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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1264538 1

p.1

New Horizons (NW) ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home also provides care for children and young people with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of the off-site visit was to review the progress made in relation to recommendations given at the home’s last full inspection. The home has not received a visit from Ofsted since November 2019. The inspector found that all the recommendations have been met.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Social workers said that children are safe, and staff are attuned to children’s needs. The staff team has positive relationships with children, and because of this, children have made significant progress. A social worker reported, ‘Since living at the home, [Name] has very much turned their life around and been supported through a difficult time in their life. They are the only provision to have given [Name] what he needs.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children said that they feel listened to and well cared for. Children are proud of the progress they have made since living at the home, such as rarely going missing from home and being able to build trusting relationships. One child said, ‘Staff have really helped me to move on and help me to speak to people about how I feel. I would definitely recommend the home to another child. Everything about it is good.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

Matching risk assessments carefully consider children’s individual needs and the impact of them living together in the same home. Children reported that the support they received from the staff team prior to their move made them feel less anxious Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1264538 2 about moving into the home. Children’s transitions from the home are also thoroughly planned. The staff team works hard to sustain children’s placements and support them until they are ready to make a positive move to independent living.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Keywork sessions take place regularly and encourage children to talk about their emotional well-being. The staff team is proactive in obtaining support and guidance from online mental health communities when children refuse to engage with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since their starting point at the home, some children have made significant progress in education. Where children are struggling to engage in education, staff should act as advocates to help children to identify the problems and work with the education provider to improve children’s engagement in education.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in terms of safeguarding children. Clear procedures are in place to keep children safe and, as a result, risk-taking behaviour in areas such as substance misuse and criminal-related behaviour has reduced significantly. Children are also supported to access group work with other agencies, to educate them on specific risk-taking behaviour.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Missing-from-home records demonstrate that staff have a good understanding of children’s missing-from-home protocols. Debriefs with children and staff are reflective. The manager uses lessons learned to identify practice that can be improved or any action that needs to be taken to keep children safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The turnover of staff has reduced since the last inspection, and a stable core staff team is now in place. The staff team members, together, have a suitable level of knowledge, experience and skills to ensure that children are provided with safe and consistent care.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/11/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1264538 3

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that children’s home staff act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.12) Specifically, where children are struggling to engage in education, staff should help children to identify the problems and work with the education provider to overcome these.

p.3

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.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.3

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Natalie Waterhouse

p.3

Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1264538 4 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.

p.3

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.4

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.4

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.4