Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 1 SC488679 Registered provider: Leeds City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a local authority. The home is registered to provide care for four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child was not spoken with as they were away from the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted September 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Serious and widespread concerns were identified at this home following an assurance inspection on 25 July 2024. Ofsted issued one compliance notice under regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and served a notice restricting accommodation at the home. Five requirements and one recommendation were also raised. Not all the actions taken by the provider to address these requirements and the recommendation have been considered as part of this monitoring visit. This means two requirements and the recommendation have been restated.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, the progress and actions that the provider has taken to meet the compliance notice and the restriction of accommodation notice were evaluated. This included a review of documents, discussions with the manager and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Children continue to go missing from the home. However, the duration of missing episodes for one child has reduced. Missing-from-home protocols provide staff with clear actions to help them locate the child as quickly and safely as possible. To further enhance the effectiveness of this process, staff also engage with the child Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 2 after they return to the home to discuss their well-being during the time they were missing.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have revised the children’s care plans, ensuring that these documents now include specific actions for staff to follow. They are updated regularly and focus on supporting the children’s health needs and reducing any known risks.

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This monitoring visit

A new, effective system of monitoring the home has been implemented by the manager. This system quickly identifies any shortcomings in paperwork or health and safety protocols, ensuring timely corrections.

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This monitoring visit

Staff carry out one-to-one discussions with children covering various topics related to their care plans and risk assessments. These sessions provide valuable information for children to help them stay healthy, safe, as well as offer support about attending necessary health appointments. Documents are written in a nurturing, encouraging tone that is accessible to children.

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This monitoring visit

Following the visit, it was found that progress had been made in addressing compliance notice under regulation 13. As a result, the restriction of accommodation has been lifted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2023 Full Good 13/03/2023 Full Inadequate 16/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet The Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 20 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 5 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that each child is given the opportunity to celebrate religious celebrations with their family. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.22)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Merrion House, Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8LX

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 7 inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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