Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)
Children's Home run by Blossomcare NW Limited in Lancashire
Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Group verified
Blossomcare NW Ltd
- Inspection date verified
2 Jun 2026
- Inspectors verified
Shane North
- Helped and protected verified
Good
- Leadership and management verified
Good
- Overall effectiveness verified
Good
- Name on report verified
2850843
- URN verified
2850843
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- OverallGood
- Helped and protectedGood
- Leadership and managementGood
70% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Good (12,716 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Good.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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- The registered manager has created a warm and nurturing environment and a positive ethos among the team. p.3
- The registered manager and staff provide a caring and nurturing environment for the child. p.2
- The child is positive about their experiences living in the home and describes positive relationships with staff. p.2
- One member of staff said, ‘The registered manager is one of the best managers I have worked with and is an amazing, caring person,’ and that they find it a ‘lovely, warm environment’. p.3
Concerns
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Next steps
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What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Records & policies7
“The registered manager regularly notifies Ofsted of serious incidents.” p.4Staff development6
“Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,290
- about usual (typical 1319)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 53, typical 51
- Average sentence
- 14 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 4
- Hedged sentences
- 0%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 1 Registered provider: Blossomcare NW Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children’s home
This home is run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who experiences social and/or emotional difficulties.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2025. The manager also registered with Ofsted in November 2025.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The child living in the home spoke to the inspectors during the inspection.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
children and young people, taking into account good
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
How well children and young people are helped and protected good
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
The effectiveness of leaders and managers good
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
Date of last inspection: not previously inspected.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 2
p.1
Summary of findings
The registered manager and staff provide a caring and nurturing environment for the child. Staff have developed positive relationships with the child, their family and professionals. As a result, the child told the inspector that they feel happy and safe in their home and can talk to staff if they have any worries.
p.2
Summary of findings
Staff respond to the child’s risks and vulnerabilities by working with relevant professionals. This ensures that there is a multi-agency approach to reducing risk.
p.2
Summary of findings
Staff support the child to make progress. The child is positive about their experiences living in the home and describes positive relationships with staff.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff spend time talking to the child to ascertain their wishes and feelings. The child engages with staff. The inspector observed positive relationships between the child and staff.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff support the child to see people who are important to them. Family and friends are included in the child’s life. This helps the child feel valued and promotes their identity.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff understand the importance of education and encourage the child to attend college. The child has made progress. Staff work hard to ensure that the child attends. Staff are creative and encourage the child to engage with additional learning, such as driving theory revision.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
The child has individualised plans. These plans provide detailed information for staff. This helps to inform staff’s caring practices. However, plans do not demonstrate how they are reviewed by the manager to ensure that practices remain effective.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff encourage the child to engage in independence skills to help prepare them for their future. However, staff find it hard to consistently engage the child.
p.2
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Staff talk to the child about their health and wellbeing. This helps the child to make informed choices about their health. Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that individualised support is in place for the child.
p.2
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe. The child told the inspector that they trust staff and that they can speak to them if they have any concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 3 The registered manager, responsible individual and staff work well with relevant safeguarding professionals. There is a strong multi-agency approach in place to manage the risks in relation to the child.
p.2
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
There have been several incidents when the child has been missing from home. The child told the inspector that staff contact them when they are out in the community to check she is safe. The child said that staff encourage them to return home.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
The child has robust missing-from-home plans, and staff are aware of the procedures to follow. These incidents are managed consistently and proactively. However, incidents continue to occur. The registered manager and staff work with the child’s social worker to monitor and review the strategies that are in place to protect the child.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Staff are trained in safeguarding. Through direct work with the child they work proactively to identify risks and help the child make positive life choices. The registered manager ensures safeguarding concerns are discussed in staff meetings.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Staff use a caring approach that includes therapeutic support. Regular guidance from therapists and other professionals helps staff care for the child. This helps staff to better understand the child’s needs.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Risk assessments contain detailed information about the child’s needs and risks. Risk assessments do not demonstrate how the registered manager has reviewed and evaluated risk management strategies to ensure that they remain effective. However, staff meeting minutes demonstrate that staff discuss risk management strategies to reduce risks in relation to the child.
p.3
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted before starting to work at the home. This helps to ensure that only suitable adults are employed to care for children.
p.3
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
At the time of the inspection, the registered manager was off work on a planned holiday. The responsible individual was present throughout the inspection. She knows the child well. The registered manager has created a warm and nurturing environment and a positive ethos among the team.
p.3
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Staff are positive about support from the registered manager and responsible individual. Staff share a sense of ownership about their practice. One member of staff said, ‘The registered manager is one of the best managers I have worked with and is an amazing, caring person,’ and that they find it a ‘lovely, warm environment’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 4 New staff receive an induction that provides them with a detailed programme of training and guidance for their role. On completion of their probation period, staff are enrolled to work towards a childcare qualification if they are not already qualified.
p.3
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
There are shortfalls in the recording in the child’s plans. There is a lot of information recorded, yet it is fragmented. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that information in relation to the child is clear for all staff to ensure consistent care practices.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
The registered manager regularly notifies Ofsted of serious incidents. However, on one occasion they did not submit a notification in relation to a serious incident when the child was missing from home. This impacts on the regulator having accurate and up-to-date information in relation to the home.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
External monitoring reports are completed. However, these do not include information from relevant people, such as the child and their family. This is a missed opportunity for the registered manager to make further improvements to the quality of care staff provide for the child.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Staff attend regular training, which helps them to develop their skills. The registered manager monitors and reviews staff training to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the child.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Staff receive support through regular supervision with the registered manager or other senior staff. Supervision records demonstrate that staff talk about their practices, and actions to improve are agreed. Appraisals are completed with staff on a yearly basis.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Staff attend regular team meetings and work with the provider’s therapist. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the child and consider ways to improve their practices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—
p.5
Requirement Due date
there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))
p.5
Requirement Due date
Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that they notify HMCI without delay regarding allegations against staff or any other incidents that the registered person considers serious. 24 August 2026
p.5
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.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.5
Requirement Due date
use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.
p.5
Requirement Due date
Specifically, the registered manager must have effective monitoring and review systems in place to provide continuous improvements to the child’s care. 24 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 6
p.5
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: 2850843 7
p.6
Children’s home details
Registered provider address: 87 Elmpark Way, Rochdale OL12 7JQ
p.7
Inspector
Shane North, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2850843 8 and inspects 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.7
Inspector
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p.8
Inspector
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Inspector
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
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