By Gavin Mackintosh-
Ofsted has closed a Bradford Council run children’s home due to a catalogue of problems faced by the council.
A significant number of staff on long-term sickness absence and a high reliance on agency staff and the resignations of senior management.
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An external review is now taking place on the quality of provision across each of the homes and there are calls for “urgent questions” to be answered.
The report is due to be discussed by the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee next Wednesday.
Valley View, including BEST (Bradford Enablement Support Team0 has also fallen in standard to inadequate. Other children’s home that have deterirated include Owlthorpe and The Willows.
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Owlthrorpe received a suspension of registration and compliance notice.
The Willows, also previously good, was rated inadequate and hit with a compliance notice, while the standard at Wedgewood significantly dropped.
The report also highlights a “a number of challenges at all levels regarding staffing” including: two senior managers and one who was also the Responsible Individual for Children’s Homes.
Both managers resigned and left their post, while a number of middle managers with responsibility for some of the homes are on long-term sickness absence; a significant number of residential staff operating out of Valley View (including BEST) and The Willows are on long-term sickness absence, plus a “very high reliance” on agency staff across a number of the children’s homes.
The report adds: “Following the outcome of recent judgements, it is clear that we need to have assurances that our current children’s homes are offering a high quality of care for our children/young people.
“Where issues are known, it is important that we have robust action plans in place that are scrutinised and secure rapid improvement.”
The report also highlights the physical conditions of the homes as being an area in need of a “very different and more responsive approach”.
Once the external review is complete, a report will be produced to inform further and future planning for children’s homes.
Leaders and managers of the Council are under pressure to explain the serious inadequacies that has led to the closure of these children’s homes.
“Everyone who takes decisions over the running of the homes need to ask themselves, would I want my own children living here?
“These are the homes to many vulnerable children and young people who have often experienced trauma in their lives and they should feel safe and cared for in a welcoming environment. It is crucial the facilities are brought up to standard and staffing urgently actioned to ensure the right staff with the right skills are in the homes.”
Marium Haque, deputy director for education and learning, said “This report details the urgent action we are taking to make sure that the improvements we all want to see are put in place and that this happens quickly.
“This includes building improvements to the homes as well as making sure that our processes are robust and the right staffing is in place.”
Councillor Sue Duffy, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for children and families, said: “We want all our children’s homes to provide the best possible care for those young people who need it.
“Ofsted have highlighted that this isn’t happening to the right standard at four of our homes.
“I have asked Council officers to implement at pace clear plans for improvement so that we can offer the right quality of care at these settings. The children in our care have often been through such a lot before they come into care, they deserve the very best from us.”
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