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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good 15/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in since the last inspection. Children have been supported well with their moves. Despite sometimes only having a short timescale, these moves have been well planned and successful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large, detached property with substantial gardens. It has a homely feel with photos of the children displayed throughout. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. However, one child does not have privacy film on their window as others do to ensure their privacy. Additionally, not all areas of the home, including bedrooms, are cleaned regularly. The home is well resourced. However, locks on communal doors and cupboards restrict children’s access.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children attend education, one has recently sat exams and one child is in employment. The manager understands the importance of education, work and training. She advocates for education that meets children’s needs. As a result, children are doing well educationally and are developing their skills, confidence and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in lots of activities with staff and in their local community. These include scouts, youth groups and school holiday clubs. Children also enjoy cycling and adventure playgrounds. Children are supported with their cultural identity sensitively, taking into consideration their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting and positive relationships with the staff. Staff have regular supportive and nurturing conversations with the children that are appropriate to their age, understanding and plans. The staff provide evidence of children’s progression well and this is monitored monthly so that staff can see where the child may need additional support or to move on to a new target.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with their family is supported. The staff understand the importance of these relationships to children and are on hand to ensure that these are maintained. The staff have also supported children to rebuild relationships with estranged family. One family member said of the staff, ‘Full marks from me – they couldn’t do anything else.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are supported by staff who understand their individual needs and risks. The staff are required to respond to a variety of situations based on the children’s individual needs, and they do this well.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations against staff members are robustly managed, and the manager works closely with other professionals. The manager addresses any shortfalls in staff practice swiftly and confidently. When appropriate, children and the staff members involved are supported to repair their relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 4 There has recently been an increase in children being reported missing from the home. However, the staff have adapted to respond to this risk quickly and appropriately. The staff actively look for children and work closely with other agencies, challenging responses when required. Additionally, children are welcomed home by nurturing staff, who also ensure that the children receive return home interviews.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When restraint is used, staff consistently use the least restrictive option. Children are spoken to following restraints, to ensure that they are okay and have the opportunity to speak to someone who was not involved in the hold. The manager’s evaluation of incidents are thorough and robust. They identify what could have been done differently, challenge staff practice and encourage the staff to reflect and identify any learning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive reinforcement, incentives and rewards are regularly used to support children with their behaviour. When negative consequences are used, the staff evaluate the effectiveness of the measure used. This ensures that measures do not become punitive or unhelpful to the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home environment is safe for children. However, children’s placing authorities have not given their consent for the use of CCTV to record the perimeter of the home. Additionally, children have not been informed of its use or the reasons why it is being used. This limits children’s privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked at the home for several years. This has helped her to build strong and positive relationships with the children and staff team. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager. As a team, they act as positive role models to the staff. Consequently, the staff feel supported, developed and listened too.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been several changes to staff since the last inspection. However, the impact of these changes on children have been minimal as children have been consistently supported by a core staff team. New staff recruited to work in the home undergo robust recruitment checks. However, when issues have arisen during the recruitment process, the manager has not evaluated her reasoning or decision-making that reflect how she has minimised risks to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision that is thorough, supportive and reflective. Children’s views are taken into consideration in annual appraisals, and their views help to develop action plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good oversight and uses systems effectively. This ensures that any shortfalls are identified quickly. There are robust development plans in place that are detailed and achievable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. These are child focused and ensure that staff have the information needed to support the children effectively. Additionally, the manager Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 5 ensures that staff are up to date with any mandatory and relevant training in order to help them in their role.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that the home, including children’s bedrooms, are clean and that any damage is addressed quickly.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to ensuring that children have privacy when in their bedrooms in the way of appropriate window coverings. 6 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected; 6 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 6 children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to children having access to all communal areas of their home.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to the removal of locks on cupboards throughout rooms in communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the use of the CCTV operating outside of the home and the need for the placing authorities’ consent and children being made aware that the CCTV is in operation. 6 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff minimises potential risks to children. This includes, where appropriate, the registered person evaluating their decisions for recruiting staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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 for children’s home: 1261138 8

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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

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Kathryn Grindrod, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 9 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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