Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 1 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 children’s home that offers care for up to four children who may experience emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home. One child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently not in work. Another manager is covering their post, and they were registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2024 Full Good 26/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/11/2022 Full Good 25/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated throughout, and children’s bedrooms are personalised with their own belongings and keepsakes. A variety of activities are available to entertain the children, and they have enjoyed many outings with staff. Photos displayed around the home show children having fun with staff and celebrating cultural festivals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education from their starting points. Where children face barriers to learning, the manager encourages a multi-agency approach and ensures the appropriate plans are in place to support and encourage children’s attitudes towards learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their health needs and encourage them to attend routine health appointments. When children struggle with attending appointments, staff discuss the importance of regular check-ups with the children. Staff also regularly talk to children about the impact of substance misuse, dangers associated with alcohol consumption, and vaping. Staff discuss healthier food options with the children, and encourage physical activities. However, one child’s weight is not being monitored, as required in their health assessment. This could have health implications for the child in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know how important it is for children to spend time with their families, and they support them to do so. This means that the children get to spend time with the ones who mean the most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak to the children about any worries that they may have and help them to cope with what is going on for them at that time. The manager recognises how important the children’s views are and they all have access to an independent advocate who they can share any worries or concerns to privately.

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

Risk assessments in place are a live document and are reviewed and updated with incidents linked to each specific risk. These documents are individual to each child and include clear strategies for staff to follow to reduce and manage any risks of harm to the children.

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

Physical interventions are proportionate and only used when necessary. Children and staff have a discussion following an incident and look at what went well and what did not. This reflection reduces the likelihood of future recurrences.

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

Staff follow children’s plans during incidents. However, for one child the strategies that staff are using are not always effective and have led to staff being injured during the incident. Furthermore, there has been property damage in the home and staff have relied on the police to support them during some incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 4 The manager takes necessary action when children are at risk of exploitation. Referrals are made to the right agency to ensure that the children receive the appropriate support.

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

Children’s missing from home protocols are up to date and clearly written. Missing incidents are well documented and include what actions staff have taken to ensure that the children are found as quickly and safely as possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is skilled in managing children with complex needs. When necessary, she seeks support from other services to ensure children receive the care and advice they need to make progress. The manager leads by example, and this commitment is reflected by the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the strengths and areas for improvement in the home. Any areas for development are actioned and are included in the home’s development plan. This means that the home continues to move forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the training and development they need to perform their roles effectively. Team meetings provide an opportunity to share best practice and further develop the skills and knowledge of staff. Recently, a guest speaker attended one of these meetings to discuss current national and regional patterns in substance use among children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions provide staff with a safe space to speak with leaders and managers about any concerns, work-related or otherwise. However, some supervision sessions lack reflection on staff practice with the children. This is a missed opportunity to help staff understand and manage their own feelings and responses to children’s behaviour and emotions, and to support children to do the same.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and professionals spoken with all said that the manager is approachable and that the children are safe while living in the home. All fed back that there are no concerns with communication at the home, and that if there were any issues, they would feel confident to raise them and that they would be addressed Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(x)) 26 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure, that staff follow actions from the children’s health assessments. Where there are concerns with children’s health, appropriate monitoring systems should enable the registered person to track the child’s health needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards page 33, paragraph 7.4)  The registered person should ensure, that strategies in children’s behaviour plans are delivered in a way that are helpful to children who are struggling to cope. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards page 39, paragraph 8.13) Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 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: 2611210 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Maria-Louisa McKimm and Laura Craven

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2611210 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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