A Somerset children’s home has been suspended as part of a broader effort to revamp residential care and support services across the county.
Following recent Ofsted inspections, the Homes and Horizons partnership—a collaboration between Somerset Council and Homes2Inspire—has announced temporary closures of several residential homes while it re-evaluates the future direction of its children’s care program.
The decade-long Homes and Horizons initiative was designed to provide accommodation for approximately 20 children across 10 sites. As of August 2023, five homes had been launched, with funding secured for three more. In November, an additional £1.5 million grant from the Department of Education increased the total funding to £11 million.
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Now, after four years and valuable feedback, the partnership plans to reshape its approach. Tone House in Creech St Michael, near Taunton, is among the homes temporarily closed as a result.
An Ofsted spokesperson confirmed the suspension of Tone House but declined to comment on individual providers or specific inspections.
Established four years ago, Homes and Horizons aimed to pioneer new methods of residential care, fostering, education, and therapeutic support for vulnerable young people in Somerset. The partnership acknowledges positive outcomes achieved so far, alongside key lessons learned regarding what aspects require improvement.
A spokesperson stated: “Homes and Horizons was created to test innovative approaches to residential and foster care combined with education and therapeutic support. While we have celebrated many successes, we have also identified areas where intended outcomes were not met. This period of change offers an opportunity to build a stronger care model for the future.”
Ensuring the safety and stability of children impacted by closures is their immediate priority. The partnership is committed to supporting young people in transitioning smoothly to new homes where necessary.
Looking ahead, Homes and Horizons plans to develop a new care structure that leverages previous successes while addressing gaps highlighted by Ofsted and other feedback. The rollout of this evolving model will take place gradually, prioritizing continuous, high-quality care for all children and young people in Somerset.