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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run home providing care for up to 3 children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Inspection date: 2 September 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 2 September 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 1229762 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff know children well and have an understanding of their past experiences. Staff speak positively about children and enjoy spending time with them. Children say they like living at the home and they like the staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff show children they are thinking of them via a messages book at the front door. They leave messages for children wishing them well for activities and hoping they enjoy their day. Children are praised for their positive behaviour and kindness towards each other and staff, creating a respectful culture in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Some improvements have been made to the home. A new carpet has been fitted in the living room and mould in the bathroom has been treated. However, children’s bedrooms are unclean, with rubbish on the carpets and clothing piled up. Children do not receive appropriate guidance and support from staff to ensure that their spaces are clean and pleasant.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff make connections with external professionals and the people who are important to children and share relevant information. Staff spend time with children talking about their relationships. They help children to understand the views of others when they experience differences of opinion. Children are supported to have friends to stay over, and this creates lasting memories of their time in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to have fun, including going to the beach, horse-riding, shopping and cooking. Activities have helped children to develop confidence, both together and as individuals. Children’s interests are reflected in the home, and their bedrooms are personalised with photos on display of days out and time spent with staff and friends.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When a child made an allegation against staff, this was shared with the local authority designated officer. However, it is not clear that the outcome of this was shared with the child. Not all allegations have been reported to Ofsted, as required by regulation.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Details of actions staff should take when children are missing are not captured clearly, resulting in a lack of direction for staff. On one occasion, although staff looked for a child when they went missing, the incident was not reported to police in line with the child’s plans.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff do not receive regular supervision. Supervision records do not show discussion of the children and lack actions to improve practice. The manager does not have a clear understanding of the home’s supervision policy and does not have effective oversight when supervision has been delegated to others. This leads to a lack of Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 3 direction for staff and missed opportunities to ensure that children receive consistent care.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Recording systems are not effective. Some records do not include sufficient detail to understand what actions staff have taken. The manager was unable to locate some documents. Opportunities for learning and reflection are lost.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The manager is not supported effectively by the responsible individual or senior leaders. Leaders have not assured themselves of the quality of care in the home and of the manager’s leadership and oversight. There has been a lack of face-to-face support and guidance for the manager, despite them being new to the role.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Staff feel supported by the manager, and professionals and family are positive about the care children receive.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Management oversight has not improved since the last visit. The requirements relating to regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 40 raised at the previous visit are restated. An additional requirement has been issued in respect of the lack of support to the manager, under regulation 26. A recommendation has been raised in relation to the cleanliness of children’s bedrooms.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/07/2025 Full Good 31/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that plans for children’s care are followed by staff, with management oversight taking place to review practice. 27 September

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that systems and processes to develop the oversight of the manager are in place to ensure that they can evaluate the quality of care in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision in line with the home’s 27 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 5 statement of purpose and that supervision ensures they reflect on children’s vulnerabilities, risks and needs and that this is carried out by a suitably qualified person.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that notifications are made by the manager in a timely manner in these circumstances. 27 September

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the responsible individual supervising the management of the home. 27 September

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 6 recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 7

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Dirican

p.7

Inspectors

Rebecca Barker, Social Care Inspector Tazim Akhtar, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1229762 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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 .

p.8

Inspectors

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8