Children's Home run by Barracare Limited in Calderdale

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

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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 privately operated. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in December 2025 and there is an acting manager in place.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children lived in this home at the time of the inspection and 2 were spoken with by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was conducted in response to an increase in concerns received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Children receive individualised care and targeted support from staff, which contributes to the progress they make. Staff are effective in helping children establish healthier daily routines. One child has shown a notable improvement with their sleep pattern. Children say they feel cared for and this helps them experience greater stability, and enhanced wellbeing.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide good support to children with their education. They demonstrate a clear commitment to promoting positive learning and actively advocate for children to receive the educational support that meets their needs. In addition, staff provide help to the children to complete schoolwork in the home, encouraging them to remain active with their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff build warm and trusting relationships with children and invest their time in listening to their wishes and feelings. The staff keep the children centre of their practice and advocate for them to have opportunities that come with responsibility. When children have experienced difficulties with their phone use at night, they are now managing this more successfully following effective support and advocacy from staff.

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Findings from the inspection

When children raise concerns about staff practice, these are investigated thoroughly. Managers work alongside professionals such as the local authority designated officer and children know that the concerns they raise are taken seriously and acted upon. This clear response by managers helps children feel safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The management has changed since the last inspection. The new manager was already an established member of the team, and this has helped maintain consistency. Managers show resilience during challenging periods and work to ensure any cultural concerns are resolved. The manager is keen to help staff develop, and when needed, issues are addressed with staff individually and as a team. This helps staff learn and improves morale in the team, supporting staff to work well together.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers reflect with staff when children move out of the home. This gives staff an opportunity to come together and look at any improvements which could be made to their practice. As a result, lessons learned then become shared knowledge.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments and behaviour plans do not contain guidance for staff that aligns with how they should respond to incidents of bullying. Incident records do not Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 4 reflect the steps that staff have taken to reduce the risk of bullying reoccurring. This fails to effectively manage the risks related to such incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Language used in the home by staff and in records is not always language that cares. Some language is stigmatising and unhelpful to children. However, managers are aware of this issue and have plans in place to address and develop staff practice in this area.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff can discuss their performance and key elements of their role in supervision sessions. However, the records of these are not an accurate record of discussions held. In addition, the responsible individual does not always ensure the manager receives supervision. This hinders the effective oversight of children’s care and staff’s development needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the last inspection, managers have met one requirement and one recommendation that were raised. The manager has ensured that all allegations have been reported to Ofsted and that children’s placing authority records are on file. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 6

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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 must comply within 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated 30 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision so that they can reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on the importance of careful, objective, and clear language used. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 7 to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2803734 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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