Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 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 home. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children were spoken with during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant. A new manager has been appointed and has begun the Ofsted registration process. The new manager led the inspection.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2025 Full Inadequate 10/09/2024 Full Good 08/11/2023 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been clear and sustained improvements in the home since the last inspection. The home provides a calm and relaxed environment for children. Staff plan and structure their day effectively to ensure the smooth and consistent running of daily routines. One child said, ‘The staff are kind and caring.’ As a result, the homely, family- orientated atmosphere has been successfully re-established since the last full inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress. One child is doing well in school, and, when barriers to attendance arise, staff provide effective encouragement to help the child return to education. The child speaks positively about their experiences, particularly enjoying activities such as trampolining and activity parks. One child who is new to the home is settling well, forming some positive relationships and engaging with the home’s positive behaviour and incentive scheme.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when moving on from the home. One child experienced a positive and carefully planned ending. This included a leaving party and a weekend celebrating activities they enjoy, such as visiting their favourite TV show set and watching aeroplanes take off. The staff ensured a month-long plan for the move, with visits to the child’s new home, overnight stays, support on their moving day and continued contact afterwards. This reflects the care and consistency displayed in most families. This practice ensured that the child experienced a positive ending to their time living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend increased time with their families and loved ones. Family members speak positively about the help they and their children receive. Staff prioritise maintaining these important connections from the very start. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the value that family relationships hold for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence plans for children extend beyond practical skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and laundry. Staff also help children understand how to feel emotionally safe and prepare for challenges such as loneliness, which is a realistic concern as they approach adulthood and prepare to leave local authority care.

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

Developments and change in the home have led to clear progress. One child who has lived in the home since before the last inspection said the home now feels ‘much safer’. Staff also report feeling safer at work, experiencing higher morale and feeling well supported in their roles. This is contributing to greater consistency of care, which in turn strengthens the children’s overall sense of security.

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

Staff work closely with children to help them understand and manage difficult situations. Staff have meaningful conversations with the children. This helps children to reflect on Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 4 any incidents, understand their thoughts and feelings, and why the incident may have happened. Children are also helped to consider what support could reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again. This is building children’s resilience and reducing incidents.

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

Episodes of children going missing from the home have reduced. If a child does leave unexpectedly or does not return at the expected time, staff are proactive in searching for them. All safety protocols are followed, and the child’s family, friends and the police are contacted in line with their safety plan. Children are welcomed home on their return, ensuring they are safe. Follow-up discussions take place with the child to understand what happened from their perspective. Additional safety plans are implemented to support staff in managing any future incidents.

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

Staff use incentives effectively to promote positive behaviour in the home. Children are supported to set small, yet achievable weekly goals. Children are making progress against these goals, which helps them build confidence and a sense of achievement. Overall, this approach is encouraging positive behaviours and supporting the children’s increased coping skills and self-esteem.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the home and has worked hard to develop it. She has focused on rebuilding staff confidence and promoting teamwork. This is helping to provide consistency of care for the children. The manager understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has clear plans to continue improving the home, and the care provided. Her main priority is ensuring that the home’s model of care and therapeutic practices are fully embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager role models the home’s model of care. She is experienced in working in line with this approach and supports staff in developing their understanding and practice. Staff report that this guidance is helping them improve their knowledge and skills. They also recognise how this approach benefits the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children’s voices are captured to inform practice. This is evident through children’s meetings, weekly consultations and children’s self-reviews of their progress against their goals. The manager knows the children well, and they speak positively about her. One child said, ‘She is kind, and she listens to us.’ This recognition and responsiveness is valued and important for the children’s sense of being heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes thorough investigations into any allegations or staff practice concerns. She works closely with the local authority designated officer to ensure that all safeguarding procedures are followed. Appropriate action is taken in every case, and children are fully informed of the outcomes in a child-sensitive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff performance and practice are reviewed in reflective supervision sessions. Children’s progress, well-being and engagement with the home’s routines and incentive schemes Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 5 are also discussed to ensure that children’s needs are consistently met. These monitoring systems support ongoing development in the home and help maintain a safe, stable and nurturing environment for all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection.

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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: 1223201 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 7 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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