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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594985 1

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New Horizons (nw) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was registered in August 2020 and has not yet had a full inspection. A monitoring visit was conducted on 18 March 2021 to review the care and safeguarding arrangements for the children living at the home. The visit was carried out using a combination of remote and on-site activity. At the time of the monitoring visit, four children were living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children live in a safe and supportive home environment. The staff team has created a warm, family atmosphere in the home. Children have quickly developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. One child said, ‘Staff are kind and help us with everything.’

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This monitoring visit

Children make progress in a short period of time. For example, staff are supporting one child to become more independent with all aspects of their personal care.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to coming to the home, some children had not attended school for long periods of time. Staff have successfully supported children to gradually re-engage with education and all children now attend school regularly.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team endeavours to create a fun and playful atmosphere which children clearly thrive on. Children’s hobbies and interests are promoted. Staff encourage children to take part in a wide range of activities both at home and in the local community. For example, one child enjoys horse-riding lessons. An independent Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594985 2 reviewing officer said, ‘I have observed such a huge improvement in the overall development of the children and am aware of the variety of activities the staff have provided to ensure that the children experience a stimulating environment.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff are creative and seek opportunities for children to engage in important childhood activities such as playing games, baking, singing and dancing. Children benefit from the nurturing approach adopted by staff. For example, staff read stories at bedtime to help some children to settle.

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This monitoring visit

Children are developing positive relationships with each other. Staff have used individual and group work sessions to support children to explore their feelings and relationships with each other. This has helped children to strengthen previously fractious relationships with their siblings. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘The work to support the children with their relationship has been so beneficial and it is a pleasure to observe their interactions together. I feel they support each other now, which is a fantastic improvement.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff have established consistent boundaries and routines, which children are adapting to and responding well to. For example, the introduction of a bedtime routine has supported one child to sleep through the night for the first time.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s care plans are detailed and contain clear guidance for staff. This supports staff to respond consistently to children’s needs. Staff rarely use physical interventions to manage children’s behaviours. When incidents do occur, staff encourage children to reflect on their behaviour and the impact it has on others.

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This monitoring visit

External professionals speak highly of the manager and express confidence in the staff team’s ability to meet the children’s needs. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘The manager is a great advocate for the children. She clearly has a good understanding of their support needs, but also what they like and what works for them.’

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This monitoring visit

Some shortfalls were identified in the manager’s oversight of records. For example, the home’s statement of purpose does not detail the individual staff employed at the home or their qualifications and experience of working with children. A requirement has been made to address this matter.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager reviews all the records of significant incidents within the home. However, she does not record the findings of her analysis of these incidents. This is a missed opportunity to identify patterns and shape future practice. Greater analysis of incidents should also support the manager’s decision-making with regards to notifying Ofsted of incidents that have occurred within the home. Recommendations have been made to improve practice in this area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594985 3

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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 person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 30 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are 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 home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, repairs should be made to the home’s double glazing.  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Specifically, the registered person should develop a robust system for analysing and monitoring significant incidents within the home.  Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare

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Recommendations

of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594985 4

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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: Unit 12, Riversway Business Village, Navigation Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2YP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Natalie Waterhouse

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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2594985 5 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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