives and the people who are important to them. Staff support children to reconnect and see their family where possible. Although this is positive, staff recording of daily activities, such as family time, does not yet capture information which could be important to children in the future.

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

Staff have built secure, lasting relationships with children. This reflects the sense of security children have. Children feel able to discuss any worries they have. This results in staff being able to put in place clear plans of support.

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

Staff act quickly and appropriately if a child’s whereabouts is unknown. Staff use a multi-agency approach to safeguard children. They advocate for children to be spoken to by appropriate professionals on their return to the home. Staff have nurturing conversations and offer support to children once they are home.

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

Staff create safety for children. They regularly review risks and think of ways to reduce these. Staff use children’s meetings to educate children of risks in the area. Staff support children to understand how to stay safe in the community and online.

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

Staff training is up to date and reviewed regularly. Staff are offered training that is specific to the children’s individual needs. This means that staff have an in-depth understanding of how to support children. Staff have a strong understanding of safeguarding. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483710 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is currently being overseen by a suitably experienced interim manager while the registered manager is on leave. The manager is committed to seeking the best outcomes for children in their care. Children are confident in speaking with the manager and value their advice. This results in children actively seeking out managers to talk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are safely recruited and that they receive a quality induction to the home. The manager encourages regular practice reflection through team meetings and supervision sessions. This directly improves practice. The manager does not always share supervision notes in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well as a team. Staff feel supported by the manager and feel encouraged to further develop their skills. Professionals have good working relationships with the staff team. They state that the manager and staff support children effectively and advocate on their behalf. One said, ‘I couldn’t be happier.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children’s transitions to and from the home are thorough and sensitive. Careful planning takes place for the child moving and for other children affected in the home. The manager advocates for children’s wishes and their best interests. Careful consideration is given to how a new admission to the home could impact on other residing children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no concerns regarding children’s understanding of their care planning. Staff actively support children to read their records and add their views. Therefore, this recommendation has been met. Children’s day-to-day care supports them to keep safe. Therefore, this recommendation has been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483710 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions is kept and that the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered person should ensure that daily records capture children’s lived experiences so that they have memorabilia of the time spent living at the home. The home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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: SC483710 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

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483710 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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