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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run and provides care to up to three children. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. Two children were resident at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is experienced and is registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Good 27/03/2023 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Good 16/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to make excellent progress. Children like where they live and the staff who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions for children are well managed, and children are meaningfully supported throughout. Staff go above and beyond to make celebrations extra special for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create opportunities for positive memories between children and their families. One child felt that they had the ‘best day’ when out with staff and their sibling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff build meaningful and lasting relationships with children and their families. These relationships are formed from family members feeling that they are ‘all working together’. One parent shared that knowing their child was always safe and well cared for by staff stopped them from worrying. Children and their family members feel able to seek guidance or advice from the home’s staff. This continues after children move from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children have attended education and gained varying qualifications. Although challenging at times, staff encourage children to attend. Staff work well with external agencies and professionals to ensure the correct support is in place for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported by staff to understand their health needs and the possible impact if advice is not followed. Staff encourage children to be enthusiastic and accountable for their own health. One child has been supported to use different toothbrushes and flavours of toothpaste. This has supported the child to become more interested in brushing their teeth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff challenge the local authority if children are not receiving the support that they need. As a result, resolutions are sought in a timely way. This proactive attitude supports children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to understand their options and how decisions may impact on them. Staff support children to share their views to those involved in their care planning.

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

Staff provide children with clear and consistent boundaries. As a result, children feel safe to explore their emotions with staff.

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

For example, one child who used to express their emotions through harming others or damaging property is now able to recognise, name and talk about the emotion that they are feeling. This is a significant achievement. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 4 Staff provide positive role modelling for children. One parent explained that their child has ‘stayed on the right tracks’ because of the type of care being provided by staff. Children are encouraged by staff to aspire and make positive life choices.

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

The manager liaises with appropriate external agencies when safeguarding concerns arise. Communication is a strength, which supports effective multi-agency working. There has been one allegation made since the last inspection. This has been managed well by management and suitable action was taken to safeguard children.

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

Although the manager proactively escalates issues to higher management, the recommendations from the fire risk assessment have not been fully completed. A requirement has been made in response to this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has created a culture of care and respect within the home. This creates positive relations and a strong foundation for children. Children feel that staff ‘have their back’ and that staff confidently advocate for them. Those important to children state that children’s progress has been ‘excellent’ and that children ‘thrive’ living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff praise the high levels of support they receive from the manager. This creates the positive morale within the team. Staff describe the manager as ‘child focused’, ‘compassionate’, ‘driven’ and an ‘amazing listener’. Staff discussions and team meetings are informative, reflective and support staff to further develop their practice. They are guided by the manager’s oversight and her knowledge of staff strengths and weaknesses. The manager has a plan in place of how to better equip her team, such as further training around newly implemented recording systems. This includes the need for staff to include anecdotes about children’s lived experiences at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals state that the manager ‘sets the tone well to other staff’. This is in relation to understanding children and how to communicate with them. Staff echo this. The manager and staff are mindful of the importance of understanding ‘the child’s world’, especially in relation to neurodiversity. The manager supports children to live happy and fulfilled lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has appropriately completed employment checks on newly appointed staff. Therefore, the requirement set at the last inspection has been met. Both recommendations from the previous inspection have also been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 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, 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that recommendations made in the fire assessment are completed within the appropriate timeframe. 11 October 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a way that will be helpful to the child in the future. In particular, this relates to staff consistently recording anecdotes from children’s daily lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  The registered person must ensure that the children in their care have easy access to the contact details for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 23, paragraph 4.19).

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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: 1241789 6

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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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Inspector

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1241789 7 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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