A CONCERNING report has laid bare a catalogue of problems faced by Council-run children’s home in the district. 

The situation has been described as “sickening” by one councillor amid damning Ofsted reports, resignations of senior managers, a “significant” number of staff on long-term sickness absence and a high reliance on agency staff. 

An external review is now being undertaken 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. 

Councillors will be told that the ratings of four of the seven homes have plunged, resulting in children being removed from some.

Valley View, including BEST (Bradford Enablement Support Team) dropped to inadequate from requires improvement. This included a suspension of registration and a compliance notice. 

Owlthorpe was previously good, but is now inadequate. This also included a suspension of registration and compliance notice.

The Willows, also previously good, was rated inadequate and hit with a compliance notice, while Wedgewood, also once good, was rated requires improvement. 

The report says work is underway to improve outcomes with the suspension notice lifted at Valley View, both the suspension and compliance notice lifted at Owlthorpe and all restrictions lifted at The Willows.

It adds that a “re-introduction plan is being carefully drawn up to safely and gradually enable the Willows and Owlthorpe to begin to have children placed in the homes”, while a decision notice is being prepared for the future of Valley View. 

But the report also highlights a “a number of challenges at all levels regarding staffing” including: two senior managers, including one who was also the Responsible Individual for Children’s Homes, both resigning and leaving their posts; several 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.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader the Liberal Democrat & Independent Group on Bradford Council, described the problems faced by the homes as “sickening”.

“This is now extremely concerning. It’s gone on too long, I think we are almost at intervention stage,” she told the Telegraph & Argus.

“We are constantly being told that things are improving, but it certainly does not feel like that. The constant bad news from children’s services and the failure of management and Labour politicians to get a grip is now making a mockery of their slogan ‘children at the heart of everything we do’.”

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservative Group on Bradford Council, added: “Urgent questions need to be answered by the leadership of the Council as to why these children’s homes that the Council runs have been rated inadequate.  

“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 recent inspections had highlighted that four of the Council's children’s homes "are not at a good enough standard".

She added:"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.”