Bradford Council-run children's home inspected by Ofsted

The details were revealed in a recent Ofsted report following an inspection in July.

The report says: “There have been some occasions when staff have required assistance from the police to help them to manage children’s behaviours.

“However, at times, there has been a disproportionate response from the police.

"Managers and leaders are working with the police at a senior level to challenge this and ensure children are not criminalised.”

Detective Inspector Claire Smith, of the Bradford Safeguarding Unit, said the force works closely with partners to avoid “disproportionate criminalisation” and highlighted the ‘Be Positive Pathway’ which aims to build positive relationships between police and children.

The home, which is not named or identified, is rated as ‘good’ for the overall experiences of children and young people and how they are helped and protected.

Meanwhile, the effectiveness of leaders and managers ‘requires improvement to be good’.

The report says there was a serious event that managers did not notify the regulator about, while other notifications were submitted late.

But, it says children make progress living at the home because of the “trusting relationships” they develop with the adults caring for them.

It adds: “The encouragement and promotion of education helps children to benefit from high levels of school attendance. For some children this is significant progress.”

Staff are also described as “strong advocates” and the report says: “Most children say they feel safe living at this home, and they benefit from the help that staff provide through reflective conversations about their behavioural experiences.”

However, inspectors found children are “frustrated” because they are not receiving the help they need from staff to resolve conflict with one another when it occurs.

The report says the speed and quality of the WiFi “continue to raise children’s frustrations” along with the home’s vehicle “which stigmatises children because of the obvious markings that identifies it as owned by a local authority”.

Inspectors said the home should ensure children are not stigmatised and that they do not have “less digital opportunity as a result of being looked after”.

Councillor Sue Duffy, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for children and families, said: “The service continues to work hard to make improvements to support children.

“We welcome this report which shows improvement in service but we are not complacent and continue to strive to improve the experiences of children and young people.”