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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 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 home is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left the organisation, and a new manager has been appointed. He has submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. All children spoke to the inspectors about their experiences of living in 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/04/2023 Full Good 20/04/2022 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in all areas of their lives. They say that they enjoy living in the home and that they are happy. Children have been supported to develop trusting relationships with the staff, who are nurturing and caring. Children say that they can share their views and feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff care about the children and understand them well. They take time to understand each child’s individual needs and work with professionals to support children’s needs in line with their plans. Professionals say that they are happy with the care provided to the children and know that they are making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are accessing education or employment. One child, who struggled to maintain a college placement in the past, is now undertaking an apprenticeship with the local council and excelling in this. The child has recently won an award, which has boosted their confidence and helped to drive their aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. They are registered with health services and attend routine appointments. When needed, children have access therapeutic services. The team works well with health services to ensure that children’s emotional needs are supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence skills in line with their age and stage of development. For example, one child has been helped with his oral hygiene, and another child has been supported to apply for their driving licence. In addition, children engage in a range of activities, such as horse riding and gym workouts, to further develop their skills. The home now has two bikes for staff to use as requested by the children. This helps children to know that they are listened to and that their views are acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a modern and well-decorated home. The home has a warm, homely feel. Photos of the children are displayed around the home, which gives children a sense of belonging. Children have personalised their bedrooms to their individual tastes and take pride in their personal space.

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

Children say that they feel safe and supported by staff who understand them well. Children benefit from secure relationships with staff and are helped to work through different issues. As a result of these positive relationships, risks to children are reduced and children are kept safe from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 4 All children have behaviour support plans that identify their risks and vulnerabilities well. These plans are thoroughly understood by staff and updated when needed. This means that staff have the most up-to-date information to look after the children well.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to manage incidents. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately and talk to children about the incident. This helps children to feel safe. As a result of children feeling safe, they do not go missing from the home.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been two incidents when a child has been held to keep themselves and others safe. Physical restraint is used as a last resort, and oversight from the manager ensures that any areas of learning for the team are identified. Following one incident, a staff member involved carried out the debrief, which did not allow the child an opportunity to talk about their feelings with someone independent of the incident. A requirement made at the last inspection has been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recently been appointed. He previously worked in the home as the deputy manager so knows the children and staff well. The manager is supported by a deputy manager, and they work together to promote a positive environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager lead by example. Staff describe them as being ‘good role models’ to the children and the team. The transition between one manager leaving and the new manager starting has been seamless, and children are positive about the changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions and appraisal reviews throughout the year. This allows them to reflect on their work with children. The manager shows an interest in staff development and records information relating to this in supervision records. The records are of variable quality. This is part of the manager’s development plan as he progresses in his management role. The manager receives good-quality supervision and support from the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and focus on the progress children are making and what can be done to improve practice in the home. Staff attend and contribute to the meetings well, which ensures that their voices influence the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team ensures that plans for children are up to date and reflective of their needs. However, recording shortfalls, including health plans not being available, one child’s information being recorded on another child’s record, and key-work sessions not reflecting the full discussions that take place, fail to provide staff with the correct information and guidance they require to meet children’s needs. This also limits management oversight of practice in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 12 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 6 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child is spoken to about the incident by someone who was not directly involved.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child’s death;

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s statutory documents are available and that records are accurate and reflective of their daily experiences. In addition, work carried out with children during key-work sessions should be clearly recorded. 12 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 7

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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: 2554918 8

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

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Inspectors

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Donna Ryan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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