Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Manchester

Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 1 SC472680 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are starting to make progress and attend full-time education. Children have extra tuition and revision plans to prepare them for exams. Some education plans are not up to date and need to be reviewed. Adults caring for the children have aspirations for them. Achievements are rewarded and celebrated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have positive relationships with the adults in the home and describe them as fun. Children described the home as a nice place to live. However, some children have not had positive experiences at the home. Placements have been ended suddenly, and not all children have moved on from the home in a positive way. This has been in part due to essential information not being shared when children have first arrived at the home. The manager has reviewed the home’s information sharing systems to try and improve them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the children’s plans are confusing and contradictory. This means staff do not have clear and current information when supporting children. Children’s risk assessments are not consistently followed, which puts children at risk of harm. Children have had access to age-inappropriate games which has not been noticed by staff. These games were removed during the inspection, and staff will discuss this with the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a high number of missing episodes, but this is now reducing. The system for recording these is confusing as there are two systems in place. Physical interventions are not always reviewed and evaluated by the manager. Staff do not consistently have debriefs following incidents. This means that staff do not have the opportunity to reflect on their practice or discuss their feelings around significant events.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is reflective and has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the home. Staff say they are supported, have regular supervision and work well as a team. Additional training has been put in place. More face-to-face training has been undertaken, although most of the training is done online. The manager is reviewing this for effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a plan for refurbishment and redecoration of the home to improve the physical environment. Some areas of the home look dated, and children do not like to spend time in some areas of the house.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all the requirements set at the last inspection have been completed so these have been reset. Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 4

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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 care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(ii)) 01/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) 01/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm (Regulation 12(1)(2)(b)) 01/06/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 5 In particular, ensure that risk assessments are followed regarding keeping the environment safe and preventing children from having access to age-inappropriate games in the home. The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i)(ii)) 01/06/2020

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that children’s views about the decoration and furnishing of the home are sought and taken into account, necessary repairs are undertaken and the redecoration programme is completed.

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Recommendations

 For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3).

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that all children have current personal education plans and up-to-date EHC plans, where appropriate. Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 6

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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

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 children’s home: SC472680 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 154-156 Buxton Road High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472680 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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