Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in BuryOfsted inspection, 7 Sept 2026

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

p.1

Inspection date: 7 September 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 7 September 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 1261138 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

One child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. The manager carefully considered the child’s needs alongside the staff’s skills and experience. They spoke to other professionals and family involved in the child’s life to ensure that they could meet the child’s needs.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are well met. The manager and staff work closely with the children’s social workers and specialist support services and child and adolescent mental health services.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home conditions are poor. There is visible damage on the kitchen worktops and cupboards. The lounge has recently been redecorated, however, the downstairs area is unkempt, the walls and doors are marked by dirt and food stains, and the kitchen flooring is damaged. A child recently lived in the annex, which was observed to be dirty and unclean. This does not create a warm and welcoming environment for children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand what action to take when children go missing from home. They follow children’s plans, liaise with professionals including the police. and are proactive in searching for children. There has been a significant reduction for one child who previously had a high number of incidents of being missing from home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to develop their independence. When children go out of the home independently, staff continue to offer support and supervision in line with children’s plans. When there have been concerns about a child’s conversation with an unknown person, the staff shared details with appropriate professionals, including the police. Staff spoke to the child about the dangers of talking to strangers. However, this was not done promptly. The child did not come to any harm.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children at risk of exploitation are encouraged to access support from contextual safeguarding professionals. Staff support children to attend appointments to ensure that they develop a better understanding of risks. The risk for one child has significantly reduced, and this support is no longer required.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has oversight of all incidents in the home. They provide reflective and evaluative feedback with clear actions to address shortcomings. When a serious incident occurs, the manager conducts a finding of fact investigation to establish what happened. This includes speaking to the child and staff involved, and reviewing other forms of evidence, such as door sensors and external CCTV. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 3 The manager supports staff to complete training relevant to the children’s needs and risks. When specific needs and risks for children are identified, the manager seeks additional training and learning opportunities from external professionals who attend team meetings to help develop staff knowledge and understanding.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Some of the requirements from the previous inspection were not viewed during this visit and have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/07/2024 Full Good 25/07/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 9 November 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 6 The registered person must ensure that children are appropriately supervised as per their plans to prevent incidents of the children causing harm to each other.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff talk to children about risk of sharing information with unknown adults at the earliest opportunity to enable them to develop their understanding.

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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.6

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)(c)(e)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when incidents are recorded, they include all relevant information to enable robust evaluation and take into account any learning outcomes that can be put in place to support the development of staff.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff working in the home are suitably qualified, experienced and competent to carry out their roles effectively and lead a team to deliver high-quality care. 9 November 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 9 November 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 7 understand the children’s home’s 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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is maintained to an acceptable standard, and repairs, the replacement of furniture and painting is carried out in a timely manner. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 154 to 156 Buxton Road High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

p.8

Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1261138 9 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.

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 .

p.9

Inspector

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