Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 1 SC033370 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 a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Two children were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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: SC033370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2024 Full Good 18/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2022 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they like living in the home and that they get on well with staff. Children speak fondly about their holidays abroad and other activities that they do with staff. Two children said they feel safe living in the home and that the other children were ‘generally okay’ to live with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are promoted effectively. Staff respond promptly when children raise concerns about their health and arrange the necessary appointments. Staff support children to access specialist health services when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence skills through regular development sessions. These are tailored to each child’s level of understanding and provide detailed guidance on important life skills. Children are supported to understand various processes such as renting a property, including the role of a guarantor. This work is particularly important for children, who may face challenges securing a guarantor in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work effectively with children’s families and promote family time in ways that are meaningful for children. Family members speak positively about the staff’s commitment and recognise the progress that children have made since they moved to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children make good progress in education. Others face significant barriers, which hinders their progress. One child has been out of education for two years. Although personal tutors have been provided, the child has not engaged with these sessions. In addition, one child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)does not reflect the child’s individual learning needs. Targets and outcomes set in the EHCP do not provide the child with measurable steps for success. As a result, the plan does not effectively support the child to make progress and hampers their ability to achieve the intended outcomes.

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

Staff are consistent in their approaches with children and quickly build positive relationships with them. This is done through spending time in and outside of the home doing what the children enjoy. As a result, children develop a sense of stability and belonging in the home. This is reflected in the low number of incidents.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and spoke knowledgably about how to keep children safe. Children’s risk assessments are good quality. They provide staff with clear strategies to manage risk and keep children safer.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff act quickly and follow the protocols in place. Staff described what to do when children are missing, and these actions align with the children’s missing-from-home plans. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 4 There have been no incidents of physical intervention in the home. Staff spoken to know when holds should be used and said they are confident should they have to use it.

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

Staff understand children’s trigger points and help them to manage their emotions through strategies such as verbal redirection and distraction. This supports children’s emotional resilience and helps them to cope better when they feel angry or upset.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced in her role and is supported by a dedicated deputy. Together, they provide strong and effective leadership, which supports staff in their roles. The manager leads by example and is committed to delivering high standards of care. This drives efficiency and contributes to the nurturing culture that prevails in the home. Staff feel valued by their manager and supported by one another. Team consistency remains a strength.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most children’s pathway plans are poorly written and lack a child-centred approach. Plans do not include assessments or clear steps outlining what the child needs to do to progress. Some responses are limited to yes or no answers, which is ineffective for future life planning. In some instances, the language used is child-blaming. Although pathway plans are statutory documents, there was no evidence to suggest that the manager challenged the poor quality of these plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a broad range of training and development opportunities. Mandatory training is enhanced by specialist courses tailored to the individual needs of children. Staff knowledge and practice are further strengthened through regular team meetings and shift handovers, which provide opportunities for reflection and shared learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly. Sessions are reflective of both children’s needs and staff practice. Staff report that supervision provides a safe and supportive space to discuss their well-being and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals and family members was positive. They recognise the progress children are making and the commitment of staff in supporting them. One parent said, ‘The staff have been incredible’. Others said they had no concerns regarding the quality of care provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 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

Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5(b)) 14 September 2025

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 14 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 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: SC033370 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC033370 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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