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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 1 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 is a privately run home. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023. She has a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children are currently living at the home.

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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: 29 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: 2490996 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Good 16/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make continued progress as a result of the focus staff give to swiftly establishing strong and trusting relationships with them. Children feel safer and they welcome the support and care that they receive. This is instrumental in the progress that children make, particularly with their self-confidence, education, health outcomes and independent life skills. Children receive ongoing support to attend school regularly and they are proud of their achievements. When a recent new college placement was not suited to one child’s needs, the manager and staff were proactive in finding a more suitable further education alternative. There is regular contact with all school staff. This communication is described by a schoolteacher as ‘excellent’. Children have passed exams that will support them into adulthood and future employment. Children enjoy good physical and emotional health, and they are supported to

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

access the services that they need when required. Children benefit greatly from a visit to the home before they move in. This also enables them to have the opportunity to meet staff who will care for them. This gives children a real sense of having a choice about their own lives. In turn, this helps them to settle in their new home more quickly. Children live in a welcoming and comfortable home. The home is well maintained, and decorated and furnished to a high standard. Children make decisions about the decoration and they personalise their bedrooms. There are soft furnishings, ornaments, pictures and photos of the children enjoying trips and holidays. This gives children a sense of personal identity and a feeling of belonging. The children respond positively to the happy and relaxed atmosphere in the home. Staff have calm conversations and discussions with children about daily life and, when required, matters of importance. Children take part in regular ‘Chit chat’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

meetings and are supported to attend their care-planning reviews. Consultation and listening to children’s views are part of the staff’s day-to-day practice. Children see their family and friends regularly, with staff support. This ensures that connections are maintained with those who are important to the children. Children enjoy a range of social and leisure activities. Staff support children’s hobbies and ensure that they have new experiences and develop new interests. Children have enjoyed short breaks at the coast and have been on holiday to Spain. Going to the cinema, bowling and out for meals are regular activities, along with games and pamper nights. A child said, ‘Our holiday was great.’ These activities broaden the children’s positive childhood experiences and help them to learn new social skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 4 As children move towards adulthood, staff assist them in developing their

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

independent living skills, including budgeting, food shopping and using public transport, and in developing their emotional resilience. This is further supported by clear and up-to-date pathway plans. Staff go the extra mile and continue to support children into adulthood, maintaining contact and visiting children to check in on them. In addition, staff assist children to attend appointments and invite them to the home for meals. This provides children with continued essential support networks that they can access when they need to. Staff understand that moving on from the home can be difficult for children. When children are ready to move on, staff plan with them and support them. Staff provide practical help, making sure that children have all the necessary essentials for their new home. Their time at the home is celebrated, and the children leave with a collation of photos that capture all the positive events that they have enjoyed while

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

Children react positively to the staff’s calm, understanding, reassuring and child- centred approach. The staff consistently focus on what the children do well. As a result, children’s self-esteem, sense of self and empathy for others improve. Staff attend regular team meetings and have consultations with the qualified therapist. These meetings focus on each child’s presenting needs. Together, the staff and therapist agree on strategies to help care for, support and safeguard the children. These are consistently applied in the staff’s day-to-day practice. As a result, children are more emotionally settled and remain safer. There has been a reduction in children’s risk-taking behaviour, such as incidents of self-harm and children going missing from the home. This is a clear indicator that children are happy and settled. There is an ethos that focuses on children’s positive interactions and behaviour.

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

There have been no events that have required the children to be physically held. Staff rarely use consequences for unwanted behaviour. Permanent staff receive suitable training in de-escalating the children’s heightened behaviour and how to safely hold a child to keep them and others safe. This helps to ensure that the children are kept safe from harm. Staff are aware of each child’s vulnerabilities and the associated risks. The children’s written risk assessments clearly detail the measures that the staff must take to reduce or eliminate the risks posed. These assessments are reviewed and updated regularly to protect and safeguard the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager demonstrates strong leadership, and has a good understanding of her role. She maintains effective oversight of the care of the children and of the staff’s practice. The manager provides a positive role model to the staff, who follow her lead, providing child-focused and nurturing care to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 5 There are thorough internal and external monitoring systems. Staff practice, the children’s case files and other records are closely checked and audited. This ensures that shortfalls are swiftly detected and addressed. As a result, children receive consistent, good-quality care. The recommendations made at the last inspection have been implemented. A new kitchen has been installed, and staff can now access reliable transportation to support the children to attend their health appointments. Staff benefit from regular formal supervision sessions, where they reflect on the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

children’s needs and on their own practice and development. Staff speak positively about the constructive support that they receive from the manager. Staff report that there is good morale and teamwork. As a result, staff enjoy their work and provide consistent care for the children. Staff benefit from daily shift handovers and regular staff meetings. This ensures that staff are kept up to date on matters, and that the effective running of the home is maintained. Staff receive a detailed induction and attend a wide range of training. Most staff hold the required level 3 childcare qualification, and they complete the provider’s mandatory training. Staff also receive specialist training, for example around autism spectrum disorder, self-harm, childhood trauma and internet safety, so that they have the knowledge and skills to meet the individual needs of the children they care for. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 6

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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: 2490996 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Oliver Scrimshaw

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2490996 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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