Children's Home run by Bright Path care limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2806691 1 Registered provider: Bright Path care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, there was one child living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged ‘inadequate’ at the full inspection on 19 and 20 May 2026. The inspector identified serious concerns in relation to safeguarding practices and ineffective leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, compliance notices were issued under The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 for Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to monitor the action taken by the provider in meeting the steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

There have been significant changes to the management structure since the last inspection. The registered manager resigned with immediate effect, leaving the post vacant, and the responsible individual is now managing the home and staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not addressed the shortfalls identified in risk assessments. As a result, these assessments do not reflect all current risks or provide clear strategies for staff to manage them.

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This monitoring visit

A team meeting has taken place since the last inspection. During this meeting, the responsible individual completed safeguarding scenarios with staff and encouraged reflection on safeguarding practice. Discussions covered professional curiosity, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 2 children going missing from home and the local authority designated officer (LADO) process. However, staff would benefit from group reflection on the specific safeguarding shortfalls identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Most core staff training is up to date, and a date has been arranged to complete the outstanding training. This training was due to be delivered by the responsible individual on the day of the monitoring visit, but it had to be rescheduled so they could be present.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding incidents reviewed during the monitoring visit show that staff have responded appropriately and effectively to safeguard the child.

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This monitoring visit

Support systems for staff have improved. Leaders and managers now ensure that a senior, skilled and experienced member of staff is always on shift to meet the child’s needs. The on-call process has also been clarified so staff know how to access support. However, since the registered manager’s departure, the responsible individual is overseeing the on-call system alone, which may limit the availability of management support.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has introduced measures to monitor staff practice and the quality of care children receive. A management-evaluation section has been added to bedroom-search records to ensure routine oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Staff supervision sessions are up to date, and future supervision and appraisal dates have been scheduled. However, in the absence of the registered manager, the responsible individual has completed supervision with a staff member with whom she has a personal connection. This presents a conflict of interest and does not ensure an impartial process. In addition, without a manager in post to lead and oversee the home daily, there is a risk that these systems cannot be fully embedded or sustained.

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This monitoring visit

Following the visit, a case review determined that the provider had taken sufficient steps to meet the compliance notice under Regulation 13. However, due to other shortfalls identified, a further requirement will be issued under Regulation 13. Although not all steps in the compliance notice issued under Regulation 12 had been met, the provider had taken some action, and the remaining shortfalls can be monitored through a requirement under Regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements were not considered at this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/05/2026 Full Inadequate 14/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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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

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that when children are acting in a manner that compromises their safety and wellbeing, they use risk-assessed safeguarding strategies, including physical interventions, to protect them from harm. 1 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 5 Leaders, managers and staff must ensure that each child has a safety plan that reflects their current risks and provides staff with clear strategies on how to mitigate them.

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Requirement Due date

When children are smoking in the home, leaders, managers and staff must take action to prevent this and reduce the associated risks. This includes, where necessary, carrying out room searches and immediately removing items such as cigarettes, matches and lighters.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the home’s risk assessment must be reviewed to ensure that mitigation of this risk is clear.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that relevant external safeguarding professionals, such as the LADO, are notified immediately when there is an allegation or concern about staff conduct that affects children’s safety and welfare.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are sufficient management and support staff to meet the needs of children living in the home effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff supervision is completed by someone who is not personally connected to the supervisee. 1 September 2026

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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. 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 6 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 12 August 2026

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; and

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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)(a)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the regulator is notified immediately when allegations are made in relation to staff conduct and practice. 12 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 7 the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that employment references are obtained in line with legislative requirements as part of the safer recruitment process.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour. (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that children are encouraged to engage in meaningful discussions and direct work in relation to their identified risks. 12 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (3)(a) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children receive care as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the information contained in the statement of purpose relates to the home. 12 August 2026

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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 no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(d)) 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 8 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that each child has a risk assessment that clearly outlines the rationale for the use of door alarms. Furthermore, they must ensure that the risk assessment is regularly reviewed to evidence proportionality.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that placing authority documentation is signed and dated.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that records relating to supervision are signed and dated by both the supervisor and the supervisee. 12 August 2026

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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

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25 (1)(c)) 12 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained. Children’s bedrooms should be kept clean and tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2806691 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Path care limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Victoria Road East, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 5HT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katie Brinkworth

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2806691 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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