Children's home run by Horizon Transitional Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 1 Registered provider: Horizon Transitional Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a small private company. The home provides care for up to 3 children with a range of complex needs and children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably experienced. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with all of them.

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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

Date of last inspection: 24 February 2025

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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: 1268535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2025 Full Good 16/10/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or left the home. The 3 children living in the home have been there for a significant period, which demonstrates that they experience stability and consistency in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to express their views using their preferred methods of communication. These include the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Makaton, and signs and symbols. Staff know the children well and are skilled in interpreting their vocal tones, facial expressions and body language to understand each child’s wishes. As a result, staff respond effectively to children’s needs and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children are registered with all relevant health services and advocate strongly on their behalf when further assessments are needed. For example, staff worked closely with health professionals to advocate for the safe reduction of a child’s daily medication. As a result, the child is now on a planned reduction and no longer takes the medication every day. This careful advocacy supports children to safely reduce medication where appropriate and has improved the child’s quality of sleep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals unanimously report that staff enthusiastically support children’s education and strongly advocate for children to receive learning that meets their individual needs. All three children have 100% attendance. One education professional said, ‘[Name of child] is liked by all the pupils and the staff in this school, and he has made good progress academically.’ Another commented, ‘I cannot fault the staff on how well they have supported [Name of child].’ This consistent support encourages children to do well and reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff understand the importance of promoting children’s relationships with the people who matter most to them. Staff go the extra mile by providing transport for children to visit family members who live far away. One parent said, ‘Staff are so helpful and will adjust family time if I have any time constraints.’ This support enables children to maintain their identity, strengthen family connections, and preserve their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm, nurturing and homely environment where staff create a strong sense of belonging. The home displays photos of children and their families, and staff personalise bedrooms to reflect each child’s interests and preferences. The environment is highly sensory, with thoughtful features that support children’s individual sensory needs. This carefully designed setting not only meets children’s needs effectively but also helps them feel safe, valued and genuinely at home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 4

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

Children form strong, trusting relationships with staff. One child said that they feel safe in the home and said, ‘All the staff are my favourites.’ A parent commented, ‘They tell me they are so happy living in this home.’ Children feel safe in the home and have confidence in the staff who care for them.

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

Disclosures and complaints are rare. When they do occur, they are managed effectively. The manager ensures that children are kept safe and protected from harm and provides them with updates on the outcomes. These actions help children feel confident to raise concerns and reinforce their sense of safety.

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

Staff actively support children to understand their behaviour and use effective strategies to help them remain calm. This approach has been successful, as the home has required only two physical interventions. Following any intervention, staff speak with children to help them reflect on the situation and express their feelings.

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

Health and safety procedures, including fire safety arrangements, are well established. The home has received a gold award, its highest health and safety grading from the independent organisation. Children take part in regular fire drills and know how to evacuate the home safely in an emergency. This ensures that children live in an environment where high standards of care and safety are consistently maintained.

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

The home follows robust and safe recruitment practices that ensure the right staff are appointed to meet children’s individual needs, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. A parent said, ‘This is a great place. Whoever is recruiting the staff, they take fantastic care of [Name of child]. They are doing the right thing.’

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

Staff regularly hold restorative conversations with children to help them understand their routines and to provide opportunities for them to communicate their wishes and feelings. However, on one occasion following an incident, a child was not spoken to. This has the potential to leave children feeling confused, unsupported and less able to understand and manage their emotions

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced, committed and forward ‑ thinking in his practice. He is supported by a highly capable operations manager. Both know the children well and adopt a consistently child ‑ centred approach. The managers promote a culture of positivity and work effectively to improve the lives of the children they are responsible for. One member of staff said, ‘He is a manager that goes above and beyond, and he wants the best outcomes for the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager actively supports staff to carry out their roles effectively. He ensures that staff receive a wide range of targeted training to help them meet children’s individual needs, including communication strategies and personal care practices. Training is Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 5 relevant, responsive and well matched to the needs of the children. This enables staff to apply their learning confidently in practice. One social worker said, ‘The staff are absolutely fantastic in the way they care for [Name of child] and provide for his needs.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision sessions and annual appraisals. These sessions provide opportunities for staff to review their practice, consider the impact of their work and identify areas for development. Clear goal ‑ setting helps staff remain motivated, giving them a sense of purpose and achievement and supporting their ongoing professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring and review systems are generally effective. However, they do not always identify gaps promptly. For example, one child’s review minutes were missing from their file because they had not been received within the expected timescale. The manager has given assurances that new processes will be implemented immediately to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with external agencies and parents is excellent. Professionals have commended the manager and staff for their effective communication and the high quality of care provided to children. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is really settled and happy there, and I feel the staff care a great deal about his wellbeing.’ A parent commented, ‘Staff take such good care of [Name of child]. He is treated like a prince. I would not want him to be anywhere else.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff communicate appropriately with children following all incidents, ensuring children’s views are respected, their emotional wellbeing is supported, and that practice remains child centred and inclusive. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)  The registered person should ensure that their internal monitoring systems are effective, ensuring that all children’s review minutes are kept on file. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 1268535 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Transitional Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 55 Woodfield Avenue, Wolverhampton WV4 4AG

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1268535 8 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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