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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 1 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 provider. 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 manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of 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: 2554918 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2024 Full Good 17/04/2023 Full Good 20/04/2022 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home, both moving into independent accommodation. One child’s move was planned, while the other child left the home in an unplanned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives good levels of support from a committed staff team. Staff have a positive view of the child and work hard to engage with them. This supports the child to develop positive relationships with staff and aids their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s health needs are met. The child is supported to attend all their routine health appointments. The provider’s in-house therapist supports staff to establish appropriate approaches to the child’s emotional health and well-being. Additionally, staff seek specialist help when necessary. This multi-agency approach means that the child’s all-round needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the child attends an educational setting that meets their needs. The child attends school more regularly and for increased periods of time. Staff work effectively with education staff and other relevant professionals to ensure that the child has every opportunity to enhance their academic ability and reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child is able to spend time with family and friends. This helps the child to have a sense of belonging and enables them to have positive experiences and maintain links to people significant to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to a range of activities. Staff encourage the child to follow their individual interests and expand their social experiences. This helps to improve the child’s social skills and increases their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s wishes and feelings contribute to the care that they receive. The child’s views are captured by staff through direct work, one-to-one conversations and planned meetings. This ensures that the child can participate in the day-to-day decisions about their lives. Consequently, the child feels listened to and engages positively with staff.

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

Staff understand the child’s risks. Plans for the child are up to date and include clear guidance for staff to follow. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 4 When there are safeguarding concerns, including allegations being made, matters are reported and referred appropriately, as required. Records are detailed and provide clarity of the actions taken to safeguard the child, and the outcomes.

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

Staff take action to safeguard the child if they go missing from the home. Staff search for the child and liaise with police and other professionals as needed. This helps them to locate the child and return them home safely. The child is provided with an independent person to speak to on their return home.

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

Incidents of physically holding the child are rare and are only used to keep the child safe. The manager speaks with the child and staff involved following any incidents. This helps the child to reflect on their behaviour. Strategies are then developed that help to support the child to manage their emotions.

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

Staff spend time speaking with the child about topics that are relevant to the child’s needs and behaviours. This helps the child to develop an awareness of risks and to develop alternative strategies to manage issues that they find difficult.

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

Staff provide the child with a comfortable and safe home environment and ensure that they know how to respond in the event of an emergency.

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

The manager follows safer recruitment practices. This ensures that only vetted individuals work at the home and provide care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an effective registered manager. He is a strong advocate for the child and ensures that they are supported to make progress in their life. He is supported by an organised and dedicated deputy manager. They are both committed to ensuring that the child receives a good standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, staff are not provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice during supervision. In addition, records do not demonstrate that issues relating to training or performance are discussed during supervision sessions. This is a missed opportunity to improve the quality of care that is provided to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and have a focus on staff’s learning and skills. They provide staff with opportunities to share key messages around practice in the home and promote a consistent approach to caring for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is cared for by an established and consistent staff team. Staff are suitably qualified, and those who are not qualified are undertaking the qualification within the time frame. Staff are trained in topics that are specific to the needs of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 5 The manager works in partnership with education staff, the child’s family and local authority professionals to ensure that appropriate support is in place to assist the child’s progress and to maximise their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with educational settings, parents and placing social workers is effective. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to assist the child’s progress and to maximise their potential. Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 8 July 2025

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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: 2554918 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: 17 Wolverhampton Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 1AP

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2554918 8 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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