Children's home run by New Horizons NW Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 1 Registered provider: New Horizons NW Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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 and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, three children were living in the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children moved together from another of the provider’s home into a larger house, and staff moved with them. The move was well planned, and the children were actively involved throughout the process. Since the move, one child has moved out of the home as part of a planned transition, and another child now lives at the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children say they are happy at the home. One child said: ‘What’s not to like? It’s amazing.’ The children and staff have excellent relationships and there is a culture of genuine love and warmth. Staff are highly committed to the children, and provide personalised care tailored to each child’s individual needs and personalities. Staff are attuned to the children’s needs and know them exceptionally well.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive excellent support when they move out of the home. One child stayed at the home for an extended period until they were ready for independent living. The provider supported them to take driving lessons and with the purchase of a car, and assisted them with employment and further study. Staff remain a consistent and reliable source of support for them. Staff’s dedication and commitment help children to develop confidence, independence and a positive outlook as they move into adulthood.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to build and maintain relationships with family members and those who are important to them. Staff actively nurture relationships between children and their family, ensuring that time spent together is meaningful and positive. One parent said that staff are ‘absolutely exceptional’ and they ‘go above and beyond’ for children.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with consistency and stability from a dedicated staff team. They are making significant progress from their starting points. For example, children are developing the confidence to engage in hobbies and interests and spend time with friends. Staff help children to understand and express their feelings positively, which helps build their resilience.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children attend school regularly and they engage fully in their learning. One child who previously struggled to attend school now attends full time and chooses to access additional revision sessions. This shows that staff support children to understand the value of education.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s health needs and proactively identify appropriate support for them. They actively engage in additional training and research to ensure that they have a thorough knowledge of each child’s needs and the skills required to meet them effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 3

p.2

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

The home provides a calm, nurturing and positive environment where children feel happy and supported. There have been no incidents since the home was registered with Ofsted, reflecting the positive relationships between staff and children and staff’s commitment to get to know the children well.

p.3

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

Staff talk to children regularly about risks to help them understand the potential risks to their safety when concerns arise. Conversations are purposeful and flow naturally, encouraging children to engage. Children are supported to access therapeutic services. Staff work closely with these services to share ideas and strategies that support the children.

p.3

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

Children are at the centre of all staff practice. Staff regularly ascertain children’s views and wishes and include them in all aspects of their care appropriately. This demonstrates to children that they are the experts in their own lives, and that they are valued and respected.

p.3

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

Leaders and managers proactively identify areas for improvement and development. Research, training and other resources are sought regularly, and applied to practice. This helps to ensure that all staff have relevant skills and knowledge to meet the children’s individual needs.

p.3

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of children’s risks and know how to keep them safe. Risk management plans are updated regularly and provide clear strategies for staff to follow to keep children safe. However, information in some plans is not relevant, which may limit staff ability to use them effectively as tools to manage risks.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed effectively and efficiently by an experienced registered manager and deputy manager. The registered manager is highly committed to the children. The managers are strong leaders who create a culture rooted in warmth, nurture and care, supported by consistent routines and boundaries. This helps provide children with a stable home where they feel secure.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers’ oversight of all aspects of the children’s care is excellent. There are extensive and effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that the home operates smoothly. Leaders and managers know the home exceptionally well and consistently strive to improve the quality of care provided for children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about the support they receive from leaders and managers. They are supported with regular, high-quality supervision. This provides staff with opportunities to reflect on how training and research can improve outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 4 Team meetings take place regularly. These provide staff with opportunities to reflect on children’s progress and share research-based strategies specific to children’s individual needs. This proactive approach ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs to an exceptional standard and support them to flourish.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and family members say they ‘cannot fault’ the managers and say they are the children’s ‘strongest advocates’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s risk management plans contain clear and relevant information which is specific to the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.5

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: 2845549 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons NW Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 17–18, Navigation Business Village, Navigation Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2YP

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Natalie Waterhouse

p.6

Inspector

Danielle Allen, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2845549 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7