Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands Office GW7, 101 Lockhurst Lane, Great Heath, Coventry CV6 5SF

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service. The service provides up to 51 single occupancy supported accommodation premises and up to 28 shared premises that are not limited to looked after children and care leavers.

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provider

The registered manager resigned on 14 November 2023. A new manager commenced in post on 1 December 2023 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring inspection of this provider in response to whistle- blowing concerns about the conditions of some accommodation and the quality of support provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors visited two properties, one of which was being refurbished and had no children living there.

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This monitoring visit

Systems designed to maintain good standards of safe, clean and well-maintained accommodation are ineffective. At one of the properties, the fire escape and courtyard garden was littered with discarded rubbish bags. Staff had known about this since November 2023, but had not taken any action to remove them. This does not ensure that fire evacuation routes remain hazard free or that good standards of environmental cleanliness are maintained. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands Children told inspectors about several issues relating to their accommodation and how they had reported maintenance issues and requested things, such as a dining table and chairs and additional storage for their bedrooms. Lots of damage was seen throughout the building, including a ripped sofa, a broken bedroom door and a handle missing from the kitchen door. Overall, there is a lack of personalisation to

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This monitoring visit

this accommodation, which did not feel welcoming or homely. Positively, the manager took action to start addressing these shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Children do not receive support where they need it the most. For example, staff are failing to implement support plans that are designed to support children at risk of exploitation or help children re-engage in education. Children spoke openly about smoking, drinking alcohol and using cannabis in the home, evidence of which was seen during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has developed and started to implement an improvement plan for this service. This includes making changes to the way children are supported and how staff are held to account. The manager has high expectations and is focused on improving children’s experiences. However, there is a need to prioritise and focus on several areas that fall well short of good-quality supported accommodation. Consequently, Ofsted have issued compliance notices in respect of accommodation and support. A further visit will take place to monitor and assess progress in relation to these notices. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the 'Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards'. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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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

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children;

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Requirement Due date

comply with all relevant statutory provisions dealing with health and safety or fire safety matters. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)) 18 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

*The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child; 18 February 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to access education, training or employment;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(m)(n))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Horizon Care & Education Group, Unit 12, Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, WS11 0LG

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Inspectors

Alli Tandy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Horizon Supported Accommodation West Midlands 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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