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

Assurance visit report: SC023637 1 SC023637

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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 eight children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it operates as a therapeutic community for children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is available on site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 10 September 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC023637 2

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The care of children

The children are currently settled in the home and show emotional attachment to staff. Children have all successfully returned to school and are settling into the new academic year. The staff are knowledgeable and responsive to the needs and vulnerabilities of the children.

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The care of children

The summer was a very unsettled time for the children. Several factors combined to make them feel unsure and less secure. These included several changes to the staff team, the start of major refurbishment to the home, and a new child arriving, as well as the restrictions and uncertainties posed by COVID-19.

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The care of children

The records clearly show, and the staff confirm, that there was a significant increase in harmful and potentially harmful behaviour by the children as they displayed feelings of frustration and insecurity during the summer.

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The care of children

Some children struggled to understand and embrace the guidelines imposed in response to COVID-19, and the sometimes unpredictable behaviour of some children made outings in the community difficult. The children were nevertheless able to have regular outdoor activities away from the home.

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The care of children

Necessary adjustments and arrangements were made so that the children were able to maintain regular and meaningful time with their families. These arrangements have been adapted as restrictions have changed.

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The care of children

The children have shown a substantial decrease in unsettled behaviour in recent weeks, and a child who recently moved in has settled quickly. His placing social worker complimented staff for the sensitive and careful way that they have introduced him to the home and to those who live and work there.

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The safety of children

The physical safety and protection of the children has been maintained throughout this challenging period. Incidents when the well-being or safety of the children may have been placed at risk, have been handled according to required procedures and properly recorded. There have been no incidents of children going missing or being exposed to harm during this period.

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The safety of children

However, staff have struggled to maintain consistency and continuity of care, particularly during the summer. Routines and structures were not effectively followed. This undermined the children’s feelings of safety and security. These aspects of children’s care have improved and concerns in this regard have lessened significantly.

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The safety of children

The risks and vulnerabilities of the children are understood, and plans to guide staff to manage these are clear. Staff display a caring and protective attitude towards the children and were observed as being attuned to children’s wishes and feelings. Assurance visit report: SC023637 3 The health and safety aspects associated with the ongoing refurbishments to the home have been adequately managed by leaders and managers. There has been insufficient attention paid to how the effects of the daily disruptions and changes on the children can be minimised. This requires immediate attention.

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Leaders and managers

Strong and clear leadership by the registered manager has been lacking. This is particularly indicated by slippage around staff supervision, keeping training up to date and in maintaining staff cohesion. There has also been a lack of grip in managing the home’s refurbishment program, from the perspective of children. There have also been several incidents of staff indiscipline and misconduct during this period, some of which have been inadequately handled.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has elected to step down, and a new manager is in the process of being appointed. While structure and administration have slipped, the registered manager has managed to remain focused on the care, safety and well- being of the children throughout this period.

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Leaders and managers

Pre-existing vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the staff team, and its leadership, have been exacerbated by the takeover of the home by a large organisation, the refurbishment programme, COVID-19 restrictions, and the conversion from paper records to an electronic system.

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Leaders and managers

A range of staffing issues, including sickness, resignations and staff shortages, have destabilised the team. This contributed significantly to the period of unsettled behaviour by the children. The reports by the independent visitor to the home have provided little clarity about some of the specific concerns that have arisen in this regard.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have meaningfully reflected on this unsettled period and have taken steps to address identified issues. They have secured individual clinical support for staff and sought additional oversight to help identify weaknesses in the service. The staff team has been refreshed with some new staff and recruitment is ongoing.

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Leaders and managers

The lapses in staff discipline and professional conduct have been addressed through the introduction of a code of conduct to which staff adhere to. Furthermore, an early warning monitoring system for identifying any drop in standards of staff conduct has also been implemented.

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Leaders and managers

Staff who spoke showed positivity around their roles and the future of the service, as well as demonstrating they cared strongly about the progress and well-being of the children. Assurance visit report: SC023637 4

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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— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) Specifically, that staff are fully equipped to support children through the refurbishments to the home. 22/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 22/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 22/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC023637 5 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(c)) 22/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must use reasonable endeavours to ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) In particular, ensure that conclusions are well-founded and that any concerns are clearly explained. 22/12/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

John Pledger, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC023637 6 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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