A CHILDREN’S home has been blasted by Ofsted after it was found in a ‘poor state of repair’.

Inspectors found ‘significant damage’ at Carr Hall Farm in New Hall Hey, Rossendale, which looks after up to 10 male teenagers, in a follow-up inspection.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It comes after the home, run by Acorn Care and Education in Bolton, was rated as ‘requires improvement’ when it was last inspected in June.

In the Ofsted report, the inspectors recorded evidence that a member of staff had been injured so severely by a resident, they needed hospital treatment.

Damage was found which included holes in ceilings and walls, broken furniture, a broken toilet and heavily-stained walls in one bedroom.

Fire safety was also criticised after a fire door was found locked and the fire evacuation plan was discovered to not reflect the layout of the building and the number of exits.

Writing in the report, an Ofsted inspector said that since the last inspection there had been an increase in notifications about ‘serious events’ taking place in the home.

The home has seen several changes in leadership since May with the departure of the registered manager and three other managers.

The inspector said: “Sufficient staffing is in place and young people are provided with one-to-one support. However, this is not effective in minimising and managing the number of behavioural challenges occurring in the home.

“A lack of stability means the staff team are not working together. Staff report they do not receive clear direction, and with the number of changes say they are struggling to adapt to different management styles and expectations.

“Inconsistency in leadership and staff practice is impacting on the quality of care provided to young people, and has contributed to a deterioration in their behaviour. Steps need to be taken to stabilise management arrangements .

A spokesman for Acorn Care and Education said: “Following the Ofsted report an action plan was immediately put in place.”