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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 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

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024 and has the relevant experience and qualification suitable to the role.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. All children were present during the visit, and two children spoke with the inspector.

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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: 2572133 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 09/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children have lived in the home for over two years. Since the last inspection, two children have moved in and one child has moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving in and out of the home have done so in a positive way. Leaders and managers involve children and make sure the process is well planned. Children visit the home in advance of moving in, and this reduces any potential anxiety they may have during what can be an uncertain time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children have trusting relationships. The strength of these relationships contributes to children feeling settled and supports them to make progress in different areas. Children say that they feel happy living in the home and well supported by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education. One child has made steady progress since moving into the home, and another attends college and has recently started employment in a local shop. When one child experienced some barriers to their learning, staff worked alongside education professionals and the child to put in place alternative arrangements. This approach has ensured that the child was able to gain some level of qualifications.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff understand the importance of children maintaining their identity and having positive time with their family. Staff also encourage and support children to have time with their friends. Children often have friends visit the home or spend time with them on activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children gain independence skills. Realistic targets to encourage children to learn life skills such as shopping, cooking, budgeting and using public transport are in place. One child was observed to be engaging well in their plan. Another child was in the early stages and was requiring additional support from staff. However, this individualised support means children develop confidence around practical skills, ready for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and psychological needs are not always met effectively. Children have not received any professional support in relation to their emotional well-being due to no therapist being in place for a period of time. However, leaders and managers have now taken steps to address this. One child requires dental treatment to maintain their oral health, but staff have been unable to ensure that the child receives the medical care they require. This has potential to impact on the child’s physical well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 4 Staff do not always challenge professionals effectively in relation to meeting children’s needs. There has been a significant delay in one child receiving an assessment, and another child did not receive ongoing therapy when this was recommended by a professional. These are missed opportunities for children’s needs to be identified and met more effectively.

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

There have been two allegations against staff. Leaders and managers have responded efficiently and effectively. They ensured immediate actions were taken to protect the child. Information was shared with safeguarding agencies, advice was sought and internal investigations have been completed as appropriate. Good responses to allegations promote children’s safety and well-being.

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

Leaders and managers take effective action when children raise complaints. Children’s views are taken seriously and their concerns are listened to and acted on. Children receive an outcome to their complaint in appropriate timescales and have been happy with the responses.

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

There has been a significant number of incidents of children being missing from home since the last inspection. Most relate to one child, who has now moved on from the home. During occasions where children are missing, appropriate action is taken by staff, who follow children’s individual protocols and continuously search for them in local or known areas. When children are not located promptly, staff work alongside police, family and friends and track social media to ensure their safe return. When children are located, they are welcomed home and offered a return home interview.

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

When there have been concerns about potential exploitation, leaders and managers have ensured an effective multi-agency approach, sharing information and holding regular meetings. Direct educational work took place with the child to help them understand the dangers and risks.

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

Incidents of restraints are well managed. Restraint is only ever used as a last resort. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and triggers, and they track these using behaviour chronologies. Leaders and managers help the child and staff to share their views after each incident , meaning they have the opportunity for reflection. As a result, the child is reassured and kept safe.

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

Leaders and managers take effective action to assess and manage risks to children. When there has been evidence of risks about fire setting, managers have taken appropriate action to reduce these. Fireproof furniture was purchased, the child was educated around the dangers of fire by the local fire safety officer and a suitable risk assessment was implemented to ensure guidance for staff.

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

There has been one incident when a child gained access to the office and took medication that was not stored correctly. The medication was returned, and the child suffered no harm and new medication storage was purchased as result. However, the Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 5 manager did not address this shortfall directly with staff, and this was a missed opportunity for reflection and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child-focused and has positive relationships with children and high expectations for them. She is committed to ensuring that children have a positive experience and make progress. This is evident from the feedback received from professionals, who were positive about the impact the manager has had on children’s progress since being in role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about working in the home and say they feel supported by the manager. A core group of staff have worked in the home for several years, and any shortfalls in staffing are normally covered by the existing staff team. When temporary or agency staff have been required to cover shifts, the manager has ensured that this has been by the same people. These factors help to provide good consistency of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. Supervisions are supportive of staff well-being and focus on children’s progress. Annual appraisals are reflective and assess staff performance in line with their targets. Leaders and managers are supportive of staff development within their role, and two staff are currently enrolled and working towards their qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with a wide range of training. This is delivered in line with the home’s therapeutic model and needs of the children. The registered manager secures training from various sources, and learning for staff is also covered in team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual work closely to ensure effective oversight of the home. They use a range of monitoring systems to help improve the care children receive and track their progress. These systems allow them to identify areas of strength and development to ensure that the quality of care provided to children is constantly assessed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that any shortfalls relating to staff practice are investigated and addressed and that the manager ensures that any learning is used to help staff’s development. 17 December

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services, and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children attend any necessary health appointments. 17 December

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 17 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 7 seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that they appropriately challenge professionals when they feel they are not acting in the best interests of children to meet their needs.

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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: 2572133 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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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2572133 9 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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