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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 1 SC008600

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Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has not been a registered manager in post since February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are able to talk to staff, who understand their needs well. Staff spend time getting to know children and building relationships. One child’s social worker said, ‘Staff have really done a good job of engaging [the child] and connecting, as that’s something that [the child] finds really difficult.’

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the importance of education. When children are not in education provision, the manager escalates this with the relevant professionals to find alternative learning opportunities for children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is warm and welcoming. There has been some improvement made to the home environment and some plans are in place to replace the kitchen and carpets. However, there are some areas of the home that still require attention.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff educate children about risks. The discussions are open and transparent, while sensitively considering children’s needs. Staff use additional resources, including information leaflets. They encourage children to make informed decisions about risk- taking behaviours. As a result, children are developing an understanding of risks and how to keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from home, staff follow the missing-from-home procedures. Staff maintain detailed records and ensure that return home interviews are requested. The manager provides reflective and evaluative oversight of all incidents to inform future safeguarding. Staff and managers work collaboratively with external professionals and regularly review plans to understand risks and needs. They escalate concerns when children’s safety is at risk, ensuring that strategy meetings are convened and challenge decisions when they are not appropriate.

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Findings from the inspection

A manager was appointed but has since left the home. The deputy manager has stepped up into the manager’s role and said they are applying to register. The manager has identified areas of improvement to the care provided to children and has a clear vision for the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are supported to develop their skills and there is extensive training available. Training is tailored to the needs of and risks to the children living in the home. However, not all newly recruited staff have attended specific training required to help them understand contextual safeguarding risks and work consistently to reduce these risks.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has systems in place to monitor the children’s progress. They use these systems to identify effectively increasing and emerging risk and identify any Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 3 related patterns. The manager shares information with other professionals to inform decision-making and strengthen plans to manage and reduce risk. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Good 18/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/08/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training on substance misuse, gangs and knife crime and criminal exploitation.

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Requirement Due date

The requirement has been restated. 5 December 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that wear and tear in the home is identified and rectified in a timely manner. The recommendation has been restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 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: 154-156 Buxton Road High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 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 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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