Children's Home run by New Horizons NW Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to take three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of six homes owned and operated by a small private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post since 17 October 2017. However, the registered manager has been absent due to ill health since 11 February 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress as a result of living in this home. Young people have developed strong bonds with staff and say that they trust them. The core staff team is consistent, and new staff are quickly supported to know and understand each young person’s needs and how best to meet them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people enjoy living in a spacious, detached property. The decor of the home, with colours, soft furnishings and pictures chosen by the young people, makes the shared spaces homely. Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 2 Unfortunately, the registered manager has been involved in an accident and is unable to attend work for the foreseeable future. This has left the home without a registered manager. Management arrangements have been put in place. However, the interim manager has not applied to be registered with Ofsted. A requirement has been made to address this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to attend their appropriate education provision and to maintain their interest in learning. Some of the young people are involved in taking GCSE examinations and have ambitions to go onto further education. One young person enjoys the army cadets, a field that he hopes to pursue in adulthood. The young people’s future employment and life chances are enhanced by the support that they receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good key-worker sessions ensure that the young people are able to express their thoughts and feelings with trusted staff team members. The views of young people are valued and are sought on matters such as the appointment of new staff members and the redecoration of the home. The young people’s self-esteem and confidence grow, as they feel listened to. The manager and staff work in partnership with other agencies and professionals in meeting young people’s care plans. For example, where there are safeguarding concerns for a young person, staff work in line with the safety plan and take an active part in the core group and other meetings. This helps to keep the young person safe and provides the family concerned with opportunities to develop their parenting skills. A social worker said, ‘I like that they are part of the solution; staff help young people develop in areas that have not been brought out before.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are comfortable alongside the staff who care for them. During the inspection there were requests from some young people for their favoured staff member to spend time with them, and these were met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint is used only as a final resort, and there have been two incidents requiring physical intervention since the last inspection. Both of these were to redirect the young person to other areas and used the minimum level of intervention necessary to achieve this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are planned activities each evening that young people can choose to take part in, if they want to. Young people are allowed some flexibility when they are making choices about how they would prefer to spend their time. Some choose to have free time in the community. The inspector observed a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with young people happily chatting to staff and each other about their day.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some concerns around a young person, who has recently moved into the home, making inappropriate relationships in the community. Unknown males have attended the home, requesting money owed to them from the purchase of cannabis by a young person. This places other young people and staff at risk. The acting manager has had a professionals meeting and spoken with the local PCSO about the concerns. The situation is being closely monitored by the home, as staff try to engage the young Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 3 person in more positive activities.

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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, 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 provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if–

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of–

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27(1)(a), (2)(a)(b)) 30/04/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, 18–20 Coronation Walk, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1RE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Abbie Rosenblatt

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Inspector

Elaine Clare, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 5 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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