Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Kent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met both of the previous requirements set at the last inspection. The manager and organisation have put in a wealth of measures to ensure that the levels of experience and skills of staff meet the needs of each child. Training courses, self-reflection tools and management tools such as probation meetings have been used to good effect. Staff’s development is a clear priority for the manager and a clear pathway for her succession, as well as for other senior roles, is available. Several staff members are being supported to develop either for promotion or to fulfil their current roles. Staff say, ‘The team has got better… and everyone is making a positive effort and getting on as a team’, ‘it’s so much nicer now agency staff aren’t being used as much’ and ‘the support is second to none, tremendous really’. New staff are encouraged to bring new ideas to the home. One successful idea is the praise box, which can be used by anyone to record a positive

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

note of praise for anyone else. Examples include ‘being the role model today… well done’ and ‘doing so well at swimming and improving so much’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regarding the requirement to treat each child with dignity and respect, further training and the sourcing of advanced training for some staff have been beneficial. All staff, including the newest, now feel empowered to challenge any inappropriate comments. The manager has effectively used the staff disciplinary route and a performance management plan to benefit staff’s understanding. 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

The registered manager has met three of the four previous recommendations set at the last inspection. The location risk assessment now assesses the home’s locality individually for each young person. All the home’s risk assessments match up to ensure the identification of clear strategies, which enable the home to work with other agencies in the strategic management of risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The practice of using a front door alarm has been reviewed and removed from the home. Physical holds are used only as a last resort and in order to safeguard individuals. Management monitoring of restraints demonstrates the trends and patterns of potential triggers. All reports now highlight any injuries. Staff have completed report writing training and the home’s records now benefit from being more consistently and carefully completed. The unmet recommendation is remade at this inspection. The home has all but one child’s local authority paperwork, who arrived in December 2016. The manager has chased this and has been told that the local authority ‘does not have a placement plan as such’. This requires further escalation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three young people were enabled to move on and two new children have joined the home. Feedback from a professional involved stated, ‘I think it is obvious that the home is focused upon the needs of the young people. It has successfully created an atmosphere which is therapeutic and homely. It has been a pleasure to work alongside such professionals.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A particular strength of the home is its promotion of education. Each child has full attendance and engages well when at school. School reports demonstrate that all children have improved their educational levels. For all the children, this is excellent progress. Children at the home are enjoying planning Red Nose Day events. Allegations are shared promptly with relevant partner agencies, including Ofsted. Strategy discussions take place to consider multi-agency concerns following any allegations against staff members, and in-house strategies are reviewed following each event. The staff team is secure in its awareness and understanding of each child’s needs as well as potential anxiety triggers. Staff work hard to consider and address the children’s presenting and underlying needs. This has led to a reduction in concerning behaviours, such as incidents leading to the use of restraints for some children and episodes of going missing from care. Children go missing rarely,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with the last incident being in December 2016. Staff members follow local authority missing from home protocols. Missing children receive well-coordinated responses. When a child is missing, staff search the local areas and inform relevant agencies. Children are suitably welcomed back and supported on their return. The home has strengthened its links with other professionals including the Local Safeguarding Children Board, the youth service, the police and voluntary organisations. These are used to good effect to increase the opportunities for young people to overcome previous experiences, to widen the range of activities available to them and to manage, and sometimes reduce, risks. 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 needs of the home using internal audits as well

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

as external factors such as previous inspections and the independent visitor’s reports.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Education is available on-site.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/05/2016 Full Good 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/08/2015 Full Good 21/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the local authority regularly consults the child and the home about the child's relevant plans. In particular, by ensuring that the home has the up-to date-plans necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.1)

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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 looked after children 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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