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

Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have a variety of complex needs and who are aged seven to 17. A private provider operates the home. The registered manager is suitably experienced and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management

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Inspection date: 28 February 2020

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2019

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Inspection date: 28 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was last inspected in September 2019. Four requirements were made. The manager has taken action to address three of the four requirements. During this inspection, one requirement was repeated and two recommendations were raised. The manager has acted to ensure that children and young people are safe and protected from accessing inappropriate DVDs and video games. For example, staff now have a code to access the Sky channels for children and young people. This ensures that they have access to age-related programmes. Food is now stored safely in the fridge. Appropriate labelling and storage keep food free from becoming contaminated. This reduces any potential risk to anyone accessing the food. Staff have ensured that any electronic equipment used in the children and young people’s bedrooms is free from trailing wires. This protects children and young people against hazards such as trips and falls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff inform children and young people in advance of using any door monitoring device. This ensures that children and young people understand why the devices are used and that they are there to help to keep children and young people safe. The manager responds in writing to children and young people following his investigation into complaints. This informs children and young people of the outcome and gives them confidence that they are being listened to. The manager relies on his administration team to provide Ofsted with an updated version of any changes to the statement of purpose. Although a copy was seen during the inspection, the changes to staffing have not been shared with Ofsted. This requirement was raised again. Children and young people continue to benefit from care delivered by a skilled and stable staff team. Staff understand and meet children and young people’s needs well. Relationships are developing well between the children and young people, but at

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

times they bicker and fall out. Staff are not always consistent in their approach to managing this issue and this does not help the children and young people to develop empathy towards each other at times of difficulty. Children and young people’s education outcomes are mixed. For example, two children are now attending school. Significant progress has been made given their individual starting points. Two young people have experienced some difficulties accessing education and are helped by staff to attend school and alternative provision despite their barriers to learning. However, when young people are not Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 3 attending school, staff do not always provide planned and structured activities during the school day. This does not help to prepare these young people to return to full-time education. The manager has improved the interior décor of the home environment in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

consultation with children and young people. As a result, there is a more nurturing and welcoming feel to the home. Staff’s creative and innovative skills help to promote children’s health. For example, to encourage a child to wear his glasses, a book has been created by staff that illustrates the importance of people wearing glasses to be able to see clearly. As a result, children and young people overcome stigmas that discourage them from wearing glasses. The manager has safely recruited one new staff member. Safe recruitment checks ensure that new staff are safe to work with children and young people. Children and young people learn how to manage behaviour that places them at risk of harm. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour that require the use of physical intervention are reducing. Furthermore, children and young people feel safe in the home and do not go missing. Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 5

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must— notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(1)(3)(b)) 31/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. The development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home should be central to the ethos of the home and support the development of

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Recommendations

secure attachments that, where appropriate, persist over time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.11)

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Information about this inspection

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

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, Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 6 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: 2497156 7

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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, Leicestershire LE11 3GE

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2497156 8 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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Inspector

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