Children's Home run by Thrive Residential Care Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 1 Registered provider: Thrive Residential Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in June 2025. There is no registered manager in post. An interim manager has been in post since September 2025 and has applied to be registered.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. The inspector was not able to speak to any of the children about their experiences of living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged ‘requires improvement to be good’ at the full inspection on 22 September 2025. An assurance inspection was carried out on 5 March 2026, when serious and widespread failures were found. Following this, compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 14, the care planning standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous assurance inspection, the leaders and managers have made progress in addressing the shortfalls identified. Decisive action has been taken to strengthen safeguarding practice, with further training and reflective learning from previous concerns. This has improved the quality of care in the home and stabilised children’s day-to-day experiences. Previous issues, relating to information-sharing with other agencies when there have been allegations and responding to complaints, have now been resolved. There is a more settled routine in the home, and the manager has had time to conclude previous allegations. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 2 Children’s sleeping arrangements are now satisfactory and safe. The introduction of a waking night member of staff and child ‑ centred conversations have ensured that these routines are consistently maintained. Children’s wellbeing has stabilised and

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This monitoring visit

behaviours that had re ‑ emerged following the admission of a sibling group of 3 children have now reduced significantly.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have strengthened their safeguarding knowledge, including through updated training on epilepsy and physical intervention. There was one brief physical intervention during this period and management oversight of this was rigorous.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken meaningful steps to improve the home’s systems and oversight. Documents have been revised and the recording system now includes clearer management oversight triggers which ensure that significant information is highlighted promptly and is not lost in day ‑ to ‑ day activity. A monitoring file has been introduced to support more structured review. Although these systems have not yet been fully tested through new incidents, the improvements have strengthened oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Care planning arrangements have also improved. However, new referral documentation requires more detailed information before any future moves into the home, to ensure that the needs of children already living in the home are properly considered. One child has moved to a more appropriate provision, in a planned and child ‑ centred way. While there have been no new admissions, the systems now in place are robust and demonstrate a clear commitment to preventing a repeat of previous shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s safety in relation to online activity has been enhanced. Their mobile phones have been replaced, and a monitoring app has been installed which means that staff have more oversight of the children’s phones. These measures have contributed to a safer and more predictable environment.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, a case review was held on 28 April 2026. A decision was made that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. The requirements made at the last full inspection were not reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. They will be reviewed at the next full inspection and are therefore restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 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 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.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are able to develop positive relationships with children that are helpful and purposeful. 9 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; 9 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 5 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are prepared and ready to access education.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each 9 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 6 child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that information is shared with relevant professionals in a timely manner to enable them to make decisions on children’s care planning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a clear rationale for the use of door alarms on children’s bedroom doors and that any agreement is clear about the need to have these activated. 9 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 9 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have the right advice relating to the dangers of e-cigarettes and vapes and that staff take appropriate action to dispose of such items.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response; 9 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 8 describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff who witness an allegation being made do not carry out the debrief with the child.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Thrive Residential Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Guardian House, Capricorn Park, Blakewater Road, Blackburn BB1 5QR

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Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835292 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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