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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional needs and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since November 2024. There has been a new manager in post since February 2025 who plans to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2024

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Good 23/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 3

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improvement to be good

There have been some changes in the staff team in the last year, with bank and agency staff being used to cover shifts. This, and changes to management arrangements in the home have led to some inconsistencies in the quality-of-care children have received.

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improvement to be good

Children attend education and are making progress due to the help and support they receive from staff. One child who previously would not attend school is progressing from a part-time to a full-time timetable. One child has been supported to attend an alternative provision, which has boosted their confidence, and they are now making plans to take their exams.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are positive. Managers carefully consider the needs of children moving into the home, assessing their needs alongside the needs of the children already living in the home and the skills and experience of the staff. The manager speaks to those who know the children, visits the children and arranges visits to the home so children can meet staff before they move in. This helps children to feel welcomed.

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improvement to be good

When children move on from this home, they experience planned moves to semi- independent living. Staff help children to develop skills such as budgeting, cooking, travelling and doing household chores. This enables them to be confident in taking their next steps. The staff celebrate the children’s time in the home with meals, tea parties and thoughtful gifts.

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improvement to be good

Staff create thoughtful memory boxes and photo books for children to be able to look back at their time in the home. Staff also create positive comments books for children. This helps children feel valued and develop positive self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Reward charts are personalised to children’s specific needs and interests. This encourages engagement in developing skills in targeted areas, with rewards and celebrations for achievements children make.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy various activities, such as go-karting, going to the cinema, horse-riding and football. This helps them develop hobbies and interests. Children spend time with friends on planned activities and at friends’ homes. They are also encouraged to spend time with their friends in the home. This enables children to build social skills and form and maintain friendships.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views and wishes are captured in monthly discussions. Outcomes are fed back to children in thank you letters which list any actions carried out and highlight their positive achievements for the month. This helps children feel listened to and valued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 4 Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and homely. Children take pride in keeping their bedrooms clean and tidy. However, damage is not always repaired to a good standard. There is a large crack in one child’s bedroom ceiling and painting in the downstairs bathroom has not been completed.

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improvement to be good

During an incident, a child managed to obtain a set of office keys from a staff member’s pocket. This allowed them to access both the office and the home’s car keys. The young person then proceeded to drive the car, placing them and others in danger. Following the incident, additional safety measures have been put in place to prevent a reoccurrence.

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improvement to be good

Managers do not always follow safer recruitment practices when using agency staff. Failure to check key documentation has led to a child being harmed. Systems have since been revised to ensure relevant checks are carried out.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive and trusting relationships with their allocated key workers. New staff members are being supported to build positive relationships with the children. Staff are committed to providing children with good-quality care and support. This is helping children develop a sense of safety and security in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive and trusting relationships with their allocated key workers. New staff members are being supported to build positive relationships with the children. Staff are committed to providing children with good-quality care and support. This is helping children develop a sense of safety and security in the home.

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improvement to be good

Most staff understand children’s individual risks and strategies to support them. The children’s risks are documented in behaviour support and risk management plans that direct and support staff to prevent and reduce risks. However, agency staff and new staff to the home are not always familiar with childrens individual needs and how to de- escalate childrens behaviour. This has on one occasion resulted in the police being called to the home.

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improvement to be good

Allegations of abuse are handled quickly and fairly. Allegations are investigated fully. Referrals are made to external professionals to allow for independent oversight. However, leaders and managers do not always share the outcomes of investigations with children, to reassure them that they are being listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 5 Staff know children’s individual missing-from-home plans and follow them. When children go missing, staff remain in contact with them and encourage them to return home. Staff look in places that children are known to go and check with family and friends. This lets the children know that staff care. Staff have open communication with safeguarding professionals, such as the police and missing coordinators, to ensure that all relevant resources are used to find children. Children are welcomed when they return to the home and staff ensure they are safe and well. Managers have worked with the

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improvement to be good

children and professionals on approving friends’ homes for overnight stays, which has reduced children’s episodes of going missing.

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improvement to be good

The children have access to specialist professional support, such as drug and alcohol workers and mental health support. Staff encourage and facilitate the children’s engagement with specialist professionals. This means the children have access to professionals who are most able to help them with their specific issues.

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improvement to be good

Following safety concerns, CCTV was fitted to the outside of the property in February 2024. Not all children’s authorities have provided written permission.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

This has been a challenging time for staffing in the home. The manager and deputy manager both left the home in November. Leaders implemented a management support plan to ensure the staff and children were supported in the interim while a new manager was identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is now a new manager in post who is suitably experienced. They have a focused vision for the home, staff and children. In their short time in the home, they have drawn up an action plan which they are working through. The manager is motivated and is committed to improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have not completed training specific to the individual needs of the children, such as substance misuse. This does not ensure that staff have the necessary training to understand and meet childrens needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have identified that children struggle with the inconsistency of bank and agency staff working in the home. Leaders and managers have worked to recruit staff and reduce the use of agency staff. There is now a stable staff team in place, providing children with consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is good managerial oversight of the home. Leaders and managers complete monthly audit reports with clear actions for the upcoming month. The deputy also completes a weekly checklist. This ensures the home is operating in line with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended by the team. The home’s psychotherapist attends to help staff reflect on practice and devise support strategies for children. Team meetings are used to review risk assessments for children and policies and procedures. This helps promote collaborative working. Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 6 Induction programmes for new starters are detailed and ensure staff are aware of important information to carry out their roles. Staff are supported throughout their probation period with regular reviews to identify any further learning or development required. This ensures staff are prepared to support children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervisions. These are supportive and focus on reflection of practice and planning for children. Despite changes in the management of the home, staff feel they are fully supported by leaders and managers and enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders, managers and staff have built positive relationships with professionals involved in the care of the children. Professionals report that managers and staff are communicative and keep them updated on all aspects of the children’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 7

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have completed training to meet children’s individual needs. 12 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure they are following safer recruitment practices when using agency staff, to prevent children coming to harm. 12 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 8 The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure they relay outcomes of allegations and/or complaints to children. 12 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and manager must ensure they have sought authorisation from children’s placing authorities for the use of CCTV around the property. 12 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that repairs to any damage and decorating are completed to a good standard, particularly in relation to the ceiling in a child’s bedroom and painting in the downstairs bathroom. 12 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 9

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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: 2586949 10

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Gemma Waddington

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2586949 11 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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