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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) 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

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties and have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered with Ofsted since August 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspection started on 23 July 2024. Inspectors returned on 13 August 2024 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy

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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

Date of last inspection: 20 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/09/2023 Full Outstanding 04/10/2022 Full Good 02/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff have good relationships. There is warmth and interest demonstrated. Achievements are celebrated, and skills are learned through daily interactions with staff. Direct work is purposeful and researched, taking into consideration individual need and understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of education are varied. Two children are accessing school daily and achieving milestones from their starting points. However, another child has not secured a school placement and has not been in a school for over 12 months. While there has been strong challenge by management and the child has an educational package to enhance their learning school, their opportunities to learn with their peers or reach their academic and social potential are hindered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are promoted. Staff carry out regular direct work with them to explore any worries or anxieties they may have regarding health appointments. One child has met with their dentist virtually, and staff have agreed to support a child in having a cannula fitted to enable required dental treatment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a good quality of care, and staff are committed to ensuring children are actively involved in participation. Staff have been creative in supporting children to explore interests and activities. This enables the children to have their likes and needs met. One child is going to a mixed martial arts activity to support their interest and to celebrate their educational achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a balanced approach in determining risks in line with children’s developmental stages. This includes spending time with friends in the local area. This enables the children’s confidence to develop and provides opportunities for them to take balanced risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Children contribute to the decor and furnishings in the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their individual tastes. This allows the children to develop their sense of identity, belonging and pride.

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

The manager and staff have a detailed understanding of the children’s specific needs. Staff work creatively and collaboratively to manage risks when they occur.

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

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from home. As a result, one child’s risk of going missing from home has notably reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 4 Safeguarding concerns are well managed. When concerns arise, the manager works proactively to ensure that there are clear safety plans in place to minimise risk. However, the safety plans in place have impacted children’s sense of stability in the home, and the manager is working closely with the placing authorities to identify a clear solution.

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

There have been some occasions when children have displayed behaviours of concern. Staff are proactive in their approach. They respond appropriately and sensitively. Staff carry out meaningful direct work with children that focuses on the risks associated but also supports children to understand and recognise risk. This helps to keep children safe.

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

Staff sometimes hold children to keep them safe. Staff are trained in the use of physical intervention. Records of interventions are detailed and contain the relevant information, with management oversight, reflection and learning. The manager ensures that children and staff are spoken to and have opportunities to reflect; in addition, children are offered an independent advocate. This allows children to maintain trusting relationships with staff.

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

The manager is aware of the risks associated with the location of the home. This information is used to inform a location risk assessment and is reviewed regularly, which ensures that this is a suitable location for the children who come to live in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious and focused on driving practice forward to achieve the best outcomes for the children. She is reflective, identifies learning and is confident in embedding learning with the staff team. This enables staff to work together and provide consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been a lot of changes within the staff team since the last inspection. These have been managed sensitively to reduce the impact on the children. Safer recruitment is in place, and when concerns have arisen, these have been acted on in a timely manner to prioritise the children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy and enjoy coming to work. Staff feel valued, respected and fully supported. Regular team meetings and supervision sessions take place. These are well planned and structured, allowing for constructive reflection on practice. Children’s experiences are a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management scrutiny is not consistently applied in ensuring that records for children are accurate or detailed. On occasions, incidents have not been adequately recorded. This does not provide clear guidance for staff or a true picture of children’s daily experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work closely with involved agencies, identifying actions to promote improved outcomes. One professional said, ‘The staff at the home appear to genuinely care and have an excellent relationship with the children. The children are respected, and decisions are explained to them.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 5

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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, The 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that all incidents are recorded and evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes that can be implemented to support the development of staff. 25 September 2024

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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: 2594985 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 17-18, Navigation 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

Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2594985 7 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 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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