Children's Home run by THR SERVICES LIMITED in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 1 Registered provider: THR SERVICES LIMITED

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a small private provider and is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has had no registered manager since June 2025. Since then, there have been 3 managers. The current manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, no children have moved in. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home and did not want to contribute to the inspection. Both children moved out of the home on the same day as the inspection. The children were supported by their key workers to move.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to review progress against compliance notices issued following a full inspection carried out at the home. The compliance notices were issued under Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard). At this visit, the steps outlined in the compliance notices had not been met, and therefore further compliance notices have been issued. The restriction of accommodation notice that was issued following the previous inspection remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes in leadership and management arrangements. A new manager has been appointed who has plans to implement changes. The responsible individual who was employed at the last inspection has left, and a new responsible individual has been appointed who is also a director of the company. There have been several changes in the staff team, and many staff have either resigned or been dismissed. The staff that remain have been Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 2 placed back in their probationary periods. As a result, there continues to be staffing instability across all levels in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Despite a significant level of support provided by the local authority around the day- to-day running of the home, there have been several significant incidents where the safety of children has been impacted. There has been an increase in incidents of one child going missing from home and concerns around criminal exploitation. Following the child’s return to the home, staff responses are inconsistent. The previous responsible individual raised concerns about staff falsification of records related to children who were missing from home. The manager was unclear about her responsibility to escalate concerns if children did not receive independent return home interviews.

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This monitoring visit

When a child returned from an incident where they had been reported as missing from care, staff confiscated alcohol from them and then returned it to the child on the same evening. Staff have not shown curiosity when a child returned to the home with high-value items, despite the known risks for the child of exploitation in the community.

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This monitoring visit

There is a policy in the home that states children should never be physically searched by the staff team. However, the manager and staff stated that children could be physically searched should there be any worries that the child was concealing items of concern and if the child consented to being searched. This raises concerns about the manager’s and staff’s understanding of their policies and safeguarding responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Children have made complaints about staff. Leaders have acted in response to these, including referring to external safeguarding agencies as necessary and addressing staff practice. However, leaders do not update children with the outcomes of their complaints.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has reviewed the home’s safeguarding policies and communicated expectations of these in supervision with staff. However, there continue to be shortfalls in staff understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. A key professional raised concerns that staff reporting of incidents was not in line with safeguarding procedures. There have been incidents related to the exploitation of children that have not been reported to Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements. This relates to an incident referred to by leaders within a different notification that had not been identified as serious, despite relating to concerns regarding exploitation.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been unable to support children to engage meaningfully in education and daily activities to support their self-care and emotional wellbeing. This means children have been left alone in their rooms for long periods of time or have gone missing from home. Plans for children are not comprehensive and lack detail relating to known locations children may go to when they are missing from care. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 3 Staff inadvertently informed a child that they would be moving out of the home, despite the social worker requesting staff keep this information confidential so they could share it with the child themselves. This caused the child to be upset, and the child contacted a connected person in distress at this news.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not undertaken a comprehensive review of previous incidents or reviewed records of children’s experiences to ensure accurate recording. Additionally, they have not undertaken a review of the matching process around staff ability to care for a child with significant health needs to identify any lessons learned. A key professional for one child stated that staff do not have the knowledge and skills to be able to support children with complex needs. They said, ‘Staff have not been able to support the child to make progress, despite a strong and coordinated network of professionals supporting them.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not consistently worked as a team. There have been times when staff have acted inappropriately and have not conducted themselves in a way that promotes the emotional wellbeing of children. Leaders have made referrals to safeguarding agencies in this regard; however, they have not undertaken additional internal investigations in line with advice from external agencies. Leaders have not fully considered how the culture of the home has impacted on the care of children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have undertaken a large number of training sessions, the majority of which have been completed online. However, this training is yet to be embedded into staff practice, and there continue to be shortfalls in this area. There are some shortfalls in recruitment of leaders, including a lack of references. This is in the process of being addressed by the directors. Since the last inspection, staff have received supervision and team meetings have occurred. The manager discusses expectations around staff practice in these meetings. However, at times, the manager has raised aspects of shortfalls in individual staff practice during team meetings. There has been no retrospective review of supervision, which impacts on the manager’s ability to understand where there may be practice issues between staff and to develop the team to work together positively. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2026 Full Inadequate 13/05/2025 Full Good 15/07/2024 Full Good 23/04/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 5

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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 with the given timescales.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

staff have supervision regularly in line with the statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

leaders support staff to work together as a team;

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Requirement Due date

staff have training related to the needs of children and this is embedded into practice;

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Requirement Due date

staff recordings are accurate and reflect the experiences of children;

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Requirement Due date

leaders have effective oversight of all areas of staff practice and the experiences of children;

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Requirement Due date

leaders have systems in place to drive improvements within the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 7 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

leaders undertake advice from external safeguarding agencies as necessary;

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Requirement Due date

staff understand safeguarding policies in the home;

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Requirement Due date

staff follow missing-from-home protocols consistently;

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Requirement Due date

independent return home interviews occur when children have been missing from care;

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Requirement Due date

risk assessments clearly set out how children’s needs will be managed by staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 8 ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders should only agree to placements for a child where staff can consistently meet children’s needs and where children living in the home are prepared for others moving in. Leaders should ensure that children’s plans are robust and that care plans are followed by staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders should inform Ofsted of serious incidents. 17 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.

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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 staff help each child to— 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 9 achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

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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)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure leaders and staff understand the health needs of children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that regular fire drills take place and that staff have a good understanding of how to safely evacuate children. All actions from independent professionals’ review of fire should be promptly completed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated. 17 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 10 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should support each child to engage in meaningful daily routines and activities that promote structure, build life skills and prepare them for greater independence.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 11 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Staff should understand the impact of past experiences on children and should seek to develop positive and trusting relationships with children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual should have the necessary experience and skills to support the management of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated. 17 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 12 Case records must be kept—

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2735355 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: THR SERVICES LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room 2 First Floor, Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury OX17 2PW

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Inspectors

Lorna Walker, Social Care Inspector Dan Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2735355 14 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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