A COUNCIL-RUN children’s home - which was temporarily shut down due to ‘widespread failures’ - has turned its fortunes round and officially been given a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted.
The Carlton home, which the Chronicle cannot name, was ranked ‘inadequate’ for a second time by inspectors last July.
Due to the findings, a restriction of accommodation notice - which prevents other children being admitted to the home - was served on the council and did not lift until improvements were noted.
Ofsted condemned staff for failing to act on the watchdog’s previous concerns issued after the local authority approved an estimated £1m for its creation - which included dirty bedrooms and broken beds.
Staff were found to have made ‘unhelpful’ decisions, such as allowing a child access to lighters when there has been an incident of attempted arson.
Due to insufficient action from staff, there was one incident which led to a child being at risk of harm in the community.
A lack of night-time supervision was also questioned, as well as staff members’ use of restraint and how such occurrences have not been properly recorded.
However, its much-improved rating has now been revealed, with staff and managers being praised for showing ‘commitment to continuous improvement’ since it was allowed to reopen last September.
The report acknowledged a number of strengths identified in the home, including staff understanding each child’s experiences, that children are supported through sensitive and meaningful conversations and that overall children appear happy in the company of the staff.
The report also highlights that communication between staff and professionals is a key strength and supports consistent and good-quality care for the children.
Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said: “This is a fantastic achievement that reflects the passion and professionalism of our staff at the Carlton children’s home.
“They have made a real difference in the lives of the young people who are thriving in our care.
“This inspection shows that we are on the right track to provide the best possible care for our young people and that we are always looking for ways to improve and enhance our practice.
“The hard work doesn’t stop here - we want Barnsley to be the place of possibilities for all children and young people and we will continue to do all that we can to help them achieve their ambitions.”
Inspectors provided recommendations for one area of improvement, which involves adding more detail to a child’s record to help the children better understand their own history and daily experiences at the home.
The home’s management has since taken proactive steps to enhance record keeping and will collaborate with staff and children to follow the recommendations.
Coun Cave added: “We want to invest in high quality provision to meet their care needs within their hometown, maintaining their identity as residents of Barnsley.
“Our staff are highly trained to provide a nurturing, consistent and safe living environment in which our children and young people can feel loved, safe, secure, listened to and valued.”
