Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 1 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 owned by a local authority and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken with as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2024 and is suitably qualified for the role.

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Inspection date: 17 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has begun to make measurable progress and is improving the quality of care provided to children in the home. The manager has streamlined recording processes and strengthened documentation in relation to staff practice. Although these improvements are in their infancy, they demonstrate a clear commitment to improving oversight and accountability in the manager’s and staff’s practice.

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Findings from the inspection

One child's social awareness has improved, resulting in a decrease in serious incidents and substance misuse. This achievement reflects the staff’s determination and consistent approach to raising the child’s understanding of the dangers of drugs misuse.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff highly value children’s voices and actively incorporate them into their care planning. For instance, one child, who experiences mental health challenges, devised a support plan with staff to help them when they experience difficult emotions. This includes using a mood light to signal their emotional state, enabling staff to respond promptly and appropriately.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager addresses barriers to learning through regular multi-agency meetings to agree on next steps. However, there remains a lack of structured daily activities for children who are not attending education. This absence of routine can lead to disengagement and missed opportunities for meaningful development in education.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are thorough and detailed, outlining clear strategies to manage and mitigate potential risks. Staff actively educate children about the consequences of their actions; for example, they discuss the dangers associated with fire-setting. This approach is further strengthened through effective multi-agency working, including input from specialist services, such as substance misuse and mental health teams, which contributes to the reduction of risk and safeguarding children’s welfare.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of children going missing are well recorded, and staff follow individualised plans. The manager appropriately challenges other services where required, such as when initial missing-person interviews have not been carried out.

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Findings from the inspection

Supervision sessions are regular and reflective, focusing on staff practice. However, not all supervision sessions include discussions about the children’s progress and needs. This is a missed opportunity to share best practice and enhance staff development. However, staff are up to date with their training, such as safeguarding and first aid. Furthermore, they receive bespoke training to support each child’s individual needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 3 Some of the requirements that were raised at the last inspection have been met. Those relating to regulations 44 and 45 remain. Following this inspection, a requirement under regulation 8 and a recommendation relating to staff supervision have been raised. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/02/2025 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 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 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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v)) 17 November

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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;

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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. 17 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 6 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)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b)) 17 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector (lead) Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2794799 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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