Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Dover

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the requirement set at the last inspection. The significant number of maintenance issues have now been rectified. There is new signage, a new outside tap and a dedicated fan to cool the medication room. Additionally, there are increased communal play items and educational resources, such as a large bookcase in the second lounge area. Children live in a safe environment. The internal areas are newly painted, using colours chosen by the children, and have large graffiti chalk areas. All necessary health and safety certification is in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met two of the three recommendations set at the last inspection. Regarding children’s feedback, in the home there is a wishes box and weekly children’s meetings allow children to participate in decision-making. The children now consistently receive prompt responses to the issues that they raise. This empowers children and supports their engagement. Regarding the workforce plan for specific roles to be given to staff, such as health, education or culture, there has now been additional training provided along with clear job descriptions. The manager ties this in with her workforce development plan, which assesses and monitors each staff member’s skills and further training needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regarding the third recommendation, regular staff supervision and annual appraisal have a focus on supporting staff to develop their working practice; supervision and appraisal also show evidence of professional challenge where practice is below the expected standard. New staff undertake a thorough induction programme to prepare them for their roles. However, training for staff remains inconsistent. The unmet recommendation is remade at this inspection as a requirement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, all the children have remained living at the home and one new child has joined the home. The new child has had a successful introduction to the home and has made friends here. The robust referrals process means that only children whose needs the home can effectively meet are accepted for placement. Matching risk assessments for new and existing children help to ensure placement stability and a settled environment for all. Several children are beginning to plan their future moves either back home or on to foster care. Staff work alongside families and the home’s therapists are commissioned to undertake family therapy work to aid children’s transitions home. One parent stated, ‘The home is always friendly, they care about my son; I always know what he is doing and they provide a safe structured environment for him.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff invest significant time with the children. Children develop dependable relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff ensure that they are available to spend one-to-one time with them upon their return from school, and actively support the children to develop their interests, such as arts and crafts. Children are developing outside friendships which are beneficial. Children are also more engaged with the wider community through these friendships, as well as by attending clubs, such as youth club, cricket and football. Children at the home have recently enjoyed raising money for Red Nose Day by doing a sponsored walk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A particularly clear strength of the home is its promotion of education. Children make significant progress in education; all attend school full time and have 100% attendance. Staff support children’s education through close communication with teachers, structured homework time and daily reading. All the children are engaging with learning and are making real progress from their starting points. School reports demonstrate that all children have improved their educational levels. For all the children, this is excellent progress. There have been no incidents of children leaving the home without permission, but procedures are in place to ensure that staff take appropriate action to protect the child and ensure their safe return should such an event occur. Allegations are shared with relevant partner agencies, including Ofsted, promptly. One incident that was dealt with verbally via the on-call system was not checked against the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

written record or with the staff member receiving the allegation, which resulted in a miscommunication. This was found through external monitoring of the home by the independent visitor. The home has undertaken various measures to ensure that this incident is learned from and internal processes have been implemented and reflected upon. However, not all staff have attended safeguarding training or training in how to counter child sexual exploitation. Consequently, not all staff are fully up to date with current practice in this area of work, and the home’s personnel monitoring system is not correct or able to highlight those staff. Additionally, agency workers are not signed up to the home’s safeguarding policy. The registered manager comprehensively monitors the quality of the care that the children receive and is quick to identify where improvement is necessary. She is able to prioritise the development of the home using internal audits as well as

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

external factors, such as previous inspections and independent visitor scrutiny.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight children or young people who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties. Therapy is available to all children and young people if required. There is a registered school on site, with additional facilities in a linked setting nearby.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/09/2016 CH – Full (aligned) Good 23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 28/06/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate that a child is in any way at risk of harm. In particular, the registered person should ensure that agency staff have signed up to the home’s safeguarding policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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