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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 1 SC463852

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Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group 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 operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living at the home.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 13 October 2025

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

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: SC463852 2

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Findings from the inspection

No serious or widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care or protection of children during this assurance inspection. The responsible individual and the supporting manager led the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

No children have moved out of the home since the previous inspection. Two children were present and both spoke with the inspector. They reported that they feel safe and enjoy living in the home. Positive and meaningful relationships with staff contribute to them feeling respected and valued. One child praised the staff for their effective support, which has contributed to a reduction in missing ‑ from ‑ home incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is a strong advocate for children. They confidently challenge external agencies to enhance children’s experiences. For example, the manager repeatedly communicated a child’s wishes relating to family time and offered practical solutions, including staff support, to ensure this could happen safely. As a result, the child’s wishes were upheld, and the number of incidents reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident reporting has improved and records are now completed more efficiently. Records demonstrate management oversight that identifies areas for development. Staff debriefs show reflective discussions that support improved practice and ongoing professional development. Some incidents have been appropriately recorded within risk assessments so that children’s plans remain up to date. However, this is not yet consistent practice across the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Safety planning for emerging risks is not always effective. Managers have not implemented adequate strategies in response to incidents involving weapons. This limits staff’s ability to maintain effective safeguarding practice. For example, one child had access to an air gun, but this was not reflected within their support plan. This omission affects staff decision ‑ making and could compromise children’s safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Team meetings take place most months and include detailed discussion of children’s needs. Although there was some delay in addressing actions identified at the full inspection, the registered manager has recently challenged unresolved concerns within a staff meeting.

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Findings from the inspection

Records do not demonstrate that the registered manager receives meaningful supervision. This results in missed opportunities for reflective discussion and action planning to address shortfalls.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have some understanding of the home’s strengths and areas requiring improvement. While some changes have been introduced, these are not yet fully embedded. Managers and leaders complete frequent audits; however, these have not identified the remaining shortfalls. A supporting manager has now been appointed to help drive improvement within the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 3 The regulator has been notified of significant incidents without delay, ensuring timely oversight of safeguarding practice. One notification was delayed while the registered manager was on leave, but a new system has since been implemented to prevent recurrence.

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Findings from the inspection

One requirement from the previous inspection has been met. Two requirements remain unmet and have been repeated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/11/2024 Full Outstanding 07/02/2024 Full Outstanding 14/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) and (vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff recording and reporting to safeguarding agencies when children are involved in safeguarding incidents, for example being found in possession of illegal substances or weapons. Furthermore that this information is used to update risk assessments 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 6 which informs staff how to care for the child and keep them safe.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(f) and (h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff understand and adhere to safeguarding procedures; that monitoring systems are effective and used to identify and address shortfalls within the home. In addition managers should receive regular and meaningful supervision. 30 April 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted if there is an incident relating to the welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63 paragraph 14.10)

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Children’s home details

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 7 Unique reference number: SC463852

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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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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC463852 8 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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