–

Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 1 SC454484 Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection 2 children were living in the home and both were spoken with.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025. The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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 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: 14 October 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/10/2025 Full Good 18/06/2024 Full Good 11/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/07/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children experience a well-planned move into the home. Children make good progress with their education and are learning to carry out independence skills.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children’s risks are fully understood by staff and managers, who respond effectively. Children are kept safe and detailed risk assessments and care plans support this action.

p.3

Summary of findings

Managers respond to children’s wishes and regularly seek their feedback. Managers have developed comprehensive monitoring and auditing tools allowing staff to feel supported and their practice developed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming, with fresh decoration. Children are actively involved in decisions about the environment and participate in changes made to the home. When children move in, they are made to feel welcome and helped to settle. Children’s moves are well planned. Comprehensive assessments help staff to have detailed and clear knowledge about children, and to support staff to provide child-centred care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in education. Children who have been out of education for several years are going to school. Attendance is improving and children have aspirations for their futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to develop independent living skills. Staff recognise the importance of these skills and continually encourage participation and learning. Children create independence goals and their progress and achievements are recognised. This has supported children to experience positive and well-planned moves from the home into semi-independent living.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have experienced unplanned emergency moves from the home. This is unsettling for children. When these moves occur, staff ensure that relevant information is shared promptly with professionals and carers. This helps to support the continuity of children’s care, education, health and safeguarding arrangements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are continually being sought and responded to. Teen- meetings allow the children to engage and influence decisions about their care and the operation of their home. This allows the children to recognise the importance and impact of their own voice. Where children make requests, they receive detailed feedback from managers regarding the decision-making process.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of children participating in enjoyable activities. Children are offered a variety of activities, both in the home and out in the community. Children’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 4 family and friends have been welcomed into the home to participate in activities and celebrate events and special occasions.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been a significant reduction in incidents and children’s risks have reduced. Risk assessments are detailed and provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to recognise and respond to incidents. This includes when children are missing from the home. Staff have strong links with the police and other professionals who support the children. When children are involved in high-risk behaviours, staff ensure that they seek medical care and monitor the children’s health and wellbeing.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recognise the need for consistency of routines and boundaries for the children in their care. Staff have positive relationships with children and are able to recognise changes in a child’s mood and presentation. This helps staff to adapt their approach and response to the child’s need. Children confidently share their experiences and explore any worries with staff, helping to reduce their risk-taking behaviours. However, staff do not routinely carry out a room search when a child discloses self-harm.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff access child-focused training, linked to new and presenting risks or needs. This develops staff skills and knowledge and ability to respond effectively to children. Children who may have links to gangs and are at risk of exploitation are provided with comprehensive resources, information and support to disrupt these situations. Focused discussions are regularly carried out linked to any risk or concern.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have high ambitions for all the children in their care. Managers have high expectations of the care and support offered to the children and ensure that children experience quality and considered care. Managers lead from the front, but they recognise that staff morale and peer support, creates a supportive culture for staff and children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear understanding of the experiences and progress of the children. They develop strong working relationships with external professionals allowing managers to advocate effectively on behalf of the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have developed new auditing and monitoring tools that support good quality recording and practice by staff. Notifications to Ofsted and reports shared with other professionals are comprehensive. The records show that learning is embedded with the staff and action plans are detailed and effective.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly and offer a supportive learning and reflective environment for staff. Training needs for the staff are regularly identified to meet the new presenting needs of the children and external training packages are sourced. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 5 Staff speak very positively of the support they receive from managers. They feel confident to carry out and fulfil their roles and provide the highest standard of care to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 6

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that room searches may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or wellbeing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

p.6

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: SC454484 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westgate Plaza One, 1 Westgate, Barnsley S70 2DR

p.7

Inspector

Rachel Moore, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 8 and inspects 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.

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