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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children who live here are happy and feel safe and cared for. They have positive and trusting relationships with staff, which allows them to feel comfortable sharing worries.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have meaningful conversations with the children regularly. Conversations cover all elements of the children’s lives, including life skills. This supports children to develop a good understanding of why people may be worried about them. It also enables children to develop and improve skills to reduce those worries.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s life experiences and how these may impact on their behaviour. Reflective discussions that are facilitated by the manager after incidents strengthen staff’s ability to understand children’s behaviour as a form of communication. There are minimal incidents in the home, and physical intervention has only been used once. This was to keep a child safe and was proportionate to the risks.

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Findings from the inspection

When children’s behaviours have been antisocial, staff have used consequences as a way to support the children to adapt their behaviours. Consequences generally are restorative in nature and focus on helping the child to understand the impact of their behaviour. However, the detail and context are not always captured in the record to allow the manager to have full oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are generally in good health and have their health needs met. However, on one occasion when a child was unwell, staff followed advice given over the telephone rather than arranging for the child to be seen face-to-face. This led to a family member taking the child to hospital and receiving appropriate intervention. The manager has reflected on this incident and has implemented changes to ensure this is not repeated.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from home, staff respond appropriately in line with children’s plans. Staff follow children and contact others who may know where the child is. The manager liaises with other agencies to ensure that there is clear and up-to-date information available, to make sure that risks are understood.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are reviewed and updated appropriately. They contain clear strategies for staff to follow. There is an up-to-date risk assessment relating to the local area that contains relevant information gained through consultation with partner agencies. This information supports the manager to appropriately mitigate against newly identified risks. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 3 Children have positive experiences of moving into and out of the home. When children move in, the manager ensures that staff have the skills to meet their needs. The manager and staff meet children, and children spend time in the home. This supports positive relationships being established from the offset. When children move out, they often keep in touch with staff at the home due to their positive relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive reflective supervision. This considers their needs in relation to their own development as well as reflecting on the progress of the children. The manager uses supervision to address any concerns with staff’s practice. However, supervision does not always take place in a timely way.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has not informed Ofsted of a notifiable event. This prevents Ofsted from having oversight of concerns and the actions from the home and partner agencies.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations about staff and complaints are responded to appropriately. The manager ensures that thorough investigations take place and all allegations or complaints are responded to appropriately. Relevant action is taken when needed, and the provider ensures that learning takes place. The manager appropriately shares information with partner agencies when this is required.

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Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment checks take place and ensure that staff are safe to work with children. However, the records show gaps in employment and verification of references. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 16/02/2022 Full Outstanding 28/01/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must have effective systems to ensure that the supervision of staff takes place in a timely way, that consequences are recorded and evaluated appropriately and that safer recruitment guidelines are followed, particularly in relation to gaps in employment being explicitly explored and recorded. 3 June 2024

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and 13 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 6 any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(c) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children express that they are unwell, or have been observed to be unwell, appropriate health appointments are made. When health advice cannot be followed by children, additional advice should be sought to ensure that children receive the medical treatment that has been prescribed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 7.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 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

Joanna Beal, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249183 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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