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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 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 owned by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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 outstanding

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Outstanding 17/08/2022 Full Outstanding 23/03/2022 Full Good 01/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All three children have lived at this home since the last inspection. The children make significant progress because of the care provided by the registered manager and staff team. Staff are committed to providing the children with a caring and nurturing home environment in which they are thriving. As a result, all children make excellent progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are extremely positive about their care and talk fondly about the manager, staff, and their experiences since moving into the home. One child told the inspector, ‘We’re all one big family’ and have experiences that are ‘every kids dream.’ Staff know the children exceptionally well and how to best care for them. For example, one child responds well to playfulness, while another prefers to be treated like a young adult. The bonds between children and staff are nurturing and caring. Children are loved, valued, and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage children’s interests and hobbies and provide new and exciting experiences to improve their lives. This includes holidays abroad, being part of police cadets and becoming a youth mentor for other children who have had similar experiences to them. Children’s experiences, achievements and special celebrations are captured with photos and captions in their memory books. The memories captured are individualised and are special memories for them to take with them when they move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager and staff are ambitious for children and provide high levels of support and planning to ensure that children achieve exceptional standards in their educational outcomes. The staff work in partnership with education professionals to support and develop children’s academic progress. Children are proud of their achievements and aspire for their futures. Staff think creatively and for one child, they completed a mock interview to prepare the child for an interview. Staff provide children with different opportunities to enhance their work prospects in line with their individual needs and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are actively supported by staff to attend health appointments and lead a healthy lifestyle. This has improved children’s physical and emotional well-being. Staff work closely with an in-house therapist to ensure that research-informed practice is embedded in the care staff provide for children. Consultations and reflective sessions with the therapist enhance the caring practices of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to participate in every aspect of their lives. Staff recognise the importance of listening to children, and they consistently talk to children about the care they receive. Staff encourage children to express their wishes and feelings in a variety of ways and ensure that professionals understand the children’s views. This promotes Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 4 children’s confidence and self-esteem. For one child, this approach has enabled them to increase their time with family members.

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

The manager and staff demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and behaviours. Staff manage any safeguarding or behavioural incidents well. Staff act promptly to ensure that children are consistently safe.

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

Behaviour management strategies are thorough and individualised to children’s needs. Staff are consistent in implementing boundaries and routines for children. This has helped children to make exceptional progress in their lives.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. If any incidents do occur, staff use de-escalation measures which are individualised for children. Staff work hard to reduce risk and distress to children. This helps children to build trust in staff and to feel safe.

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

Leaders, managers, and staff reflect on incidents and consider opportunities to develop and support learning for the children and staff. The registered manager and staff use an in-house therapist to consider strategies to support the children to express their emotions safely. Staff incorporate practices from research, such as PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Reassurance and Empathy), into their daily caring practices. This ensures that staff provide children with a safe, warm, and nurturing environment.

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

The use of physical intervention has not been required. Staff are equipped and skilled to de-escalate situations before incidents escalate. Should staff need to physically intervene, all staff are trained to hold the children safely if this is required.

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

When complaints are made by parents, the registered manager responds efficiently. The registered manager investigates thoroughly and responds to the parent and others effectively. Since this time, restorative work has taken place, and, as a result, the parent is highly complimentary of the home and the care that their child receives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is confident and inspirational. Her passion is shared and filtered through to the whole staff team, whose members provide excellent care to the children and share the same aspirations. Staff support children to achieve their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The members of the staff team are all extremely positive about their roles and feel well supported by leaders and managers. Staff are exceptionally proud of the ethos of the home, the stability of the staff team and the progress children make. The staff team members are motivated about making a positive difference to the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff consistently consider research specific to the needs of the children. Not only is this considered as a staff team but is completed directly with children through the use of child-friendly projects. Resources are used, discussed, and Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 5 implemented in the day-to-day care of the child. This has supported children’s journeys and their understanding about their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff receive regular supervision and have regular team meetings. They consider research-led practice and reflect on their own practice. Together, the members of the staff team share ideas about how they can make any changes to the care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses effective monitoring systems. The use of implementing the review of children’s care into the ongoing development of the home allows the manager and staff to ensure that the high-quality care provided to children is maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Both family members and professionals involved with children spoke highly of the manager and staff team and, as a result, the progress children are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 6

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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: 1257073 7

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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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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1257073 8 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 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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