STEPS are being taken to improve a care home for troubled children following a highly critical Ofsted report.

The Radcliffe-based home for youngsters with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties run by private organisation Altum Residential Care Limited ihas been rated inadequate.

The home which cares for three children lost its good rating in February after it was found "there are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress".

Ofsted had previously visited the home unannounced in October because of concerns raised by the police and the local sexual exploitation team, with inspectors finding that staff had failed to take effective action in response to safeguarding concerns and failed to identify, minimise and manage "all known risks to the young people. Further inspections found that issues had been addressed and steps were being taken to improve the home but in February an " emergency suspension notice was issued".

No young person is currently living at the home.

Following a recent Ofsted visit, the inspector stated that managers "have continued to take steps to make improvements in the home" and a a new model of care had been devised.

Ofsted found that staff were more confident, with improved training, in keeping children and young people safe.

Managing director Christian Miles said: "We have worked extremely hard to make the improvements needed to bring this back to a good service and are awaiting our next inspection.

"We have taken this opportunity to redevelop our entire service from the ground up, ensuring that the development and safety of the children placed with us, is the centre of our focus at all times.

"During the months of November and February we lost a manager and had struggled to find another suitably qualified manager to appropriately manage the service. This led to some destabilisation of the home and while staff were doing their best to hold the fort, they were unable to manage the extremely complex behaviours at the time.

"There was no direct harm to children as a result of this but we still feel that this is not good enough for the children placed with us. We worked hard and found the right manager to take the service forward and she has worked extremely hard since March to get things back on track."

He added: "As part of this process we have also taken some time to create a whole new therapeutic model of care, which gives all of our staff a clear approach and guidance to managing children often exhibiting very complex behaviours. We feel confident that this new setting will be exactly what is needed to care for, and give the best chances and opportunities to, the young people in our home.”