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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector was able to speak to all the children over the telephone about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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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 outstanding

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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: 2740122 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2025 Full Good 09/01/2024 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children stay at the home for a long time and have positive relationships with staff and each other. This provides children with sustained periods of stability. At the time of this inspection, the children were enjoying a holiday abroad together with the staff. Professionals say that staff know the children well and are child focused on their approach to care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in various activities to support their interests. Children enjoy swimming, karate, singing, board games, crafting, rock climbing, cooking, and go- karting. Children spend time with their friends on planned activities and at their homes, and their friends are welcome to spend time at the home. These experiences help children to develop social skills and build friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s identities by supporting their cultural needs and traditions. They celebrate cultural events, prepare traditional meals and shop at international food shops. This helps children to maintain a strong sense of self and stay connected to their family and heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and deputy manager actively promote children’s education. When children face challenges at school, the manager and deputy manager work closely with lead teachers and virtual schools to enable children to remain in school. When children are unable to access a full timetable, structured education plans are implemented in the home. This approach supports engagement and a structured routine to promote children’s learning and prepare them for the formal structure of the school environment. As a result, attendance for all children has improved, enabling them to make significant progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When supplementing timetables, staff take a creative approach to education in the home, using day trips and charitable events to support learning. Staff supported one child in organising a bake sale to raise money for a national charity, helping them learn about charitable organisations while developing their budgeting, negotiating, social and organisational skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Reward charts are used to encourage children’s participation. Incentives are aligned to support children’s individual goals, such as education, self-care, independence, and social skills. Incentives are reviewed regularly to ensure that they continue to promote progress and remain relevant to the child’s development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they have positive relationships with staff and receive a lot of support. They describe receiving help with their mental health, relationships with family and friends and expressing their emotions. This helps children to make progress in key areas of their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 4 The home is spacious and well furnished. However, repairs following damage are not always completed to a good standard, and the paint on the kitchen sink is peeling and chipping. Although children’s bedrooms are well furnished, in one child’s bedroom, the paintwork is worn.

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

The staff build positive, trusting relationships with the children, and the children identify staff as trusted adults who they can speak to about their worries and concerns. The children do not complain about their care and are aware of the processes in place if they want to make a formal complaint.

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

The manager and staff use research to inform direct work with children. The children have been supported to plan and implement effective relaxing evening routines, which has aided better sleep routines. They have also been supported with bereavement, helping them to understand and process personal loss.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and are fully investigated. Leaders and managers work with relevant professionals to ensure that investigations are thorough, and children receive the right support throughout the investigation process. The outcomes of allegations are shared with children, and leaders and managers take appropriate action to address practice issues.

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

Staff respond to accidents appropriately, applying first aid and seeking medical attention when necessary. Accidents are logged appropriately, and information is shared with professionals and parents. When staff members sustain an accident, they are supported in seeking medical advice. After an unavoidable accident, the manager gave care packages to the children and flowers to the staff. This was a caring and nurturing gesture for both staff and children.

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

Staff understand the children’s individual risks and develop appropriate strategies to support them. The children’s risks are documented in behaviour support plans and safety plan protocols that direct and support staff in preventing and reducing risks. Significant incidents are managed well, and staff talk with children afterwards to help them understand risks and learn how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff are trained in the use of physical intervention and methods of de-escalation. Physical intervention is used as a last resort to protect children and others from harm. Staff exhaust all de-escalation methods before implementing physical intervention. Reflection work is completed with children following physical interventions to ensure that they understand why the intervention was used, to explore their feelings and identify alternative coping strategies moving forward. Children are able to discuss incidents of physical intervention with someone who was not involved in the incident. The manager reviews incidents to ensure that the action taken was reasonable and proportionate. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 5 Incidents of self-harm and low mood are managed well. Staff know when to escalate concerns and seek additional support. Staff monitor children’s moods and provide them with emotional support. There are detailed self-harm protocols in place to direct staff in

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

moments of crisis. Staff reflect on incidents with children and sensitively discuss their feelings and alternative coping mechanisms. Children are provided with details of specialist support services and crisis numbers.

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

Substance misuse incidents are rare, and staff believe they are often influenced by peer pressure and curiosity. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately, monitoring children and seeking medical attention as needed. Staff speak to children following incidents to explain the dangers of substance misuse and its impact. Sensitive discussions with children about friendships have helped them identify positive and negative friendship traits and make informed decisions about their friendship group.

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

The manager and deputy manager seek support from specialist agencies and professionals to ensure that children have support with issues, including mental health and substance misuse. Staff encourage children’s engagement with specialist professionals. This means children have access to the support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager are extremely child focused and are ambitious in their vision for the home, staff, and children. They have high expectations of staff and are committed to improving outcomes for children. They lead by example, and staff look up to them and feel motivated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Induction programmes for new starters are thorough and detailed. New staff receive key training before starting to work at the home. This ensures that staff are confident and suitably trained before undertaking the care and responsibility of children. Staff are supported throughout their probation period with regular reviews to identify any further learning or development needs. This ensures that staff are prepared to support the children at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an exceptional understanding of her team’s strengths and areas of development, and team development is heavily promoted. Staff receive high-quality, regular supervision from the manager and deputy manager. Supervision sessions have a strong focus on outcomes for children and guidance to improve practice. They are reflective and detailed with clear actions set. Annual appraisals reflect on the progress made by the member of staff and are influenced by feedback from children and professionals. They have a clear focus on staff development and personal progress. Staff feel fully supported in their career progression and enjoy working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is strong managerial oversight of the home. All reports and plans have evidence of management oversight. The manager completes monthly audit reports with clear actions for the upcoming month, and the responsible individual completes quarterly audits. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 6 manager and deputy manager continue to develop their own leadership and management skills by attending management consultation sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment checks and undertake additional checks and assurances when necessary. This ensures that they are fully assured of staff’s integrity and character before they are entrusted to provide care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended. These meetings are used to discuss current issues for the children, reflect on practice, plan for upcoming events, and ensure that all staff are aware of, and working in line with children’s behaviour support plans and safety plan protocols. This ensures that staff are working together effectively and provides consistency and stability in the care of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 7

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that any damage at the home is repaired and that the home is maintained to a good standard to ensure that it is a clean and homely environment. 9 December 2025

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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: 2740122 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 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

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2740122 9 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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