Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 1 SC406505 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 short breaks setting that provides care for up to 12 children, who may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were five children staying at the home, with a total of 49 children accessing the service. Inspectors spent time with four children during this inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Outstanding 05/03/2024 Full Outstanding 15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 21/06/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience exceptionally positive and enriching short-break stays in this home. Staff are highly dedicated and demonstrate a commitment to helping children achieve their full potential. Individualised targets support children to make substantial progress in essential areas of development, including personal care, dressing and eating at the table. These achievements significantly enhance children’s independence, confidence and social skills. One staff member described the home as being run ‘like a five-star hotel’, reflecting the high standard of care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Families develop trusting, respectful relationships with staff. The staff provide valuable support beyond the short-break service, including accompanying families to medical appointments and providing assistance in children’s families homes when needed. Staff have helped one child to better understand and manage their behaviour, resulting in increased stays. Their proactive involvement reduces the need for wider statutory intervention.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s introductions into the home are remarkably well managed. Staff gather detailed information from observations of children, and from their families and schools to assess each child’s circumstances. This ensures that the service can meet children’s individual needs, and helps to establish the trusting, secure relationships that children form with staff. Introductions into the home occur at each child’s pace, promoting emotional safety and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s wishes are central to the care they receive. All children take part in a meeting at the start of their stay to share their views and preferences. When one child reported that their bed was uncomfortable, staff promptly replaced the mattress. A children’s council operates to represent the wider group and contribute to service development. Children are voted in to represent each other, and these representatives can visit the home to gather views, promoting a strong sense of ownership and belonging among the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff request updates from families ahead of a child’s stay, enabling appropriate adjustments to each child’s care. Newsletters and post-stay reports provide reassurance to families and professionals and strengthens communication between the home, families and the wider multi-agency network. Parents value this proactive approach, which provides them with confidence about the care their children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are extremely well supported with their education. Staff creatively embed learning into daily routines, such as developing a vegetable garden. This helped one child demonstrate an ability to understand and follow instructions in a way not previously understood. For children not currently in full-time education, staff work closely with education professionals to provide tailored learning in the home. Behaviour strategies are consistently shared between the home and children’s schools. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 4 Children’s moves on from the short-break service are highly effective. Staff share essential information with new caregivers and provide information booklets to ensure continuity of care. A developing initiative will allow staff to spend time with children in their new home, reducing anxiety for both the children and the staff who care about them. The positive relationships children form with staff are evident; one child who left

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

the service later sent a card expressing how much they would miss the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has recently undergone significant re-decoration. This has created a more comfortable and homely environment for children.

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

Staff have a strong understanding of each child’s needs. Care plans and risk assessments are detailed, personalised and regularly reviewed. This provides staff with clear and effective strategies for supporting children safely.

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

Staff treat children with dignity and respect. Staff sensitively help children to understand their physical and emotional development, how to stay safe, and the importance of respectful boundaries and privacy. This practice equips children well for when they move on from the service.

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

Children’s dietary needs are exceptionally well managed. Each child has a colour-coded food mat outlining their preferences, allergies and required physical support during mealtimes. This ensures that staff consistently meet children’s nutritional needs.

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

Incidents are thoroughly recorded with clear body mapping when required, enabling the manager to oversee safeguarding practice effectively. Physical intervention is used only to prevent harm and keep everyone safe. No holds have been required due to staff’s skills in understanding children and de-escalating situations.

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

Due to the complex needs and vulnerability of the children accessing the service, internal and external doors are operated by a key fob to help to maintain safety. Staff dynamically assess which children can safely be provided with fobs to access certain areas, promoting independence and trust.

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

The manager consults closely with health professionals to ensure that specialist equipment fully meets each child’s needs. The use of specialist equipment is reviewed regularly. This attention to detail ensures a high standard of safety and care for children.

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

There has been one error in the administration of medication to a child. This was responded to well and the child was unharmed. The manager has implemented additional monitoring systems to reduce the likelihood of this reoccurring. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is ambitious and deeply committed to improving children’s lives. She believes that ‘children are the service’, reflecting the highly child-centred ethos embedded throughout the home. Children are provided with opportunities that may not otherwise be available to them, including access to musical instruments and outdoor activities, such as ice-skating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff respect and look up to the manager. They emulate her practice and share her commitment to providing exceptional care. One staff member described her as ‘the most child-focused manager’ they have ever known. Another member of staff praised the innovative nature of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is extremely reflective and analytical. She considers in detail any incidents that have happened and identifies creative ways to strengthen practice and processes. This reduces the likelihood of any incidents re-occurring

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager continually draws on specialist knowledge and current research to improve the quality of care. This includes using sensory profiling to support children’s moves and exploring research related to supporting friendships for autistic children. Such approaches ensure that care is responsive, informed and continuously improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff know children well. She uses additional one-to-one discussions, supervision sessions and team meetings to focus on each child who stays at the home. This promotes reflective practice and strengthens staff confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides opportunities for families to develop their knowledge by hosting social events and inviting guest speakers. These events support families’ understanding of available resources and help them to feel equipped in meeting their children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is responsive to children’s needs and adapts resources accordingly. This includes using consistent bank staff to maintain continuity of care. The children in this setting, benefit from seeing familiar staff faces.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 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: SC406505 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector (lead) Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC406505 8 and inspects 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 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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Inspectors

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