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

Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 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

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for 3 children who may have lived through adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children's home

The home is managed by a suitably qualified manager who was registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/07/2025 Full Good 09/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 3

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Summary of findings

Three children live in the home, and one child has moved out in line with their care plan.

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Summary of findings

Staff speak about children with warmth and pride. They build meaningful, trusting relationships that contribute to children making measurable progress. Children enjoy living in the home and say that staff care about them.

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Summary of findings

Feedback from professionals and children's family members is consistently positive and reflects the high quality of care provided. A child-centred ethos is evident throughout the home and is consistently reflected in staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's wishes and feelings are central to the care they receive. Staff know children exceptionally well and take time to understand their individual preferences, needs and aspirations. Children are encouraged to express their views and are confident that these will be listened to and acted on. Managers and staff consistently advocate for children and ensure that their views inform day-to-day decisions and care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a wide range of meaningful and memorable experiences that reflect their individual interests and aspirations. For example, one child was supported to travel abroad on holiday, fulfilling a long-held wish. Managers and staff worked creatively and collaboratively with external professionals to make this possible. This demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring that children's wishes are valued and achieved wherever possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to sustain their engagement in education, even when they experience challenges that affect attendance or participation. The manager works closely with education providers and other professionals to ensure that appropriate strategies and plans are in place. As a result, children overcome barriers to learning and make progress towards achieving their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff have an in-depth understanding of children's individual health needs. When children require specialist support, the manager proactively sources bespoke training to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective care. Responses to medical concerns are prompt and well coordinated. Consequently, children receive consistent support, and their health needs are managed safely and effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is thoughtfully furnished and well maintained. Children benefit from comfortable communal areas where they can relax and spend time together. A well- Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 4 maintained garden provides a safe and attractive outdoor space for recreation and exercise. The environment reflects children's needs and helps them to feel settled, secure and proud of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are exceptionally well supported to maintain and develop important relationships. Staff recognise the significance of these relationships to children's identity, emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging. They use initiative and creativity to overcome barriers and promote meaningful family time. This includes arranging sleepovers and activities in the home so that children can share positive experiences with the people who matter most to them. One parent said, 'This home is the best thing that has happened to [child's name].'

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

Staff use physical intervention only as a last resort and generally adopt a nurturing and playful approach to supporting children. They are skilled in using distraction and de- escalation techniques, which reduce the likelihood of incidents escalating. However, children's behaviour support plans are not sufficiently individualised. In particular, they do not adequately consider the potential impact of restrictive holds for smaller children. This limits the guidance available to staff and does not fully support an individualised approach to restrictive practice.

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

Internet safety is managed well. Managers take a balanced approach to risk and avoid unnecessary restrictions. Children are afforded an appropriate level of privacy that is proportionate to known risks. Staff support children to enjoy independence while providing suitable guidance and oversight to keep them safe. This approach helps children to develop confidence and build skills in managing risks appropriately.

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

Medication systems support the safe administration and management of medicines. There has been one medication error since the last inspection, indicating that systems are generally understood and followed by staff. The manager's response was prompt and effective. Additional training was provided to staff to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.

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

Managers and staff are committed to maintaining and developing their knowledge of emerging safeguarding risks. They actively seek relevant training and workshops that reflect the specific risks and vulnerabilities experienced by children living in the home. This proactive approach helps staff to identify concerns early and respond effectively to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a strong, child-focused manager who prioritises the needs, experiences and feelings of the children. The manager provides clear leadership and promotes a culture in which children's wellbeing and progress remain central to practice. Together with the deputy manager, they form a skilled and effective management team. This supports children to feel respected, valued and cared for. Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 5 The manager maintains extensive oversight of the quality of care provided to children. Areas for development are identified and addressed promptly. Leaders and managers use information gathered through monitoring activities to evaluate practice, respond to emerging concerns and drive continuous improvement. As a result, the quality of care provided to children continues to strengthen.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. Staff consistently report that they feel well supported by managers and enjoy their work. The use of agency staff is minimal, enabling children to develop secure and familiar relationships with those who care for them. This stability contributes significantly to children feeling safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are engaging and reflective. Staff are encouraged to consider children's experiences and progress, as well as their own practice. The manager uses realistic safeguarding scenarios to stimulate discussion and strengthen professional curiosity. This helps staff to consider how they would respond in different situations and reinforces their safeguarding responsibilities. Consequently, practice remains effective and child centred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When difficulties arise in care planning because of delays or barriers presented by external agencies, leaders and managers advocate strongly for children. They escalate concerns appropriately and remain focused on securing the best possible outcomes for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2702209 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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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2702209 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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