Horizon Supported Accommodation South

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 1 Horizon Supported Accommodation South Registered provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider owns and operates this supported accommodation service.

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provider

The service registered with Ofsted on 23 October 2023. This is their first inspection. The registered service manager left on 16 January 2026. The nominated individual facilitated the inspection. There is a proposed registered service manager.

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provider

The service can offer accommodation for up to 73 children across 40 homes and offers supported accommodation in self-contained and shared premises, which are not limited to looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 10 children aged 16 and 17 years were living across 9 of the provider’s non-ring-fenced shared and single occupancy premises.

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Inspection dates:

The inspection was announced on 11 May 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 13 to 15 May 2026.

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Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be within approximately 3 years.

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Summary of findings

Children develop dependable relationships with staff and progress well towards independence. They have trusted connections with adults who want them to succeed and who are consistently available for them. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 2 Children develop practical and emotional skills with support from staff and learn how to manage their day-to-day responsibilities.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers recruit staff safely and have the skills to support children to explore and achieve their goals.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers create an inclusive environment and train staff to recognise risks, adapt their support style, and engage with children to support them through difficulties and help them to achieve their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children feel at home where they live. They say that they feel comfortable and safe in their accommodation. Children can personalise their own space, and the premises are consistently well maintained. This enables children to settle, relax and develop a sense of belonging and community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children build trusted relationships with adults. Staff listen to the children and are appropriately curious about their day-to-day experiences. Children say that staff offer consistency and predictability and that they are positive role models. Children make progress in developing their skills towards living independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children describe staff as relatable, interested in their lives and supportive. Children learn to take responsibility for the choices they make because they are trusted by the staff to do so, and this encourages them to learn from mistakes and to test out their developing independence skills. All premises have floating support for children, tailored to their circumstances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children have access to out-of-hours support with staff on duty. Children say that they feel supported and staff are always available to help. Direct work with children is targeted to the areas important for the children, for example budgeting, mental health, and relationships. Children learn how to reach out for help when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff manage children’s expectations sensitively and carefully. During the settling-in period, staff visit children more frequently to understand each child’s individual circumstances and to start to build a meaningful rapport. Support plans for children are shaped around what individual children can achieve, and they are reviewed regularly with the children, which helps to ensure their continued involvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children are in education or employment, and the staff help the children who are not to explore options and access college or apprenticeships. Children explore career options and are encouraged to pursue their interests, such as music. One child waiting for their college admission in September has support from a tutor. Staff adapt their approach to meet individual children’s support needs when they experience setbacks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children whose first language is not English learn how to speak English, and this helps them to settle into where they are living. Children live with other children or Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 3 young people from similar backgrounds or who have had similar experiences. This helps the children to integrate and reduces the potential for isolation. Staff help children to access local resources and places of worship, helping them to develop connections in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children learn to cook, clean and budget. They make plans for moving out, and staff advocate for them when their post-18 arrangements are unclear or are anxiety- provoking for them. The children progress because the staff are motivated to help every child, and they pride themselves in helping children achieve their goals and their independence.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff know the children well, and they provide good support when the children are experiencing difficult times. The staff recognise changes in behaviour or presentation in children who may be experiencing distress or fluctuating mental health. Children get the help they need to access additional support, and the staff work constructively with other agencies and local authorities to review the children’s support plans. This helps to ensure the children’s safety.

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How well children are helped and protected

Recruitment practices ensure that staff are safe and skilled to support children. Staff attend and benefit from a range of training that equips them to identify risks, connect with the children and helps them to make safer decisions for themselves. Staff regularly access support from a team of psychologists and therapists to better understand children’s experiences and how to support them.

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How well children are helped and protected

The staff teach the children how to manage relationships. Children develop friendships and safe relationships where they live. They proudly invite friends into their homes and learn how to safely implement boundaries around visitors. Children introduce significant friends and partners to staff. This enables the staff to support them to explore the different strengths and vulnerabilities in their relationships with others. Children learn how to manage interpersonal relationships within and outside their homes.

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How well children are helped and protected

The staff help the children to understand their relationships with their families. Staff support children in establishing healthy boundaries with family and promote the positive aspects of their unique relationships. They also identify when spending time with family is an obstacle to the child’s progress, and work with the local authorities to mitigate any emerging and current risks.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children receive non-judgemental support and guidance about how to manage peer pressure. They learn how to keep safe. Children rarely go missing from home, and when they do, they return home quickly. Managers address safeguarding issues effectively, sharing information with the local authority, professionals around the child and their families.

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How well children are helped and protected

Safe recruitment practices are in place. Leadership and management ensure that staff are suitable and safe to work with children. Staff receive a thorough induction Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 4 and regular training to help them in their work with the children. Children are safe in their homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The proposed registered service manager has submitted their application to register.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers carefully consider each referral for suitability. Every child is actively involved in their admission process, for example, meeting with staff and managers to understand what supported accommodation means and whether they are ready for it. Managers consider children’s compatibility with others and what location may be best for them. Children experience stability and harmony in their homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers consult with local authorities and other professionals when considering whether to open new premises, identifying which areas are safer and most suitable for the children’s needs. For example, the provider revisited plans for new homes in areas where exploitation for children was on the rise. Children are safer in their local community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider often informs Ofsted of most serious incidents. However, some events which were serious were not considered to be serious. While the provider managed the incidents effectively, they did not appropriately notify Ofsted, for example when a child was taken to accident and emergency following threats to self-harm. This limits the regulatory oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

During the inspection, the provider confirmed that they are actively using 28 premises, with capacity for up to 55 children. They then submitted the necessary form to reflect the changes. However, communication with the regulator about premises that cease to be used is not timely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers support staff through changes in the organisation to provide stability for the children. Staff receive regular supervision, appraisals and support from leaders and managers. The management team is approachable, and it promotes the importance of staff wellbeing. Staff develop and move to roles with increased responsibility within the service. There is a coherent and consistent workforce. Children experience consistency in the support they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and mangers develop relationships with the neighbours where children live. This helps them to communicate any issues appropriately and to step in to promptly support children or address complaints constructively. Children are supported in maintaining good relationships where they live because the managers promptly identify when issues are emerging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers respond proactively to issues identified, including complaints from children. Managers listen to children. For example, they have addressed issues about Wi-Fi connectivity and about the children needing a new TV in one of the homes. When a child raised that they no longer felt comfortable in the area where Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 5 they lived due to a relationship breakdown, managers supported them to move to another of their homes, in a safer area. Children feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leaders’ and managers’ approach is to focus on what is in the best interest of the children. They are currently planning and developing better ways to support children who are moving into support services and onwards into adulthood. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (27(3)(f)). (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards,’ page 60)  The registered person should ensure that they give notice to Ofsted in writing not more than 10 working days from when premises cease to be used or are intended to be ceased for use. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards,’ page 64)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children 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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

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

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: enquiries@horizoncare.co.uk

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Inspectors

Daniela Ferrario, Social Care Inspector Ann Adesoye, Social Care Inspector Julie Cresswell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Horizon Supported Accommodation South 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 looked after children, safeguarding, and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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