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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 1 SC386837 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2009.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/03/2023 Full Inadequate 13/01/2022 Full Good 10/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector received feedback from both children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no changes to the children living at the home since the last visit. This has provided consistency for the children and allowed them to build relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in their care, and their views, wishes and feelings are regularly sought and acted on. This ensures that children feel listened to, respected and involved in their own futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite ongoing encouragement and incentives, staff have struggled to encourage both children to attend their schools consistently. However, the manager and staff have worked closely with school staff and advocated well for the children to help them reach their potential. This has included arranging tuition and escalating the need for one child to have an education, health and care plan. Despite children’s low attendance, there have been successes for them to be proud of due to the support that the staff have provided. For one child, attendance has improved since they moved into the home. Another child has been able to sit exams at a pace suitable for them. Additionally, both children have secured college placements and are excited to start their courses.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well maintained and clean. There are photos of the children throughout, including one of the children and staff after completing a charity mud run. However, one child’s bedroom was particularly untidy at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children’s relationships with their families. One child is now able to have overnight stays with a parent, and they have had the time and opportunity to strengthen their relationship. The staff understand the importance of children’s friends in their lives. Staff promote healthy relationships and manage concerning friendships safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has enjoyed a holiday with their friend and their family, and it is hoped that this will happen again this summer. Children have enjoyed activities such as a football stadium tour and watching their favourite player during a match. In addition, children enjoy shopping, going to the cinema and visiting places where there are animals.

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

Very recently, there has been a reduction in children leaving the home and not returning on time. The staff have already identified this as positive progress and celebrated with them. Both children say they feel safe living at the home and that the staff frequently call them when they are out to check if they are alright. However, overall, there has been a rise in the number of incidents requiring children to be reported to the police. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 4 The staff response during such incidents is robust. Thorough records indicate that the staff actively try to disrupt children’s plans, which includes following them, challenging adults, such as taxi drivers and hoteliers, blocking roads, working closely with other professionals and always ensuring that they collect children when they have been located. One professional said, ‘They are doing everything they can to keep [name of

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

child] safe.’ Additionally, one parent said, ‘They are like CID.’

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

The staff show professional curiosity. As a result, they have been able to quickly identify individuals of concern, develop connections and share information. Staff work hard to maintain children’s safety and well-being. The staff have a thorough understanding of children’s risks. They can identify indicators of concern and have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

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

The manager ensures that the necessary and appropriate multi-agency meetings aimed at safeguarding children take place, and she has successfully escalated the need for these on occasions.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. This demonstrates that the staff have good relationships with the children and are skilled at de-escalation. The staff understand the models of care and use them well, and this is evidenced throughout. If there are grounds to search a child’s bedroom, this is done sensitively. However, the manager does not use the local police to help children reduce offending behaviour.

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

The manager ensures that she follows safer recruitment processes to minimise the risk of unsuitable people working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has managed the home since 2008. A deputy manager supports her. Together, they have improved the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of children’s experiences. Management evaluations of incidents are thorough. The manager quickly identifies and addresses any issues with staff practice to ensure that change is brought about swiftly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person visits the home monthly. Reports are positive. However, they do not include feedback from the children’s families. This is a missed opportunity to make further improvements to the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff report feeling supported and receiving regular feedback on their practice during supervision sessions. Regular team meetings provide the staff with the information that they need to support the children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been two complaints made by children, which the manager has addressed quickly and satisfactorily. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 6 June 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that routines are in place for checking and cleaning children’s bedrooms on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should establish and maintain effective working relationships with local police services to help children reduce offending behaviours and understand the risks associated with them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.5)

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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: SC386837 6

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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 to 156 Buxton Road, High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC386837 7 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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