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

Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2016 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home. One child was spoken to during this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2020 and is suitably qualified. The registered manager was present for the duration of the inspection.

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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: 9 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/09/2024 Full Outstanding 20/03/2024 Full Good 27/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 3

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Summary of findings

Staff build strong connections with children. Children's achievements are celebrated, and positive choices are rewarded. Staff help children to establish healthy habits, supporting them to be active, to develop cooking skills for a healthy balanced diet and to maintain good personal hygiene. Children are supported to progress their independent living skills so they are well prepared for when they move on from the home. Staff take action to find children when they are missing. The registered manager is aspirational for children, and staff feel supported by her. Staff receive formal supervision, and learning and reflection is further supported in team meetings. The registered manager has effective oversight of children's plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with children to develop meaningful connections with them. Children say that staff are very supportive. Staff encourage respect and care within the home, so children have positive relationships with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children decorate their bedrooms with their interests proudly displayed. Staff ensure that children have choice about the furnishings in their bedrooms, valuing their preferences. However, other parts of the home appear tired, needing redecoration and some general refurbishment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's achievements are celebrated. Staff spend time with children reflecting on their positive choices to cement their understanding of these decisions. Personalised rewards are given to encourage positive behaviour, and children know that staff are proud of them. One child has now got a hamster and successfully completes its care routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff review children's health needs and advocate for the input of specialist services where this is required. Staff support children to be active, with one child being part of a football team. Staff discuss children's diets to educate them on how to be healthy. Children are supported by staff to cook a variety of foods to develop both their independence skills and knowledge of a balanced diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have access to education and future employment opportunities. Children's individual needs are well understood. One child has been supported to create a CV and apply for jobs, and another has gained work experience specific to their individual interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when moving on from this home. Time is spent with children exploring their feelings about moving on so they are reminded that staff care. Staff facilitate visits to their new home and to meet people who will support them. Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills in areas such as managing their Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 4 money and independent travel. Staff help children to consider the areas in which they need support and encourage their confidence in communicating this to others.

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

Staff know children well. They understand children's risks and day-to-day presentation, noting any changes in behaviour that would suggest additional support is necessary. Staff know what actions to take should children go missing, and return home interviews are undertaken following these incidents.

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

Staff encourage healthy routines for children to promote their mental wellbeing. Time is spent with children reflecting on and encouraging daily actions they can take to maintain healthy habits. Where children may be at risk of neglecting their personal hygiene or living space, staff are encouraging and sensitive to any barriers children may experience, and progress is nurtured.

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

Children's time with family and the people who are important to them is well promoted. Staff know children's relationships well and support them to develop them safely and to identify and reduce risk. Staff have established healthy working relationships with children's family members.

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

Children have access to an independent advocate, and staff support children to understand their role and how they can help them should they need this. Children know how to make a complaint. The registered manager ensures that children's concerns are explored and that action is taken to address them. Children are informed of the actions taken by the registered manager. This supports trust in leaders and managers, and children know their concerns are taken seriously.

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

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and suitably qualified registered manager. She is aspirational for children. Professionals are positive about the care children receive and the progress they make in this home. Staff feel supported by the registered manager, and children benefit from a stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective oversight of children's plans. Plans are updated with learning following any incidents to ensure that children's experiences are understood. Learning is shared to improve staff practice and the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has regular, formal supervision with staff. Supervision sessions reflect on actions taken to safeguard children and any progress they have made. Staff development is reviewed to ensure that staff are confident and have the skills and Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 5 knowledge to safely care for children. Where practice falls short, effective action is taken by the registered manager to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend team meetings regularly to reflect and learn. Input from the organisation's clinical psychologist is provided to further reflect on children's behaviours and experiences. Staff also have access to training to ensure that they have the skills relevant to children's specific care needs. Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the environment meets the needs of the children and is furnished and presented to a good standard. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 1241789 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

Rebecca Barker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1241789 8 regulates and inspects 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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