Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children's home: SC008600 1 SC008600 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 6 children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2025 Full Good 18/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/08/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children are warmly welcomed into the home. Children’s views are listened to, they are encouraged to learn, engage in activities and spend time with people who are important to them.

p.3

Summary of findings

Risks for children are well understood. Staff know what action to take when children go missing from home. They provide support and work collaboratively with other professionals.

p.3

Summary of findings

Staff help children who are struggling with their emotions to feel more settled.

p.3

Summary of findings

Despite the provider’s best efforts, they have been unable to recruit a permanent registered manager for over 12 months. Action has been taken to provide interim management oversight and support for children and staff. However, this does not mitigate the impact of of the absence of a consistent permanent manager within the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff. They can share their views, wishes and feelings openly without fear of being judged. One child now spends most of their time in the main living areas of the home and enjoys spending time with staff. This has helped to build the child’s self-esteem and confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to engage in learning. Staff support children’s school attendance. When there are attendance issues, staff talk to children about this and advocate on their behalf to consider alternative learning provisions. One child at- tends college and has ambitions for the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers give careful consideration to children when they move into the home. Where possible, children are supported to move into the home in a planned way. They are able to meet with staff in advance, and their families are involved in the plans. This helps children to feel settled and safe.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with family and friends. Family and friends are welcomed into the home and able to spend time with children enjoy a meal, playing games or watching films. Staff also support children to spend time safely with their families in the community.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop their hobbies and interests. Staff are proactive in ex- ploring children’s interests and understand the need for daily structure and routine. Chil- dren enjoy watching films, going shopping, cooking meals and going to the seaside. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 4 Children are involved in personalising the home environment, including their bedrooms. Staff keep the home clean and tidy. However, some areas of the home appear tired and there is general wear and tear that has not been adequately maintained.

p.3

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

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from home. They are proactive in trying to contact and locate children when they are missing. Staff work with other professionals and carers to try to establish children’s whereabouts so they can be brought home safely.

p.4

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

Allegations are appropriately managed and referrals are made to external safeguarding professionals when required. Internal investigations are detailed and thorough. Children know how to raise complaints about the care they receive without fear of judgment, and they can talk openly with staff about their feelings. Outcomes of investigations are appropriate and proportionate.

p.4

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

Staff understand the individual risks to children. There are clear risk assessments in place which provide detailed information about children’s risks, emerging behaviour and clear actions for staff to follow to help to manage and reduce risks for children, which helps to keep children safe.

p.4

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

Children who experience difficulties with their emotional wellbeing are supported by staff who create a safe and trusting environment. Children feel confident to talk openly with staff and are supported to express their feelings safely. Staff work effectively with exter- nal professionals to ensure that children receive the right help to reduce risks. As a re- sult, one child who previously struggled to attend appointments has been successfully supported to engage with CAMHS and now consistently attends all sessions.

p.4

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

Staff spend time talking to children about the risks posed to them to help them to under- stand the concerns and make informed decisions. When concerns were identified about substance misuse for one child, staff addressed this openly with the child and made timely referrals for appropriate support to address the concerns. As a result of this pro- active and consistent approach, the risks have significantly reduced and there have been no further concerns

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been no registered manager of the home for over 12 months. Although the provider has attempted to recruit a suitable manager, they have not succeeded in ap- pointing someone who is committed to registering with the regulator. Despite this, the provider has implemented interim arrangements to strengthen management capacity. The responsible individual and the head of care provide regular oversight and support staff on a day-to-day basis. While these measures have helped maintain basic opera- tional stability, they do not fully compensate for the absence of a permanent registered manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 5 Extensive in-house training is available to all staff to ensure that they have the necessary skills to care for children. Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive training tai- lored to the identified needs and risks of the children in their care. New staff are supported through an induction and probationary period. They say that

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

they feel well supported and welcome at the home. Staff find the induction training ben- eficial and useful for their learning and development. Leaders and managers ensure all necessary checks are completed for new staff as part of safer recruitment. This ensures that children are cared for by adults who are safe. Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the children’s progress. They com- plete regular reviews of the quality of care provided, including identifying areas for im- provement in staff practice. The independent person completes monthly visits to the home to identify if children are effectively safeguarded and their wellbeing is promoted. Any recommended actions from the independent visits are addressed quickly. Leaders and managers have oversight of serious incidents. They talk to children and staff about events and provide reflective evaluations to ensure that guidance about man-

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

aging behaviours is provided. However, they do not always inform the regulator promptly. This reduces the regulator’s oversight of serious events in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

p.6

Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

p.6

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

p.6

Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role; and by the relevant date, attained—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma.

p.6

Requirement Due date

in the case of a person who starts managing a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 3 years after the date on which that person started managing a home; or 4 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 7 in the case of a person who was managing a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2017.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider may defer the relevant date if the person— does not manage, or has not managed, a home for a prolonged period; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

manages, or has managed, a home on a part-time basis.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there is a suitability qualified and experienced manager in post who must apply to register.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iv)(c)(i)(ii) 4 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 8 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the home is well-maintained.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.8

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.8

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.8

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.8

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(ii)(b) (6))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they notify the regulator about all serious incidents involving the police immediately. 4 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 9

p.8

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: SC008600 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 154-156 Buxton Road High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

p.10

Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 11 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.10

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 . 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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11