Children's home run by Bayleaf Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 1 Registered provider: Bayleaf Care Limited

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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 privately owned and provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home and spent time with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2025. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened. He is suitably experienced and is working towards a leadership and management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered school attached to the home. This is registered separately and was not inspected as part of this 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff ensure that children’s experiences of moving into the home are positive. For example, they arrange for children to spend time with staff before moving into the home, and they give children the opportunity to choose items for their bedrooms and help them to personalise their room. This helps children to feel valued and settle quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend a school that is part of the same organisation and located on the same site as this home. There is good partnership working between staff and education professionals. Some children’s attendance and engagement in education have improved significantly since moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families are welcomed into the home by staff, who promote time between children and their loved ones. They also provide practical support. For example, they provide transport to ensure that children can meet with people who are important to them. Managers have explained the home’s therapeutic model to the parent of one child, and this has strengthened that parent’s understanding of how to use this effectively with the child. One parent said, ‘The level of care they give is incredible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak proudly about children’s achievements and consistently offer verbal praise. Interactions between staff and children are warm and nurturing. There is lots of laughter. Children said that they liked living in the home and liked staff. These positive relationships contribute to an environment where children feel emotionally secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress from their starting points. Staff help them to develop their independence skills. As a result, one child is now able to choose their own clothing and dress independently. Children are also encouraged to help with preparing and cooking their favourite meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are lots of opportunities for children to take part in activities inside and outside of the home. Some children go horse riding and enjoy swimming. One child has had a friend over to play games and children attend social events. This provides children with opportunities to have fun and make friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attended routine medical appointments and are supported to maintain good sleep routines, eat healthily and exercise. However, for one child, historical seizure activity is not fully understood and plans for managing this are unclear. In addition, one child’s health assessment review is required, and this has not been sufficiently escalated by the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 3

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

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of children’s individual risks and respond effectively when children are unhappy. They engage children in meaningful conversations about personal safety, including online risks, and help them to explore their feelings and emotions. This helps children to feel understood and helps them to make safer choices.

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

When physical intervention is required, it is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Managers have oversight of all physical interventions and review the appropriateness and effectiveness of these. There are visual communication supports available to children, which help staff gain children’s views and feelings. Additionally, managers speak with staff to help them reflect and explore strategies to help children.

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

Some children are vulnerable to hurting themselves. Staff are vigilant and implement guidance contained in children’s risk assessments and support plans. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately and ensure that the child’s health and wellbeing is monitored.

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

Staff understand the importance of keeping children safe. They are confident in raising concerns and understand how to escalate concerns should they need to, including using the whistleblowing process. There have been no allegations against staff who work in the home.

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

The manager has recognised that where children have communication difficulties, it may be difficult for them to raise a complaint or concern. As a result, children have access to a visual complaints system, which aids their ability to share any worries or concerns they may have.

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

There has been one medication error which has occurred in the home. This was appropriately escalated and thoroughly investigated. Appropriate actions were taken to ensure the child’s wellbeing was supported. Changes have been made to the home records to prevent a reoccurrence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager and deputy manager. They understand the home’s strengths and weaknesses and speak passionately about the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel happy, supported and valued in their role. One staff member said, ‘Managers are visible, approachable and child focused.’ As a result, children receive consistent, nurturing care from a stable and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision takes place monthly for all staff. This provides them with opportunities to discuss how they are feeling and share any worries they may have. This helps to create an open and honest culture. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 4 Managers understand the importance of building relationships with children’s families and professionals. They have established strong relationships with them. Feedback is unanimously positive about the care provided for children. One social worker said, ‘The staff are great. There is good communication and multi-agency working.’ This strengthens children’s support network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have monitoring systems in place to help them review the quality of care children receive. However, these systems are not always effective. For example, some staff have not completed allocated training, and some damage to the home’s environment has not been addressed in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that monitoring systems are effective, that all children have the required health reviews, that staff are completing relevant training, and that any damages to the home’s environment are addressed in a timely manner. 29 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. The child’s plans must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day- to-day basis. This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s historical seizure activity is fully understood and that plans are clear about how they will be managed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2819721 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bayleaf Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Bankside, The Watermark, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE11 9SY

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Inspector

Kirsty Truesdale, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2819721 8 regulates 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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