Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 1 SC033723 Registered provider: Leeds City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority home. It offers care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection there were four children living in the home. All four children were spoken with.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2024 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 17/09/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm, nurturing and relaxed environment where children feel comfortable. Children are at ease, and they can be seen relaxing in the home in their dressing gowns and slippers. One child described the home as ‘calm’. The kitchen is the central hub of the home and there is a sense of community between the staff and the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Securing education placements for the children has been a challenge for the staff. However, the staff are committed to helping each child engage with their learning. When considering the children’s starting points, they have all made educational progress. While not all children have identified education placements, the staff take a creative approach to learning. They understand the importance of building the children’s confidence in their learning journeys and tailor their support to meet the unique needs of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have lived in the home since before the last inspection. Stability and continuity of care is helping them to make progress. For one child, who is new to the home, their experience of moving in was positive. The staff spend time getting to know children before they move into the home, moving at a pace the child is comfortable with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from being cared for by a diverse team of staff. The staff are committed to understanding and embracing each child’s culture and identity. Staff take the time to learn about the children’s backgrounds, including the needs of children who have come to live in the home from other countries. As a result, the children feel valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain and strengthen their family networks. Staff work hard to form positive relationships with people who are important to the children. Families speak positively about the care that their children receive. One family member said, ‘The staff are so kind and friendly. They are so nice. I thank them for that. My child is so happy and safe there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff promote children’s interests. The children are helped to continue with their previous hobbies such as football and boxing. They are also helped to find new interests such as going fishing and learning how to play the guitar. As children’s skills develop in their chosen interests, their confidence increases.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are supported in understanding the risks and dangers associated with dangerous substances and unsafe items. Staff provide education and guidance to help them understand how to make safer choices. If children do make unsafe choices, the staff work with them to help reduce the risk of this happening again. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 4 The staff complete bedroom searches when necessary. This method is only used when there are concerns of unsafe items in the home. These searches are conducted respectfully, with a clear focus on removing only unsafe items. This reinforces the staff’s commitment to maintaining a safe home for the children to live.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Bullying is not tolerated in the home. On rare occasions that bullying has occurred. The staff respond swiftly and effectively. Individual safety plans are implemented, and the children are helped to understand the impact and consequences of bullying. This proactive approach is helping the children to live together safely and respectfully.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is an open culture in this home. Allegations made by the children are taken seriously. The manager investigates these and speaks to all people involved. The child is kept updated throughout. Thorough investigations are completed to establish what has happened and appropriate action is taken.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff speak positively when referring to the manager. One member of staff said, ‘She [name of manager] is the mother of the house.’ The staff feel that she is always available to provide them with support. The management team’s efforts to value and appreciate the staff contributes to the positive atmosphere in the home. This in turn benefits the children as they are being cared for by staff who are happy to be there.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has created a culture where children are spoken to and about with warmth, love and respect. The staff smile when they are talking about the children, and they enjoy spending time with them doing the things that the children enjoy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team is a developing one, and the manager has focused on team building and forming relationships. This has now been achieved and the manager is now developing the staff’s decision-making skills. This approach empowers the staff to make effective decisions in relation to the care of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Reflective practice is part of the home’s daily routine. Leaders and managers spend time with the staff at the start of each day, to look back at the day before and plan for the day ahead. The managers are introducing a trauma informed model of care into the home, regular time is set aside in team meetings to discuss how this is developing. While it is not yet embedded in the daily practice, the initial stages are positive, and the staff are receptive to this way of working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is still in her first year of this role, and she has focused on the progress of the children, and developing the staff. While the manager does have good oversight of what is happening in the home, she is yet to complete a quality-of-care review to submit to Ofsted. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to share with the regulator the challenges and successes within the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 5

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Statutory requirement

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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 10 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under The Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including, the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC033723 8 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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