Children's Home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. No children are currently living in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Following a full inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025 Ofsted judged the home to be inadequate. This monitoring visit was carried out to review the action taken by the provider to meet the requirements issued at that inspection. Since the full inspection, no children have moved into the home. This means that while leaders and managers say that positive changes have been made, it is not yet possible to see these being implemented and assess whether the changes will have sufficient impact to improve outcomes for children.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have started to explore and understand the reasons behind the inadequate judgement. There has been a particular focus on recruiting new experienced staff. There remains one vacancy. Reassurances have been provided that this vacancy will be filled by a suitable experienced member of staff before any children are admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have also reflected on the scrutiny involved when decisions are made about children being admitted to the home. The decision to move a new child into the home is now also considered by senior managers, to make sure that staff have the skills and experience to meet the needs of children moving in. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 2 The severity of the concerns and the need for change have been recognised. Leaders and managers are implementing a daily routines planner for each child who will move into the home. This document sets out what the child’s day looks like, to guide staff with helping children to have good routines. Team meetings have been changed and there is now a regular, standalone meeting to discuss children, the progress they are making and the challenges that staff have experienced in looking after them. This means that the manager and staff will have clear time to reflect on

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This monitoring visit

their practice with children and consider how they can help children make further progress.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have engaged with training across a range of areas. One area of focus has been upskilling the team in working in a trauma-informed way, using professional curiosity and learning de-escalation techniques. Staff say that the training has equipped them with the knowledge and skills needed to help them look after children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reflected on how they can have sufficient oversight of the home, and how they will use audits of children’s files and focus on reflective practice with staff, to be able to identify areas where practice can improve. The manager says that they will spend time observing staff practice to identify the skills of individual members of the team, and personal staff development plans will be used to look at how staff can be supported to further develop their skills.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment has been improved. The home has been repainted and has a homely feel.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the full inspection remain in place, as there is insufficient evidence to assess if sufficient changes have been made.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Inadequate 04/12/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 3

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children on part-time timetables have clear plans to structure their day when they are not in school, with activities and responsibilities that are relevant to their plans. Additionally, the registered manager must ensure that there are clear plans to reintegrate children into mainstream education. 22 September

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)) 22 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 4 In particular, the registered person must ensure that when children exhibit risk-taking behaviours, staff carry out relevant work with them to help them learn about their risks, in line with their plans. Additionally, when children request support to learn about their risks, this should be provided in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that plans and risk assessments include all relevant information and provide clear direction for how staff should protect children, ensuring consistent implementation in the home. 22 September

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 22 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 5 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have sufficient skills and experience to deliver effective care to children in the home. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that they monitor the impact of staff changes on children’s progress and experiences to inform their future care planning.

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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 registered person must have effective oversight of staff practice to ensure that they are adhering to children’s plans. Additionally, the registered person must have effective oversight of incidents occurring in the home so that they understand what causes them and how staff respond, allowing for learning and reflection. 22 September

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o DWF Company Secretarial Services Limited, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA

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Inspector

Minnette Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2793174 7 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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