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

Inspection report for children's home: 1185765 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 home is owned by a private organisation. It cares for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and has been registered with Ofsted since February 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children were seen by 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: 1185765 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2022 Full Good 18/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: 1185765 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home and five have moved on. Overall, children benefit from well-planned moves that are tailored to their individual needs. Two children remain in contact with staff from the home. They have enjoyed outings with the staff and visited for a roast dinner. This shows the lasting relationships between the staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful consideration of the needs and views of all children means that when children move in, they settle in well. Children visit the home and meet the staff to ease any worries or anxieties before moving in. They receive a welcome gift of £30 to buy items for their bedrooms and are also given a guide about the home. This guide helps children to understand what life at the home is like.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Strong relationships with staff help children to make progress and to enjoy living at the home. They are happy and feel safe and have developed a sense of belonging. The staff strive to understand the children’s needs. Children feel safe and develop confidence because of the care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in education and are making progress with their learning. Staff are working in partnership with teachers to encourage improvement in attendance. Children’s access to learning continues with bespoke educational activities in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children lead active lives and staff encourage them to explore new hobbies and interests. One child is receiving singing lessons. The other is receiving tutoring from a professional snooker coach. These opportunities support children’s social development and build self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are highly regarded by staff and managers. Children have many opportunities to have their say, including through general chats, children’s meetings and reflective discussions. This allows the children to share and talk about their achievements, reflect on events, and learn how to keep themselves safe and manage conflict. These opportunities provide valuable life experiences for children to learn how to communicate and listen effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support children to explore their family history. They promote children’s time with their families and friends. This helps children to maintain relationships that are important to them and contributes to their life story.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming, homely and well-decorated home. There are photos of children and their adventures displayed throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are personal to their taste. They are well furnished, to enable them to feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children's home: 1185765 4

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and children’s vulnerabilities. Good- quality risk assessments inform the children’s care. Children’s plans are kept under constant review to ensure staff have the accurate information that they need to keep the children safe. Plans are reviewed by staff and raise awareness and promote consistency.

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

Direct work with the children is strong. Staff have important discussions with children about positive relationships, education and emotional health. This direct work is helping the children to understand how to develop socially acceptable behaviour. As a result, the children’s life chances are improved.

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

Competent staff use physical intervention as a last resort. Staff try to de-escalate incidents by using therapeutic measures, before using intervention techniques they have been trained in. When children are held by staff, this is necessary and proportionate and children’s views and feelings are gathered after the incident. The manager has good oversight of restrictive practice, and this supports the staff to learn from each incident. Incidents in the home have reduced over time.

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

Staff and managers take prompt action when children make complaints or disclosures. The manager takes time to talk to children, completes comprehensive investigations following advice from the local authority designated officer and ensures that children are informed of any outcomes. This ensures children feel valued and confident to raise concerns. It also helps them to feel safer and secure in their environment.

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

The children receive good support to learn how to stay safe online. Staff act appropriately when concerns are raised and have important conversations with the children to educate and inform them about online risks. Internet filters help to ensure that internet use can be managed effectively and children safeguarded.

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

There are appropriate systems in place to support children to take medication. The manager had acted to address a medication error in September 2024. Staff received refresher training in the administration of medication and no further incidents have occurred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong leader and has a clear vision for the home. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She leads by example and has created a consistent positive culture within the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well and has high aspirations for them and high standards to support them to achieve positive outcomes. She works proactively and positively with other agencies to secure positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff speak highly of the registered manager and feel valued. They receive good- quality reflective supervision that supports their learning and development. Staff have Inspection report for children's home: 1185765 5 opportunities to attend team meetings to discuss the children and generate new ideas. Actions are set at team meetings to drive continual improvement. Staff have appraisals annually.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures the safer recruitment of new staff. When staff start work, they have an in-depth induction and regular reviews of their progress during their probation period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place to continually assess and improve the quality of care. She has recently developed a monthly report to ensure that there is good oversight of all aspects of the children’s progress. There is a comprehensive workforce strategy that demonstrates high ambition for the continual development of the home and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection.

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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: 1185765 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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Inspector

Julia Tompson, Social Care inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1185765 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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