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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1258089 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

The home is owned by a private company and offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2018 and the manager registered in July 2023.

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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: 15 January 2024

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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: 1258089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2024 Full Good 07/12/2022 Full Good 03/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1258089 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting and nurturing relationships with the child. These relationships are built on mutual respect. As a result, the child is invested in the home and is making progress in different areas of their life. The child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the value of education. They promote the child’s learning through encouraging them to read at home and to attend school on a regular basis. When barriers to learning occur, staff work closely with the school to try to overcome them. This ensures that the child’s educational needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are promoted well by staff. Staff monitor the child’s health and provide the necessary support to ensure that routine health appointments and checks are up to date. There is good support for the child to eat well and remain active. This helps them to learn the importance of staying healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of activities linked to their interests. These activities include going to concerts, trampolining and arts and crafts. These opportunities provide the child with enjoyable experiences. This helps them to develop self-confidence and boost their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to remain in touch with people who are important to them. Equally, staff support the child to develop life skills. They encourage the child to cook and clean. These essential skills help the child to develop their independent living skills to prepare for their future.

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

Detailed risk management plans identify the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. These documents are clear and detail current risks to the child’s safety, including strategies to manage and reduce these risks. This ensures that staff provide the child with consistent support and care.

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

The child rarely goes missing from the home. There has only been one incident since the last inspection. Staff responded appropriately. This included driving to all known locations persistently to try to locate the child. Staff work closely with the police and with the child’s social work team to support the child’s safe return. Once the child is found, an independent return home interview is carried out. This discussion can help staff to understand why the child went missing and try to prevent further incidents. This gives a clear message to the child that their safety and well-being are important.

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

Effective and consistent safeguarding practice means that the child is better protected from the risk of harm. The child has many conversations with staff about a variety of topics. These conversations include the dangers of going missing from home, online Inspection report for children’s home: 1258089 4 safety and appropriate and healthy relationships. This helps the child to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff use positive incentives and restorative practice to promote socially acceptable behaviour in children. Physical intervention is rarely used. On the few occasions when this has been used, it was as a last resort to stop the child from hurting themselves or others. All incidents are reviewed by the manager. This practice helps to keep the child safe.

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

Staff recruitment is effective. Leaders and managers ensure that all necessary employment checks and verification processes for new staff are carried out. This process ensures children’s safety and gives assurances that only suitable people are supporting the child in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is strong, effective management at this home. The manager is visible and approachable to the child and staff. He has high aspirations for the child and focuses on providing good-quality care and support. He is supported by the deputy manager and a team of staff who are committed to achieving positive outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the staff team has remained stable, with only one employee joining the team. Staff report a very supportive culture and structure. They benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. To boost staff morale, the organisation celebrates staff’s achievements. As a result, staff feel valued. This positivity ensures that the child lives in an environment that helps them to feel secure and make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to care for the child effectively. All staff have completed their required training. In addition, they receive training linked to the specific needs of the child living in the home, such as self-harm. The ongoing training helps staff to gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carries out robust monitoring of the home. In addition, the monthly visits to the home by an independent person further support the monitoring of the home. The manager acts on any recommendations made. This demonstrates that the manager is keen to learn and has a desire to continually improve practice and experiences for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Other professionals speak positively about the home and the support provided to the child, noting the stability and progress achieved. They say that communication is effective. These close relationships ensure that the child is better protected from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258089 5

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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: 1258089 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: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited, Venture House, Unit 12, 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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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Rachel Moore, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1258089 7 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

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