Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 1 Registered provider: Leeds City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with all the children during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is currently vacant. However, a new manager has been in post since December 2025 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 2 December 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: 1223201 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2025 Full Good 20/08/2025 Full Inadequate 10/09/2024 Full Good 08/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making progress and benefit from stability and continuity of care provided by staff. Two children have lived in the home since the last inspection and have developed positive relationships with the staff. The home is not without incidents. However, when incidents occur, they are well managed. Staff and managers reflect on incidents and use learning to improve staff practice. This contributes to a reduction in the frequency of incidents. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted and demonstrates a clear commitment to the role. She is working with staff to embed a therapeutic and psychologically informed culture throughout the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The atmosphere in the home is relaxed, homely and friendly. Children can be heard laughing and joking with staff. Relationships between children and staff are positive and provide an important foundation for supporting children to make progress. Children trust staff and feel able to approach them for help and support when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand the world through thoughtfully planned individual sessions. Direct work is tailored to each child’s needs, stage of development and preferences. Children’s favourite animals or items are incorporated into their self-care and other plans. This helps them to engage, make progress and develop a greater sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned and risk assessed. Emergency stays are slowed down where possible to give children time to begin building relationships with staff. For one child, previously unknown risks meant that the home could not safely meet their needs. Staff worked hard to ensure that the child’s move from the home was positive and well supported, despite their stay being shorter than planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education attendance is identified by managers as an area for development. Staff are working with the relevant professionals to improve attendance and support children to engage more consistently in education. Incentive plans are in place to encourage progress and recognise children’s achievements. One child has completed their GCSEs and has secured a place at college, demonstrating positive progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All staff understand the importance of building and strengthening children’s family connections. One social worker said, ‘Lots of work has been completed to support [name of child]’s time with family.’ Staff recognise that positive relationships outside the home are important to children’s emotional wellbeing and future lives. They work to build and maintain these connections and help children develop relationships that can support them as they become young adults. Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 4

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

Children say they feel safe and trust staff. They know that they can go to them with any worries or concerns. They talk to staff about incidents that occur, which helps them to reflect on and learn from their experiences. There has been a reduction in incidents, which indicates that the support provided by the staff is having a positive effect on children’s behaviour and their ability to manage difficult situations.

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

Significant work has been carried out to reduce police call-outs to the home. Effective joint working with the police, and the introduction of an emergency services protocol, has reduced the need for police intervention in response to children’s behaviours. Staff’s confidence has increased, enabling them to respond more effectively and appropriately to incidents. This helps children to feel safe and secure with the adults who care for them.

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

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing. Return home interviews are carried out to understand where the child has been, the circumstances that led to their absence and whether there are any emerging safeguarding concerns. Individual safety plans are developed and reviewed to identify strategies to reduce the likelihood of further missing-from-home incidents. Staff use the positive relationships they have with children to encourage their safe return.

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

Children are supported to navigate and manage appropriate risks as they develop greater independence. This includes spending time safely in the community, using mobile phones and accessing the internet safely. In addition, children are helped to understand healthy and safe relationships, including consent, and what to do if they encounter unsafe people or situations. Staff provide children with age-appropriate guidance and opportunities to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to make safer choices.

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

Staff demonstrate effective professional curiosity when children make comments, ask questions or share information. They do not dismiss or overlook what children say and take time to explore the meaning and context of the views and experiences. This approach has helped staff to identify when children have needed additional help and support in relation to their experiences. Staff respond appropriately to emerging concerns, enabling children to feel listened to, understood and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and supporting staff. Professional feedback is consistently positive. One social worker said, ‘The home’s manager is clearly invested in [name of child], which has helped the child to invest and settle into the home.’ Another professional described the manager as a ‘motivational leader’ who promotes a psychologically informed approach, which is starting to become embedded across the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 5 The manager communicates with children using child-friendly language, demonstrating warmth and care and an understanding of their past trauma. She supports staff to develop these skills through guidance, reflection and opportunities to practise. As this approach becomes increasingly embedded, staff are encouraged to consider what this means for the children. The manager recognises the importance of a happy, consistent

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

staff team and the positive impact this has on children’s experiences and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions, with records evidencing detailed discussions and a genuine focus on their wellbeing and development. Supervision sessions support staff to reflect on practice, set clear targets and understand expectations and accountability. Staff speak positively about these sessions and feel that managers invest time in supporting their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a stable and dedicated staff team. Staff morale is high, and levels of sickness absence are low. Staff know the children well and demonstrate a commitment to meeting their individual needs. One professional said, ‘I am impressed by the professionalism, openness and commitment shown by the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

With support from the therapeutic social work team, compassion-focused formulations are used to help staff develop a deeper understanding of children’s needs and how their own responses and behaviours can affect children. Staff say that these sessions help them to feel validated and supported, enabling them to maintain their motivation to provide the best possible care for children, including during more challenging situations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1223201 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: 1223201 7

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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 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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