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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC475323 1 SC475323 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 company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At time of the inspection, one child was 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: SC475323 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2023 Full Good 12/07/2022 Full Good 23/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC475323 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in their home. They say that they feel cared for by staff, which helps them to feel safe. Staff work hard to create positive and affectionate relationships with children. This supports children to share their views, wishes and feelings. This creates a nurturing environment in which children feel important and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to return to education. Children receive individual support from tutors, which helps them to overcome any barriers to education. Staff are resilient in developing consistent routines for children’s education. One child said that staff encourage them daily to take part in their education programme. This is motivating for children and supports them to have ambitions for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have organised moves into and out of the home. Staff support children to share their likes and dislikes. This helps to create bespoke plans and identifies any support that children may require. Staff work with families and social workers to ensure that moves progress in line with children’s plans. One child has moved to live with family members, and another child is living independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value children’s relationships with their families and friends and support children to enjoy quality time with their families. One child spoke about how they enjoy visiting their family. Staff consistently review the arrangements with children and their families. This keeps children’s safety at the centre of all decision-making and enables any changes to be planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and relaxing. The decor and furniture are maintained to a high standard and photos of children are displayed, which creates an inclusive home environment. Staff support children to design their bedrooms and to choose the decor for the communal areas of their home. There is a well-maintained garden that children enjoy to relax in during the summer.

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

Staff support children to understand risk, using a therapeutic approach. Children are encouraged to share their feelings, which helps them to reflect and learn about risk. One child has been supported to learn about their sexual health and contraception. Staff listen to children, which helps them to know that staff care about them.

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

Staff use positive role modelling to support children to share their feelings. This skilfully avoids the use of physical intervention to keep children safe. Staff understand children’s needs and the support they require. There are detailed support plans, which are Inspection report for children’s home: SC475323 4 developed in consultation with children. This helps children to understand how staff will be supporting them and helping to keep them safe.

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

Children are supported by staff to raise concerns. This approach supports children to feel valued and helps to create positive changes for children. Staff support children to resolve any difficulties with each other by holding resolution meetings. This helps children to live safely in their home and the community.

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

Staff respond promptly when children need support. This helps children to feel confident in the care they receive from staff. Staff supported one child during their move to live independently when difficulties arose, which ensured that they were safe. Staff obtain specialist support when children require this. During the inspection, the manager was observed arranging a health assessment for a child to help them to understand their health needs.

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

Leaders and managers have reviewed the process for safe recruitment. This ensures that there is effective and safe recruitment of adults caring for children. If allegations are made against the manager and staff, these are explored by senior managers. This helps to focus leaders and managers on keeping children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are enthusiastic and passionate about caring for children and keeping them safe. The staff team is experienced and shares a strong team identity. This supports children to receive consistency in respect of their care. The manager and staff are strong advocates for children, which is recognised by families and external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive from leaders and managers. Staff practice is developed by effective supervision, training and team meetings. Leaders and managers have revised the organisation of the clinical team so that staff will be able to consult with the clinical team in supporting their care of children. This will enhance staff practice and the experiences and progress of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers support children’s diversity. Staff support children to develop their personal interests and to celebrate their achievements. Staff create well-presented albums for children, where they record activities, day trips and holidays the children take part in. This supports children to feel valued and encourages their participation in new activities. One child proudly showed the inspectors their album.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monitoring and reviewing systems for checking information lack consistency. During the inspection, leaders and managers recognised this is an area for development. The process of sending information to Ofsted is to be evaluated to ensure that this is received within clear timescales. The manager recognises that the accuracy of information in the home’s records requires a careful review. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475323 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event occurs at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notifications must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)  The registered person should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC475323 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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Inspectors

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475323 7 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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