Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 1 SC066120 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 home is run by Leeds local authority. It provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living in the home. Inspectors spent time with all four children during the visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good 06/09/2022 Full Good 28/06/2021 Full Outstanding 03/10/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children in this home benefit from loving, warm and nurturing relationships with staff. Staff demonstrate exceptional patience and care. Staff are highly attuned to the children’s individual needs, providing consistent support that enables children to feel valued and make considerable progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make meaningful progress from their individual starting points, with staff providing tailored support to broaden their experiences and opportunities. For example, one child who had not attended school for several years and was heavily reliant on electronic devices has made significant progress. They are now engaging in education, participating in positive activities such as bike rides, improving their self-care skills, and demonstrating greater tolerance towards others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make remarkable progress in their education. For two children receiving education within the home, their progress has been particularly noteworthy, demonstrating substantial improvements in their learning and development. Education is designed to be engaging and accessible, incorporating play, social interaction, and essential life skills such as sharing and tolerance. The strong partnership between care and education enables children to manage their emotions more effectively, resulting in significant gains in their well-being, self-esteem, and overall personal growth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Feedback from social workers and parents is overwhelmingly positive. They highlight that children are experiencing new opportunities for the first time in their lives and are flourishing. For example, children with complex needs are developing greater tolerance to change, and some have had the opportunity to visit the beach for the first time. This demonstrates the home’s commitment to broadening children’s experiences and supporting their personal development. One parent said, ‘Because of the support from the staff, my child has a better relationship with their sibling’. Therefore, improving children’s family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work hard to ensure children’s health needs are met. One child required a significant dental procedure, which involved careful planning and support from managers and staff. Using photos and social stories, staff helped the child to understand the process and feel safe. An advocate was involved to ensure the procedure was in their best interests. As a result, they are now pain-free, their eating has improved, and their overall oral health is better. Furthermore, this increases the child’s trust that adults in their life want the absolute best for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the vital role of preserving children’s culture and identity in promoting a strong sense of self and belonging. By creating an environment of understanding and respect, they help children develop greater tolerance for one another. This approach not only enhances relationships within the home but also supports children in feeling accepted and valued in wider society. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 4

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

Children receive consistent support from staff to help them manage their emotions, including feelings of anger and frustration. As a result, they are developing healthier coping strategies, enabling them to build resilience, improve self-regulation, and understand that not all requests can be met immediately. These essential life skills contribute to their overall emotional well-being and development.

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

Support plans, informed by specialist advice, have been effective in reducing incidents. Simple yet effective strategies are used to empower children. The staff understand the importance of giving children a sense of control while ensuring their safety and well- being.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of each child, ensuring their needs, risks, and vulnerabilities are clearly identified. Safety plans and strategies provide staff with clear guidance on how to reduce these risks effectively. As a result, staff are well equipped to keep children safe and provide them with the support they need.

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

Staff know the children well, understanding the signs of escalation, crisis, and distress, enabling them to intervene at the right time. This proactive approach supports children in regulating their emotions and returning to a calm state, contributing to a reduction in the need for medication. Additionally, the consistent routines and clear boundaries established by staff have led to one child no longer requiring medication to support their sleep.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that the home’s care and behaviour management models are deeply embedded in practice. Staff consistently use and refer to the model of care to better understand the children, respond to incidents, and reflect on their own actions. This has resulted in a significant decrease in incidents for children. This reflective approach enhances the quality of care and supports positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has created an open and transparent culture within the home, where staff feel confident to challenge one another and communicate honestly. This positive environment enhances teamwork and professional practice, ultimately benefiting the children’s care and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak highly of the manager, praising her dedication and the positive impact she has had on the home since taking on the role. They describe her as a leader who leads by example, driving continuous improvement and progress. Staff feel well supported, both by the manager and one another. The staff value the strong emphasis she places on their professional development. This focus on staff growth ensures they are well equipped to provide the highest standard of care for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 5 The manager is proactive and unwavering in advocating for the children, confidently engaging in difficult conversations to ensure their needs are met. She is not afraid to appropriately challenge professionals to secure the best possible outcomes for the children. Her commitment ensures that children receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most importantly, the manager has established a nurturing, safe, and secure home where children feel valued, supported, and central to all decisions. The environment is built around their well-being, providing the care, stability, and opportunities they need to flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 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: SC066120 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066120 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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