Children's home run by Leeds City Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 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

The home is owned by a local authority. It offers care for 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home, and both were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025.

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Inspection date: 4 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 20 November 2025

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Inspection date: 4 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 4 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2857691 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

Staff are developing positive relationships with children. Children have not lived at the home long but are beginning to trust staff. Staff aim to grow these relationships before further encouraging children to engage in therapeutic work.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. Managers completed thorough assessments before they moved in. This ensured that the home could meet their needs and helped children settle safely and smoothly.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff continue to promote children’s education, participation in activities and involvement in the local community. Children are beginning to consider their future aspirations and are exploring and developing their interests.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans set out how staff respond to safeguarding concerns, including allegations. Staff follow these procedures and work openly with professionals. Managers update risk assessments following incidents to reflect new information.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not needed to physically hold children since the last inspection. Children have behaviour support plans that reflect their histories and known needs. When incidents occur, staff review children’s behaviour and the response from staff. Learning from these reviews informs the monthly review of children’s plans. Records of incidents now use balanced and respectful language.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager seeks out training that reflects children’s needs. When children move into the home, managers identify additional training for staff where required. Some staff are still waiting to attend training on responding to self-harm. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs and share information with children in ways they understand.

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Findings from the inspection

The deputy manager is able to navigate systems and produce accurate oversight of the home and progress of children. Documentation is reviewed in a timely way, and the frequency of audits has increased since the last inspection. There are examples where monitoring systems have allowed managers to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all requirements or the recommendation raised at the last inspection were evidenced as fully met, and have therefore been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 21 December 2026

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 21 December 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 5 research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(g)(i)(ii))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place for notifying relevant people, within an appropriate time frame, of any serious incidents. This system should also outline the actions to be taken if such events occur at weekends or on public holidays. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2857691 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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