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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home. Both children spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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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: 2509269 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2024 Full Good 01/11/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children in this home have been afforded consistency and stability. Both children have lived in this home for several years. No children have moved into or out of the home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they like living in this home, and they have good relationships with the registered manager and staff. This enables children to talk openly and share any worries or concerns they have with trusted adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported with their education, and both attend school full time. The registered manager has advocated for and supported one child to transition into full-time education after a number of years. This advocacy ensures that children are being given opportunities to achieve and succeed, and staff talk to children about their aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. Staff have worked closely with one child to address their anxieties around health appointments, and this has meant that they have received necessary treatment to improve their health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals and parents are happy with the care provided to children. One professional said that they are ‘more than happy’ with the care that staff provide. One parent stated that they ‘can’t fault them’. Staff work well with parents and professionals and keep them up to date. This ensures that there is effective multi-agency working to meet children’s needs holistically.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home features photos and belongings of the children throughout. Children are able to choose items and decorations for their bedrooms to make these comfortable and in line with their interests. However, some areas of the home require maintenance and repair. This does not ensure that children are supported to develop a sense of pride in their home.

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

Staff understand risks for children and have clear knowledge around how to manage risks. Risk management plans are updated regularly and there are clear protocols in place to keep children safe.

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

Staff responses to incidents are prompt. When concerns have been raised around a child’s safety and well-being, staff are proactive and implement appropriate safeguarding measures.

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

Incidents for one child have reduced since the last inspection. Staff complete relevant work with both children to support them to understand risks and how to keep Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

themselves safe at home and in the community. When children have required support from external agencies, the registered manager has advocated and challenged on their behalf to ensure that they receive this.

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

Children say that they feel safe and settled in this home. This stability alongside positive relationships with staff allow for open and honest conversations and children feel able to talk about their lived experiences. This means that children are able to receive help to understand their life stories.

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

Not all leaders and managers demonstrate a clear understanding of external safeguarding processes. This was explored in a theoretical context and has not impacted children. However, the registered manager should ensure that all leaders in the home understand these processes to ensure that children are kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate and dedicated to her role and she knows the children very well. She leads with positivity and is child centred. The registered manager is visible in the home to ensure that children and staff feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are reflective and open to new ways of working for the benefit of children. Staff say that they feel well supported by managers and team meetings and supervisions are regular. However, the quality of supervision is not consistent across the management team. This means that staff are not always able to reflect on their practice or the quality of care that they give to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is knowledgeable and uses research to inform her understanding of children’s needs and the care that they receive. This research-informed approach is not yet consistently embedded across the team, which limits the ability to fully assess its impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a comprehensive oversight over all incidents and events in the home and is evaluative and child focused in her response. Robust monitoring and reviewing systems are in place, which are used to drive positive performance and ensure that children are being cared for effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 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)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all leaders and managers have the skills to provide good-quality supervision for staff which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of children assigned to their care. 14 November 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all adults working in the home understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)  The registered person should ensure that children live in a well-maintained and welcoming environment with a homely feel. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2509269 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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) Ltd, 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

Danielle Allen, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509269 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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