Caring Thoughts LTD

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 1 Caring Thoughts Ltd

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Registered provider: Caring Thoughts Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 5 looked-after children and care leavers in shared group-living homes.

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provider

The service manager, who is also the nominated individual, registered with Ofsted when the organisation registered in July 2024.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection at this supported accommodation service was carried out from 6 to 10 October 2025. Significant shortfalls were identified relating to the safeguarding arrangements for children and leadership and management of the service, including minimal oversight from the registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual. Ofsted issued a notice to suspend the registration of the service. Three compliance notices were issued, to improve the support that the children receive, the leadership and management of the service and the quality of the children’s accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

On 17 November 2025, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to assess the provider’s progress in meeting the steps identified in the compliance notices. While some progress had been made, the service’s leadership and management arrangements had not improved sufficiently. Therefore, the same three compliance notices, under regulation 4, the leadership and management standard, regulation 6, the accommodation standard, and regulation 7, the support standard, were reissued. Due to the lack of progress in addressing the compliance notices, the suspension of the provider’s registration remained in place. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 2 The purpose of this latest monitoring visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices, and to review if a further notice suspending the provider’s registration was required.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the suspension notice, and no children have moved into the premises since it was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken sufficient action to meet the steps set out in the compliance notices issued under regulations 4 and 7. However, insufficient action has been taken to address all the steps in the compliance notice issued under regulation 6. This has been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The referral process for children joining the service has improved. The new referral and compatibility assessment forms are adequate and appropriate. These now consider each child’s history and assessed risks and triggers, and identify the child’s level of needs to determine their suitability for supported accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have introduced a new system to assist them in obtaining all the relevant information from the child’s placing local authority, before the child moves in. This information is used to ensure the managers and staff have sufficient knowledge and skills to meet the children’s different needs. When leaders and managers identify that they are unable to meet a child’s needs, to inform the quality of support report and audits, this is recorded anonymously using a number, to ensure the children’s personal details are kept private.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made the missing-from-home procedure clearer. This now includes the process, with the actions that the staff must take, including notifying other safeguarding agencies and recording their actions, when children go missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff training matrix is largely up to date. Staff are better equipped to meet the unique needs of children. They understand children’s trauma and how to safeguard children who may be vulnerable to child sexual exploitation, as they have received further training in these areas. Leaders and managers have identified that staff require additional training so they can better support children who may be at risk of knife crime or child criminal exploitation, or children who experience poor mental health and self-harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented a new monitoring system to assist them in maintaining the health and safety of supported accommodation service. However, this system is poor and has failed to ensure that the children’s accommodation is safe and hygienic. While there have been improvements in fire safety and to some issues in the environment, some hazards remain. Despite the provider’s attempts to repair the glass door on the oven, this remains broken, leaving sharp shards exposed. Carpets in children’s bedrooms are still stained, there are marks on the walls and skirting boards have not been refitted. The fridge freezers in two children’s bedrooms contained mouldy food. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 3 As insufficient action has been taken to address all the steps in the compliance notice issued under regulation 6, this has been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The suspension notice will remain in place until 2 January 2026.

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This monitoring visit

The additional requirements raised at the full inspection were not monitored at this inspection. They will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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Requirement Due date

are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

are designed, furnished and maintained to remove avoidable hazards which could pose a health and safety risk to children. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)) 8 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 8 March 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 5 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(f)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan sets out the experience and qualifications of staff and managers and is kept under review. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, pages 47 and 48)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of support review is robust and considers feedback and evidence from all settings under the provider’s registration. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 62)  The registered person should ensure that all employment checks are carried out before staff start to work for the service. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 16)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Caring Thoughts Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Marvolet Baker

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Inspectors

Shelley Chowdhury, Social Care Inspector Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Caring Thoughts Ltd 7 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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