Children's home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 1 SC475347 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 part of a large private organisation. Staff provide care for up to two children between the ages of eight and 17. The children who live at the home may have experienced childhood adversity.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2023. She holds a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Residential Care.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2 November 2022

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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: SC475347 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2022 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have continued to live at the home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to develop skills that support their independence. For example, children have regular discussions with the staff on topics including puberty, personal hygiene and healthy relationships. As a result, children are more mindful of their personal presentation and are more aware of how to establish positive friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff. The registered manager is currently away from the home. However, a familiar and committed staff team has provided children with continuity. This has allowed children to feel safe and supported. Staff spend quality time with the children playing board games, riding bicycles and enjoying holidays. This helps children to feel that they belong and creates a family atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet regularly with teachers. This means that staff are informed about children’s educational progress and are able to give children the support they need. Consequently, children make continuous progress with their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is inviting and tastefully decorated. Children have participated in deciding on the decoration of the home, including helping to personalise their bedrooms. One child has their own artwork on display. Another has a football-themed bedroom. These personal touches create a homely and comfortable environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly consulted about their care. As a result, children have been supported by staff to attend a local youth club and a gymnastics club.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Children told the inspector that they feel safe and happy. Direct work with staff about the dangers of going missing from home has helped to raise children’s awareness of risk and reduces the likelihood that they will go missing.

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

The disposal of medication has improved since the previous inspection. There are now clear processes in place to ensure that medication is disposed of safely. When medication errors have occurred, they have been managed well, with clear learning and additional training for staff.

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

Consequences are used by staff when children’s behaviour does not meet agreed expectations. Consequences are proportionate, and the reason for a consequence is discussed between the child and staff. This allows the child the opportunity to reflect on and improve their behaviour. Managers review consequences in a timely manner Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 4 to ensure that they are fair and effective.

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

Managers have not always shared safeguarding concerns with Ofsted. This has reduced the regulator’s oversight of how well children are being supported and safeguarded.

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good

The registered manager was away from work at the time of this inspection. In the registered manager’s absence, two managers from within the organisation are providing support and training for staff. In addition, senior managers are regularly visiting the home.

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good

Support for staff is inconsistent. For example, a new member of staff did not have professional supervision for three months. It is also unclear if the registered manager has received regular supervision. Poor support for staff hinders opportunities for them to reflect and develop their practice.

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good

The registered manager does not routinely monitor the operation of the home or the quality of children’s care. Consequently, it is unclear how the manager has assured herself that children are receiving the support they need. Senior managers have recognised this and have commenced a full review of the quality of care.

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good

Children benefit from positive relationships with an established and consistent staff team that is safely recruited. When an agency member of staff has been used, managers have ensured that this is a regular person so that children receive consistent care from someone with whom they are familiar. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 28 September

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 28 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 28 September

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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: SC475347 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: Unit 12, Venture House, Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475347 8 regulates 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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