Each young person will be entitled to the following services

• A Doctor who will be able to facilitate and meet their needs
• Other specialist medical practitioners as required
• Dentist
• Optician
• School placement (where possible)

Each young person’s individual file will contain details of the following

• Their medical history
• Details of yearly medicals
• Details of specific treatments, medication routines or therapies
• Specific medical conditions with details of necessary preventative measures
• Allergies and reactions to foodstuffs and/or medication
• Dental health records
• Optician records
• Hearing records
• Records of developmental checks
• Involvement of parents/significant others in health issues
• Written records of any medication administered; illnesses or accidents during the placement
• Details of health-related advice and guidance given to the young people
• Medical consent form

Horizon community care (HCC will) encourage young people to have an active involvement with the running of the home. We believe that all young people have valuable opinions, which need to be taken into account

Consultation will be encouraged on a range of issues including:

Decisions affecting a young person’s future.

Any decision that affects the young person’s rights.

Choices about daily living that the young person can participate in such as: Their choice of diet, fashion, entertainment etc.

• The decoration and furnishings or their personal spaces
• The adequacy of their personal space
• How the home is run and managed
• Leisure activities that they would wish to participate in

If a decision has to be taken in the young person’s best interest, then the reasons for that decision will be discussed in a sensitive manner with the young person.

It will not be assumed that a young person is unable to communicate their views due to disability or language barriers. HCC will always request the services of an advocate or translator for the placing authority should this scenario arise.

Consultation with a young person’s family will only take place against the individual’s will if it is considered to be in their best interest.

Where it is not appropriate for the young person’s family to be involved, then the young person concerned will be made aware of the reasons in a sensitive manner.

To ensure that consultation is maintained for all young people in HCC support workers will hold weekly key working meetings. Young People will be made aware that they can talk to the Manager in between meetings if they have a problem.

Placing authorities, young people and families will all be consulted by the home when any changes to the operation of HCC are made. The Registered Manager will be available for any discussions regarding complaints or concerns they may have. Young people will be informed that the Responsible Individual will be available to discuss any issues which they feel necessary.

Horizon community care (HCC) believe that it is the responsibility of all staff to communicate with young people about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

It is the responsibility of staff to maintain safe and appropriate boundaries with and between staff and young people. Consistency and fairness are key ingredients to developing a safe and positive atmosphere.

The team also believes that methods of control, restraint and discipline can only have the desired impact within the context of positive relationships existing between staff and young people.

Communication, negotiation and mediation are important skills that the team will use to help young people to address unacceptable behavior.

Within this overall context, the emphasis and aim of the team is to promote, acknowledge and reward positive behavior.

Although the emphasis at HCC is on safe and consistent approaches within the context of positive relationships and rewarding positive behavior, there are times when sanctions and reparations are deemed necessary.

At Horizon community care (HCC)we believe that it is extremely important for your people to be actively encouraged and supported in their choice of recreational and cultural activities, leisure activities, sport and cultural activities are promoted within our homes, for all young people. We partnered with FitforLifeYouth a community physical recreation organisation that engages with local schools and local communities in using recreational sports to improve behavior and achieve set goals.

Wherever possible outdoor activities will be encouraged, we believe that team building and group activities help promote self-esteem and help those in our care can grow in confidence.

We will involve each member of their household to be actively involved in planning these activities.

HCC will give its full support to educational activities and visits. Specific trips to educational attractions (such as the Science Museum) can be built into the educational syllabus for the year.

HCC will make a full risk assessment to ensure the safety and the suitability of each recreational activity. Any private club leaders or tutors will need to be vetted thoroughly before the activity can be permitted.

Arts and crafts activities are promoted within HCC and all young people have access to the internet, but access is made as safe, legal, and age appropriate as possible.

During school vacations, holidays and outings will be planned with the young people.

Each young person’s birthday will be celebrated according to the wishes of the individual concerned. Some will find birthdays very difficult and we will discuss with them the most appropriate way to mark the occasion.

If it is possible, we will try to arrange a family contact visit for the young person, should they wish for us, to do so.

If a young person does not wish to celebrate Christmas for religious or cultural reasons, then Horizon community care (HCC) will mark the appropriate celebration for that young person at the correct time of the year. In this way the children and young people will experience a range of celebrations.

One of our primary aims is to provide a safe and empowering place for all young people to live in. Child protection procedures are a key to keeping young people safe.
Horizon Community Care (HCC) will work in accordance with all guidelines set, to ensure that safeguarding issues are maintained as a top priority for the staff at the home.
All young people within the home will be protected from discrimination and bullying by our anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies.

A Risk Assessment will be undertaken with each young person, and this will be regularly reviewed and monitored as part of the placement planning process.
The assessments will cover all aspects of behavior and history that might cause a risk to the young person or to others. Each Risk Assessment contains a Risk Management plan; to be followed by staff at all times. Risk assessment and management plans will be updated regularly, at statutory reviews and after specific risk events.
All members of staff will have good working knowledge of HCC’s Safeguarding procedures. All staff members will receive access to HCC’s safeguarding procedures and guidance to staff.
All staff will receive training by a competent provider, to ensure that they are aware of safeguarding issues within a residential setting. This training will take place during the induction process when members of staff commence work.
All new staff will be competent in the assessment and monitoring process for young people placed within HCC.
Relatives, friends and acquaintances of the young people who live at HCC will again be subjected to review.
Where possible, internet access will be monitored with any computers subject to staff checks. There is internet restrictions installed in the home. Staff will have knowledge of the eSafety policy and will be afforded relevant training on this.
All young people within the home will be protected from discrimination and bullying by our anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. Young people will be protected from physical danger within the home through thorough risk assessment as outlined in the health and safety policy.

Any child protection issues that arise will be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Officer immediately and appropriate action will be taken. A member of staff receiving a disclosure will not be permitted to ask leading questions. Only open-ended questions will be asked. Staff are also aware that it is inappropriate for them to make false promises of confidentiality since the information will need to pass to the correct authorities.
Staff will be required to report to the Manager, and the Police any evidence of a child or young person’s involvement in sexual exploitation and no unauthorized person will be allowed contact or be allowed to pick up the young person either inside or outside the home.
Staff will have good working knowledge of Area HCC procedural guidelines on safe practice when working with young people.
Child protection and safe practice will be a key element of supervision and team meetings.
The Registered Manager will work in conjunction with other agencies with regards to safeguarding children to ensure that an inter-agency approach is maintained and that the home is not operating in isolation. Local interagency protocols on prevention and investigation of child abuse or sexual exploitation will be followed.

The CCTV cameras are used in accordance with our CCTV policy which is available on request, relevant consent is sourced from Social workers, Young people, and parents where appropriate during the admission process. There are CCTV stickers at the front exterior of the building to alert the public and any visitors to it’s presence and use. CCTV cameras are not used to supplement or replace staffing.
Another form of electronic surveillance used at Horizon Community Care (HCC) is if a young person is electronically tagged as part of a court-imposed sentence. In this instance the appropriate surveillance equipment is installed at HCC and staff will have no responsibility for it.
Staff will closely monitor young people, who are deemed at particular risk, such as drug use and/or self-harm. Where there are concerns that these risks are jeopardizing the safety of the placement at HCC, a disruption meeting will be convened to discuss how the risks can be minimised.
If staff need to enter a young person’s room to check on their safety, this will always be done with two staff members and recorded. In circumstances where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being, an immediate entry, or room search may be necessary.

The team at Horizon Community Care (HCC) believes that a young person’s safety and welfare is of paramount concern. It is therefore our priority to do everything possible to ensure the safe return of a young person.
Young people who go missing from the placement without authority will be reported to the Metropolitan police in accordance with the Philomena Protocol, in line with the joint responsibility agreement with the home, the placing authority and local police.
The policy requires a young person to be reported missing if they have not returned by an agreed time. HCC staff will make every effort to locate the young person and will contact the relevant agencies if they cannot.
The missing child or young person’s information will be passed to the police. All appropriate people (e.g. family, social worker) are informed of the unauthorised absence.
It is also part of the team’s working philosophy that when a young person goes missing, there is a reason for this. The team therefore aims to work with the young person to prevent them from going missing in future by identifying the causes for this behaviour.
On returning from a missing episode, a young person’s safety is a paramount concern, and staff will always check that the young person is safe and well.
Each young person at HCC will be given clear instructions about unauthorised absences.
Each young person’s missing episode will be documented in the home’s individual missing report.
Should the young person fail to return by the agreed time, staff will follow the agreed care plan and missing protocol.
The Police, the placing authority, the parents (where appropriate) will then be contacted.
Each young person have individual grab pack, that includes, if possible an up to date photograph. The information in the Grab Pack will be shared with the police.
When found, staff will work together with the Local Authority to ensure the young persons safe return home.
The unauthorised absence will be discussed with the young person and appropriate action will be taken. The action will be specific to the incident and the young person’s legal status.
Written records will be kept for all instances of unauthorised absence and will form part of a young person’s review. All staff members will be made aware of the procedure for unauthorized absence

Each Horizon Community Care (HCC) home has a fully operational fire alarm system with smoke detectors. Each landing and all communal/office spaces are equipped with H20 and C02 fire extinguishers. There is a fire blanket in the kitchen to cover electrical and oil fires.
Fire safety equipment is subject to regular inspection by fire officers. When equipment has been used or damaged arrangements are made for its immediate replacement. Young people and staff will be included in fire drills and evacuations.
The staff team also discusses the issues of fire and building safety with young people at regular intervals or indeed when particular issues arise.
Young people are made aware of the danger of smoking or using matches and lighters in their bedrooms and therefore why such use is not permitted in bedrooms. The fire procedures are displayed all around the home.

Horizon Community Care (HCC) staff team will be constantly vigilant and aware that bullying can be present in residential care, and that it causes great misery for the victim.
Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, ethnic origin, belief system or gender, will not be tolerated at HCC.
Any incident of bullying will be reported to the young person’s Social Worker regardless of whether they are the victim or perpetrator.
Bullying in any form whether verbal or physical will not be tolerated at HCC. As part of the initial assessment process, the issue of bullying will be discussed with each young person admitted to the home and it will be made clear that bullying behaviour, whether verbal or physical, will be challenged and if habitual, could lead to the cessation of the placement.
The policy clearly defines bullying and identify the ways in which it can be identified.
Area Camden will put the following measures in place:
On the first occasion of any bullying behaviour or offensive language, stall will discuss with the young person the full implications of what they have said and future consequences. The young person involved in the bullying behaviour will be asked to apologies and a record of the incident will be recorded in their daily records.
If repeated bullying behaviour is witnessed then the staff team will address the issues at the weekly meeting, so that everyone is aware of what is happening. Following this, a meeting will be set up with the individuals concerned and the matter will be talked through. Staff will facilitate this meeting. Actions to repair the situation will be formulated within a set time period.
If the behaviour persists then the Registered Manager will become involved and the matter will form part of the young person’s review. If this behaviour continues, then the home will consult with the child’s Social Worker and the placement will risk being terminated.
If the bullying leads to physical violence the Police will become involved.
For all instances of reported bullying, the process will be the same if the allegations are investigated thoroughly and found to be true.