Children's Home run by Parallel Parents Ltd in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 1 Registered provider: Parallel Parents Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living at the home and 3 were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 25.

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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

Date of last inspection: 25 February 2025

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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: 2779767 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have made clear progress since moving into the home. Children benefit from steady routines, well ‑ defined expectations, and a consistent daily structure, all of which help them feel secure and settled. Staff develop warm, responsive relationships with the children, who say they feel safe, appreciated, and well supported in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education remains an important strength at the home. One child’s move to a new school has been highly successful, resulting in improved academic outcomes, peer relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Similar scrutiny has been applied to another’s child’s educational arrangements. The manager has effectively challenged the limitations of 1:1 tuition, and has been proactive in securing education that meets the child’s wider developmental needs. Although early days, staff have demonstrated professional persistence to ensure the child receives appropriate provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain strong, positive relationships with professionals and families, and are highly regarded by those spoken to. One social worker described the home as a ‘very natural, warm, loving, nurturing setting’, noting staff’s commitment to the child. A parent similarly emphasised the importance of staff’s understanding of their child and the sense of safety staff provide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although notice was served on one child after a short period, this decision was made in the best interests of the child and to safeguard others. Staff supported the child to leave positively and ensured their voice was heard. Despite a period of turbulence, staff consistently prioritised the needs of all children, meaning they remained safe, supported, and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff routinely record any interactions with children and document their daily experiences. However, some entries are unnecessary or duplicate information found elsewhere. In addition, the home does not currently provide child ‑ friendly care plans to support children’s understanding of their care and future planning. Although children and staff are familiar with the existing plans and are consulted regularly, the lack of accessible care plans limits children’s ability to contribute meaningfully and have their views fully represented. Despite this, staff demonstrate strong commitment to listening to children and ensuring their experiences are central to practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual preferences and are suitably decorated for their ages. However, one area of damage within the home has not been suitably addressed, which impacts the overall standard of that part of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 4

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture among staff in the home. Staff engage in regular discussions with children on how to keep themselves safer. Staff also reflect on incidents, and complete relevant training to ensure their practice is informed by risks effecting each individual child. Positive behaviour is actively promoted through incentive schemes that allow children to influence decisions. The use of consequences is minimal and proportionate.

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

Procedures for managing incidents where children have been missing from the home are effective and well-coordinated. Staff responses are tailored to each child’s age and needs. When children do go missing, staff act promptly and calmly to reduce risks. Police involvement is requested only when required, and staff maintain good partnership working with local police to support children’s safe return. Children are offered independent return-home interviews and opportunities to discuss incidents with staff to inform future practice.

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

Physical interventions are used infrequently and only by appropriately trained staff. Staff know the children well and use de-escalation techniques effectively to support them during moments of upset. When physical intervention is required, it is used solely as a last resort, proportionately, and for the shortest time needed. Children are supported to reflect on incidents and to identify how they wish staff to help them in future. The children’s responses reduce reoccurrences of physical interventions and ensure their voices shape staff responses.

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

The home follows safer recruitment procedures. Comprehensive reference and background checks are completed for all staff. This ensures their suitability to work with children.

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

Risk assessments are detailed, child specific, and easy to follow, providing clear guidance for staff on managing individual behaviours. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of these plans, and incident records show that they respond consistently and in line with each child’s assessed needs. However, the use of door alarms on children’s bedrooms is not reflected within individual plans and is not routinely evaluated in relation to each child’s presenting risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains a strong and consistent presence in the home. They demonstrate enthusiasm, drive, and a commitment to delivering high-quality care. The manager leads by example, offering stability and support to staff. Their practice is consistently child-focused, with children’s views and progress central to decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes effective multi agency partnership working and has built positive professional relationships with those involved in the children’s lives. The manager appropriately challenges external decisions or when care plans that do not meet the Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 5 expected standards. This ensures each child receives the required level of care and contributes to sustained positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is up to date, with specialist training provided to staff to meet children’s individual and unique needs. Where external training is unavailable, the manager uses team meetings to enhance staff knowledge. Team meetings are also used to reinforce children’s care plans and ensure staff remain informed about each child’s circumstances and any updates. This supports staff to provide tailored, meaningful care and equips them to respond to children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are delivered in both individual and group formats, each serving distinct but complementary functions. Individual supervision sessions focus on staff development, knowledge, and practice. Group supervision focuses on children’s wellbeing, progress, and team-based problem solving. Combined, these approaches provide strong support for both staff and children. They create safe spaces to discuss challenges and promote collaborative improvements to practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager adopts a reflective and proactive approach to learning. They draw understanding from incidents and significant events. This includes issues arising from recent referrals, and uses these insights to inform future practice. The manager encourages staff learning through incident reviews, team discussions, and evaluations, which consistently highlight key learning points. This approach supports continuous improvement across the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a nurturing environment that is homely is provided for children. In particular, ensure that any damage to the home is fixed promptly and in keeping with a homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that any decisions to modify the environment of the home must only be made where it is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and kept under regular review. In particular, the registered person should ensure that the need for the activation of door alarms on children’s bedrooms is regularly assessed and is in line with each child’s presenting risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15,

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Recommendations

paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure the home works in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. In particular, the registered person should ensure that the child has a child friendly care plan that they can access and contribute to regularly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 20, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, the registered person should ensure that information

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Recommendations

recorded about the child is purposeful, with the intent to support the child’s understanding of their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2779767 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parallel Parents Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road Heaviley, Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2779767 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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