Children's home run by Compass Children‟s Homes Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a privately owned children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: First inspection

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home requires improvement to be good because

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people’s admissions are not carefully planned. Staff are not equipped with Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 2 essential details to be able to meet young people’s needs and keep them safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 A new young person arrived to a bedroom that was not clean or welcoming.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not ensure that young people’s care plan records hold all the required information about their care.  Ofsted has not been notified of allegations against staff.  One staff member has not obtained the level 3 qualification in residential childcare within the regulatory timescale.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Over half of the members of the staff team do not have any qualification or experience in working with young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not ensure that risk assessments are kept up to date to reflect vulnerabilities.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Managers and staff value the views and opinions of the young people in their care.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have tailored education packages that meet their individual learning needs.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There is a warmth in the relationship between the staff and the young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are supported to develop life skills through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as cooking and DIY.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are encouraged by staff to take part in leisure activities, both inside the home and in the community.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff look for young people when they go missing and make sure that young people are made welcome when they return home. Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 3

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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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(2)(c)(i)) 05/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the care is delivered by a person who has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. (Regulation 6(3)(c)(i)) 05/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the level 3 diploma for residential childcare or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. (Regulation 32(4)(a)(b)) 05/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child that include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. The records must be kept up to date, and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(a)) 05/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 05/09/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 4

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improvement to be good

New admissions are not always carefully planned. For example, one young person was due to move into the home the day before the inspection, but the bedroom was not ready. It was dirty and another young person’s belongings were still in the room. In addition to this, staff did not have all the necessary information about the new young person. For instance, they did not know basic information such as the young person’s name. This lack of preparation means that new young people are not assured a safe and well-planned admission.

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improvement to be good

Staff demonstrate that they place value on the views and opinions of the young people. For example, staff encourage young people to get involved in key-working sessions and young people’s meetings. Young people also have access to an advocate. This gives young people someone independent to approach for help. One young person has attended a consultation meeting with the directors of the organisation to share her thoughts about what she wants to see develop in the home. Young people have also been encouraged to complete consultations questionnaires.

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improvement to be good

Young people have tailored education packages that meet their individual learning needs. The new manager has not been afraid to challenge the school if he feels decisions are not made in the best interests of the young person. For example, the manager has challenged teaching staff about how they manage a young person’s behaviour. This intervention has enabled the young person to engage in education.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage young people to take part in leisure activities, both inside the home and in the community. For example, young people go boxing, enjoy pamper evenings and help to care for horses. These varied opportunities enable young people to try out different activities and to develop their social skills.

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improvement to be good

Young people have warm, trusting relationships with core members of staff. Core staff understand young people and the reasons for their behaviours. Staff offer hugs and reassurance. This helps young people to invest in their placement and to feel secure.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that young people receive all the practical support they need to keep in contact with people who are important to them. For example, staff will stay close by to offer support if needed. As a result, young people continue to have their families in their lives.

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improvement to be good

Young people are supported to develop independence skills at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. Young people develop skills, such as being able to assemble flat-pack furniture, polish and hoover and they can prepare simple meals. These opportunities enable young people to take on appropriate levels of responsibility to develop life skills for Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 5 the future.

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improvement to be good

Some young people do not have up-to-date risk assessments. For example, one young person has been bullied. Although staff took action to address the bullying, her risk assessment was not updated to reflect this additional vulnerability. Another young person did not have a healthcare plan, despite being on prescribed medication. Care planning records are conflicting. For example, one young person’s care plan states that she does not have any free time. However, another care plan for the same young person stated that she has one hour of free time. Shortfalls in care planning leave staff ill-informed about young people’s individual care needs and without the guidance necessary to keep them safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff are not always consistent in their management of young people’s behaviour. The new manager has put in place guidelines for both the staff and young people. This includes visual prompts to help staff. The manager recognises that this new approach to behaviour management is still in its infancy and that it will take time for the young people to accept it.

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improvement to be good

Referrals of concern are promptly shared with both the placing and hosting local authorities. However, on one occasion, there was a delay in the necessary paperwork being sent through, and on two occasions, the manager has failed to notify Ofsted of significant events.

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improvement to be good

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours have decreased since their admission. One social worker told the inspector that, ‘The staff are good at managing risks while balancing independence skills.’

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improvement to be good

Young people have gone missing from home. Staff have followed the ‘missing from care’ protocols. This includes staff making every effort to locate the young person. Young people are debriefed after they return home. This helps staff to understand the reasons why a young person might choose to go missing. Staff actions reassure young people that staff care about them and want them to be safe.

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improvement to be good

Managers have worked hard to build up relationships with the local police. This collaborative working has enabled good partnership so that young people are protected from harm. Staff are trained in understanding the indicators of child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Staff apply this knowledge to help to keep young people safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff carry out regular health and safety checks. These include fire drills to help ensure that young people know what to do in case of an emergency. Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager left in June 2017. A new manager joined in July and is in the process of submitting an application to Ofsted to be the registered manager. He holds the level 5 qualification in leadership and management and has previously been registered as a manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since March, young people have seen changes in staff, which has caused some instability in their care. This is starting to improve, with new staff recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A number of staff are not competent and they lack experience. For example, one staff member has not obtained the level 3 qualification in residential childcare within the regulatory timescale. Over half of the staff team do not have any qualifications or experience of working with young people. This lack of experience means that young people have staff caring for them who have not achieved a recognised qualification in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. He has made a number of improvements in the short time he has been in post. This includes putting in place more consistent boundaries, safe recruitment and a plan to celebrate cultures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff do have some training opportunities. For example, staff receive training in first aid, safe administration of medication and understanding domestic violence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The statement of purpose clearly demonstrates the aims and objectives of the home. This helps parents or placing authorities to have a clear understanding of the service’s aims.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: 1247765 7 Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mountfields House, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3GE

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1247765 9 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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Inspector

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