A CHILDREN’s home run by a Bradford-based provider has been told to improve by Ofsted.
The home, which is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have emotional and social difficulties, was inspected by the watchdog on two dates in June.
It’s run by Laska Care and Education Ltd, which has its registered address as Euroway House, on the Euroway Trading Estate.
A report recently published on Ofsted’s website says: “Children in this home are making progress. However, the current team dynamics have affected the standard of care that the children are experiencing.
“The manager is leading a divided staff team and has struggled to resolve deep-seated issues across the team.
“This has resulted in a lack of team cohesion and a lack of consistency around agreeing care practices, resulting in slow and limited progress for children.”
It adds: “Children are aware of the fractured relationships that exist between individual staff.
“This has resulted in a tense atmosphere within the home, and relationships between children and their carers are, in some instances, strained due to this.”
The report says repairs in the home, including to a fire door and vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, have not been addressed and resources are said to be “sparse”.
It adds: “The culmination of these issues results in children living in an uninspiring home environment.”
The report says some incidents unnecessarily escalated, which “required the need to for staff to restrain children, or for staff to seek police intervention to assist in the behaviour management of children”.
It adds: “This is having a detrimental effect on relationships between staff and children.”
Staff morale was also said to be low. Ofsted inspectors said there was “apathy and discontent” which had divided the staff team.
“This affects the atmosphere in the home and the quality of care that the children receive,” says the report.
However, Ofsted says the manager “aspires to create a home where children experience natural and nurturing care”.
Inspectors say efforts are made to “provide a strong foundation” so children have the best possible chance of stability.
“The manager is determined to work through several challenges that arise around the children’s access to education,” the report adds.
“The manager has ensured that there has been persistent challenge to the children’s local authority, which has instigated action.
“Representatives from the children’s virtual school reported to the inspector that they valued the intervention from the manager.”
The Telegraph & Argus made several attempts to contact Laska care for comment but did not receive a response.
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