Children's Home run by Horizon Care and Education Group Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group 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 privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional needs. At the time of inspection, 3 children were living at the home. All children were consulted as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is absent from the home and did not take part in this inspection. This manager is on an agreed period of leave and is not overseeing children’s care.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, the home was being overseen by an interim manager who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Outstanding 21/03/2024 Full Outstanding 07/02/2023 Full Outstanding 25/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s views are at the heart of decision-making in the home. Staff are strong advocates for children. For example, one child wanted to go on holiday with their family and staff supported the child to make this happen.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff. Staff show an active interest in children’s hobbies, such as football. Staff often cook with children to help children try recipes from their own and different cultures. Children enjoy openly debating topics such as values and politics with staff. Children would like more staff to have the confidence to have these in-depth conversations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are mindful of how they record information about children. The language used is caring and staff ensure that records are written in a way that is helpful to children in the future. On one occasion, staff did not document important information regarding a child accessing a staff member’s bedroom. Although information was shared within the staff team verbally, it meant that there was no clear recording of what had happened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to attend school. They support children to attend extra-curricular activities, such as homework and sports clubs. When children do not attend education, staff liaise with appropriate professionals to try and resolve this. Staff have high aspirations for the children in their care.

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

Children trust staff with their feelings and will confide in them if they are worried about anything. This supports children’s emotional wellbeing. When children have raised concerns about staff practice, children have been listened to and their views taken seriously.

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

Staff recognise when children may be at risk, and on these occasions have responded in a timely way to help keep them safe. For example, staff have proportionately searched children’s bedrooms to remove vaping paraphernalia. However, staff are not always consistent in how they implement boundaries when children vape. This is an area for development.

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

Staff support children to recognise the risks posed from substance misuse. Staff are vigilant about how children spend their money and intervene when monies may be being spent inappropriately.

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

The manager works well with wider safeguarding partners to share information and keep children safe. This includes communicating with the police about any new risks posed within the local area. Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An acting manager was appointed on 7 July 2025. The acting manager has demonstrated commitment to their role by applying to register. The manager understands children well and is proactive in advocating for their wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although there have been some changes in the leadership and management team, staff said that they feel supported. Staff receive regular supervision and can access relevant training. Staff have a good induction programme that is kept under review by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings, where reflective practice discussions take place. The organisation is supported by a psychotherapist, who can offer advice to the staff team about children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are recruited safely. The manager has a workforce development plan in place to support staff retention. Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 5

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff consistently reinforce expectations and boundaries for children regarding vape use. 9 April 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should ensure that all key information is included in records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 6

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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: 1226975 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O DWF Company Secretarial Services Limited, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Dirican

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Inspector

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1226975 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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