One of our Barnsley Children’s Home has officially been given a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted, reinforcing our dedication to providing safe, supportive and nurturing homes to children in our care. 

This rating was awarded following a recent inspection in October 2024, where Ofsted visited the home which provides care for up to 10 children and offers short-break arrangements for up to eight children with learning or physical disabilities.  

The visit assessed the overall experiences and progress of children and young people, taking into account: 

• How well children and young people are helped and protected 

• The effectiveness of leaders and managers 

The report acknowledges how our staff provide individualised care with high levels of nurture to the young people. They have a good understanding of the children’s complex health needs, and work with a range of specialists to best support the children in their care. 

Staff also have meaningful communication with families, they talk with each child’s parents and carers to understand the child’s needs and personal care before their stay. This promotes positive partnership work with parents and allows staff to offer the children consistent and personalised care. 

Inspectors also emphasized the positive experiences available to the young people in our care. Staff spend time with children supporting them to develop their independence and social skills in fun, interactive ways.  

Cllr Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “I’m delighted that another of our children’s home as received a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.  

“This is just a part of our work to make Barnsley a great place for children and young people to be inspired and ambitious. I’d like to say thank you to the staff at the home for their dedication to meeting each child’s individual needs, supporting them to develop and thrive.  

“As a council, we are committed to continuous improvement within all our services. We welcome the recommendations outlined by Ofsted to further enhance the care we offer children at the home.” 

Highlights of the inspectors’ findings include: 

• Children are relaxed around staff, and parents said that they feel their children are safe in the home. 

• Staff understand the children’s risks and care needs and robust risk assessments are detailed. 

• Staff offer children nurturing support during emotionally difficult times. 

• Staff work well as a team and are all committed to caring for the children.  

From the visit, inspectors also highlighted requirements and recommendations for improvement. Managers have already started to proactively address these areas to continue providing a good experience for children in their care.  

The report can be read in full on the Ofsted website.