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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. There has been no registered manager since 23 June 2023.

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 2

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Findings from the inspection

The inspector did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Several requirements and recommendations were set following the home’s last inspection. Progress in addressing the shortfalls is positive. However, two requirements and one recommendation have been restated to allow the provider time to demonstrate that the changes can be embedded into practice. The manager has identified the strengths in the home and the areas that need further improvement and development. There are plans in place to continue to drive improvements forward.

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Findings from the inspection

All the staff have received safeguarding training. Safeguarding issues are discussed in team meetings. Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have. When issues do occur, staff know how to respond and keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff have completed the provider’s mandatory training. They have also completed training in safe administration of medication and have had assessments to ensure they are confident and competent in this area. Medication systems and processes are managed well and are effective. There have been no errors since the previous inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There is now effective monitoring of the quality of care in the home, and plans are in place to improve it further. The home is being run in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. While improvements in how the home is run are evident, given the short timescale in which improvements have been made, a period of establishing good practice is required.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s wishes and feelings are listened to, and children are able to make choices and decisions about their home. However, children do not have access to an independent advocate. This limits children’s opportunities to understand their rights and have support around any concerns they may have.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have routines in place that support them to be prepared for the school day. Staff encourage and promote educational activities throughout the day. However, children are not currently attending their education provision. The manager has raised this with external education professionals, but this has not been effective. The manager has not yet been able to improve children’s educational attendance. This negatively impacts on children’s ability to make progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a large home that has been redecorated. The home environment reflects that children are valued. All rooms are homely and inviting. Staff see themselves as a family around the children in a family home. T he environment promotes the well-being of children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 3 Staff feel well supported by the manager, who is visible in the home and approachable. They work well together, and staff morale is positive. Individual staff supervision and monthly team meetings are taking place and are planned. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to share concerns and develop practice. Consequently, the manager and team have creative plans to improve the outcomes for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/12/2023 Full Good 14/06/2022 Full Good 08/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 16 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 6 In particular, this relates to the manager ensuring that they have robust oversight of the home, care of children and records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(iii)) 16 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 7 In particular, this relates to the manager ensuring that children’s views are regularly sought in relation to the quality of care provided for them.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that staff actively try and encourage children to come down from their bedrooms in the morning and participate in activities.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that children understand the role of and are offered appropriate advocacy support.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)(ix)(x)) 16 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 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

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1234243 9 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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