Children's Home run by Barracare Limited in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 1 Registered provider: Barracare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection of the home. The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they have trusted adults who they can talk to. Children are confident that their views and wishes are listened to, and there are numerous ways these are sought. Children said they are supported to choose how they spend their free time and described activities they enjoy, including go-karting and going to the gym. Children also enjoy food shopping with staff and learning to budget and plan menus. Children said that staff were ‘funny and caring’ and that ‘it feels good when we are out.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to manage and improve their health. They have regular access to health services. Staff follow clear processes to manage the medicines of children and keep them safe. Children are also making progress with their ability to manage their own emotional and mental well-being. When children are distressed, staff use humour appropriately to engage the children and help them to calm. There is a strong emphasis on support and de-escalation.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The privacy and dignity of children are promoted. Children have developed trust in the staff, and this support has helped them to manage personal and complex issues. This means children continue to make progress and to improve their well-being and sense of self-worth.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are not in education but are keen to attend school. The management team advocates strongly for the rights of the children and challenges others when necessary. There is regular, ongoing communication and contact with education providers that has resulted in firm plans developing. Children have aspirations for their futures, and they understand that staff are trying to help them. Children say that staff ‘want the best for them.’

p.2

improvement to be good

When incidents occur, children are supported, and steps are taken to keep children safe. However, documentation does not always reflect the incident as it occurred, the full facts of the incident or what actions have been taken to reduce the risk of the same thing happening again. This does not promote effective evaluation or help children and staff to understand risk-taking behaviours.

p.2

improvement to be good

Additionally, when incidents occur or allegations are made, they are not always reported to the regulator. Also, on several occasions when a notification of concern has been made, there was an unnecessary delay in this being submitted. This reduces the regulator’s oversight and ability to ensure appropriate actions are carried out to protect children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 3 Staff have a good understanding of the needs of the children, including how past experiences have affected them. There are manager-led, child-specific training and workshops that help staff increase their skills and understand the children’s needs. However, for one child, not all their risks were reflected in their care plans. For another child, the necessary documents from the placing authority were not in place. This does not help the manager and staff to fully meet the needs of the children.

p.2

improvement to be good

Positive relationships and good communication with professionals help to keep children safe. We spoke with both children, who said they were ‘happy and safe.’ They described regular key-work sessions with staff and discussions about topics that were important to them. One child said, ‘Staff think about my headspace and give me time.’ Children said they learn about safety, the dangers associated with drugs and alcohol, and the risks of going missing from home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff are trained to physically intervene to keep children safe when necessary. They know the children well and have the training and skills to respond to changes in their mood and behaviour. Any physical interventions that take place in the home are carefully reviewed by the manager. Discussions take place with the children and staff. This scrutiny ensures good practice and promotes open and honest feedback.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for the children in her care and is leading positive change for children. She is successful in encouraging staff to have the same aspirations and is described as a ‘role model.’ Staff speak warmly about the manager and the deputy manager. They speak positively about the team and said that they all work together to create a family home for the children. The manager is appreciated and valued by the staff, who describe a ‘calm and supportive’ home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supportive supervision sessions are an integral part of ensuring that the staff fulfil their roles and responsibilities. Supervision sessions are received regularly and are detailed and comprehensive, with focused discussions about the children’s progress and safeguarding. These sessions give the manager an understanding of the staff, their needs, and goals. Staff feel able to discuss any concerns and say that supervision sessions are helpful to their professional development.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction process for newly appointed staff is strong and enables them to learn about all aspects of the home. Following their induction, staff said that they had the information and confidence they needed to support children competently. Staff are provided with ongoing learning opportunities, guidance and help throughout the induction period and beyond. The manager ensures that safer recruitment processes are fulfilled to ensure that the appointed staff are suitable to care for the children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is reflective of a domestic, family environment. It is homely and welcoming, with the decoration and furnishings being in good order. There are ongoing development plans for the home. With encouragement, children are starting to involve themselves with the decor and upgrades in the home. The manager has oversight of the home and Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 4 completes regular audits to ensure that quality and safety are maintained. Audits are comprehensive, and where shortfalls are identified, action is taken to address this.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is consistently positive feedback from professionals and family who describe good communication, knowledge and understanding of the children. Staff are described as ‘nurturing, playful and consistent.’ Professionals spoke of the progress of children, who are guided by professional and patient staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 5

p.4

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 within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all known risks to children are documented.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that the documentation of incidents is clear and comprehensive and shows the actions taken to reduce harm, manage the risks to children and keep them safe. 30 September 2025

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 30 September 2025

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should challenge, under Regulation 5(c), any placing authority who asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current relevant plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 56, paragraph 11.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 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: 2803734 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Limes, Barkerhouse Road, Nelson BB9 9NL

p.7

Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 8 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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn . ’

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8