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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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 good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/06/2025 Full Inadequate 04/12/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Overall, children receive good-quality, individualised care from a stable, nurturing and committed staff team. Children have positive relationships with staff and are supported to make progress from their individual starting points. Staff understand children’s needs and risks and respond appropriately when concerns arise, helping children to feel safe.

p.3

Summary of findings

Leadership and management arrangements are generally effective. However, weaknesses in management oversight mean that patterns and trends in children’s lived experiences are not consistently identified, resulting in missed opportunities to help children make further progress. Professionals and family members speak positively about the care children receive, the communication from the home and the manager’s advocacy for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. Both children moved in since the previous inspection. Children speak positively about their experiences of living at the home. One child said that they like the staff, enjoy the activities and feel listened to. The other child said that they like living at the home and was observed to be happy and relaxed in the company of staff. Children benefit from warm and caring relationships with staff and feel comfortable in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress with their education. One child, who had previously experienced extended periods without accessing education, has begun to engage with a college course. Another child recently moved into the home and has visited 2 specialist education provisions. Plans are progressing for them to eventually move to mainstream education once they are ready. Both children are positive about their education and plans for their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide nurturing and responsive support to children with emotional health needs. They share relevant information with other professionals and make appropriate referrals promptly when additional support is required. As a result, children receive support that reflects their individual needs. One child reported improvements in their emotional wellbeing and has substantially reduced their involvement in risk-taking behaviour. Parents also recognise the progress children are making and reported that their children are happier since moving to the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned. Staff involve children and their families in planning and provide opportunities for children to visit the home and meet staff before moving in. Staff also visit children where appropriate. This helps children to become familiar with the home and the people who will care for them, which helps them to settle quickly. One parent particularly valued being involved in the child’s visits and being able to support them to unpack their belongings when they moved in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 4 The home is welcoming and has a homely feel. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and express their views about how they are decorated. Staff make efforts to paint children’s rooms in colours of their choosing before they move in. This helps children develop a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to participate in a range of positive experiences, including holidays, horse riding and bike rides. However, their day-to-day routines are inconsistent. One child has developed a positive routine that is responsive to their needs. In contrast, another child spends considerable periods away from the home and does not consistently engage in meaningful activities with staff. This limits opportunities for staff to spend purposeful time with the child and further support their progress.

p.4

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

Children receive care from staff who understand their vulnerabilities and respond appropriately when they are distressed. Children benefit from clear and consistent boundaries, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

p.4

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

When children harm themselves, they seek support from staff, who provide reassurance and ensure that appropriate medical attention is sought. Staff make timely referrals to specialist services when additional support is required and escalate concerns to relevant professionals when risks increase. This helps to ensure that children receive the right support to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Staff respond sensitively and compassionately when children become upset. Children experience care and nurture both during and following incidents and say that staff are kind and caring towards them. Staff reflect on incidents and consider what they can learn from them. They use their developing understanding of children’s behaviours and triggers to adapt their approach. This has contributed to some positive changes in practice.

p.4

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

Concerns relating to staff practice are taken seriously. Managers ensure that concerns are investigated appropriately and that referrals are made to safeguarding agencies when necessary. Investigations are timely and proportionate to the concerns raised. When children raise concerns about staff, these are listened to and acted on. Managers work with relevant professionals to provide a coordinated safeguarding response and ensure that children are protected.

p.4

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

Staff have meaningful conversations with children about some of the risks that they face. However, one child regularly vapes, and there is no clear plan setting out how staff will help them understand the associated risks and reduce their vaping. A lack of clear planning around how to help the child reduce their vaping means that staff are not engaging sufficiently with the child to help them learn about the associated risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 5 A new manager has been appointed, and there is a planned transition from the previous manager. This provides continuity and stability for children. Staff say the team is settled and that they are committed to providing children with a high standard of care. Staff generally feel well supported by leaders and managers.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak positively about the care children receive from the staff team. They value the manager’s advocacy for children and say that staff are proactive and creative in helping children overcome difficulties. Professionals and family members also speak positively about communication from the manager. They feel appropriately informed about significant issues affecting children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and attend team meetings. These provide meaningful opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and consider children’s individual needs. This helps staff to develop their understanding of how they can support children effectively.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive induction and training that help them understand their roles and respond confidently to incidents in the home. Staffing arrangements have improved, and the team is more stable. Agency staff have been used infrequently since the last inspection, although there remains one vacancy. The stability of the staff team provides children with consistency.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight does not consistently identify patterns and trends in children’s experiences. Although children have individual goals and targets, staff do not always have a sufficiently clear understanding of these. In addition, weaknesses in how children’s progress is evaluated and monitored mean that opportunities to identify where children may need additional support are sometimes missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 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

The health and wellbeing standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that clear plans are in place to support children who vape to reduce their use. Staff should engage in meaningful conversations with children about vaping, and these discussions should be monitored and reviewed. 26 October 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff support children to achieve positive routines. When concerns are identified regarding a child’s routine, staff should use creative approaches to help encourage a more positive routine. 26 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables and inspires a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s progress is monitored effectively and that all staff are aware of children’s goals and understand how their practice should support children to achieve positive outcomes. In addition, the registered person must ensure that children’s goals are reviewed regularly and meaningfully to identify areas in which they may benefit from additional support. 26 October 2026

p.7

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: 2793174 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care and Education Group Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Minnette Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2793174 9 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.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9