Children's home run by New Horizons NW Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 1 Registered provider: New Horizons NW Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who may be experiencing social and/or emotional issues and/or have learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2021. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: 24 October 2023

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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: 2614703 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 25/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they have good relationships with staff and key workers. They say that the manager is helpful and supportive and they would go to the manager if they were unhappy or wished to make a complaint. This demonstrates that children feel confident that the manager will listen to them and ensure that their needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their individual starting points. Children regularly attend school or other education provisions. There is effective liaison between staff and education professionals. This helps provide children with all round care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s physical and emotional health needs are prioritised. Staff support the children to attend routine and specialist health appointments. This means that the children are in good health and positive well-being is promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a safe, child-centred home with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Photos are proudly displayed on the walls and the children’s bedrooms reflect their individual likes and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager does not always ensure that repairs are carried out without delay. For example, in relation to the garden area.

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted before starting work at the home. These checks ensure that only suitable staff are employed to work at the home.

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

Children are supported to understand their emotions and manage their responses to incidents, largely due to the caring and nurturing approach of the staff.

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

Some children experience physical interventions that are not always proportionate or necessary. Some records of these lack sufficient detail, which compromises leaders and managers’ oversight of staff practice. Additionally, physical interventions are not consistently evaluated. This means that leaders and managers cannot always identify any learning from staff practices.

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

Leaders have effective oversight of risk management plans to ensure that they align with children’s needs. Staff review and update risk management plans as necessary to reflect any changes, helping them to provide safe and consistent care.

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

On four occasions there was a delay in leaders and managers reporting safeguarding concerns to Ofsted in line with regulation. This limited the regulator’s oversight at these times. Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager know the children well and they work hard to create a warm and homely environment for them to live in. The manager and staff have high aspirations for the children and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions are seen as an integral part of the support system for staff development. These sessions provide staff with time to reflect on their practice and discuss challenges and provide them with constructive feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with relevant professionals is a key strength of the manager and the staff team. Feedback from professionals is positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular training that helps them to better understand and meet children’s needs. This helps staff to develop their skills to enable them to implement good practice. Training is regularly reviewed by leaders and managers to ensure that it meets the changing needs of the staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive annual appraisals that consider a range of topics, including their progress and any areas for development. Appraisals are also an opportunity for the manager to ensure that staff are meeting the requirements of their role. Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that restraint is only used when necessary and that all steps are taken to avoid the use of restraint. 30 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any damage or required maintenance is quickly addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that Ofsted is notified if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept that enable them and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the

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Recommendations

quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59) Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 6

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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: 2614703 7

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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: New Horizons (NW) Limited, 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

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2614703 8 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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