Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company and was registered in November 2017. The statement of purpose states the home provides a residential therapeutic community which provides high-quality care and substitute parenting for children who display problematic behaviour. The organisation operates a registered school on the same site. The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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:

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Information about this visit

 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. Assurance visit report: 1263129 2

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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.

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The care of children

The young people received very suitable education during the period of COVID-19, mainly due to the school being on site, which has resulted in minimal disruption. The young people especially enjoyed the one-to-one teaching they experienced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those young people who attend schools in the community, resources were provided by the educational establishments so they could continue with their chosen subjects. In addition, the on-site teachers supported the young people in applying for further education courses, which they successfully commenced in September 2020. Those young people not attending college are now back at school, settled and enjoying their education. There is a genuine, positive atmosphere in the home regarding education, with excellent attendance levels.

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The care of children

The staff have key discussions with the young people, including, for example, around the safe use of social media. The trust that the staff form with the young people can be seen in the warm relationships between them. The significant change in the staff team in recent months has had minimal impact on the young people. They have responded positively to the new staff, who have quickly formed warm and professional relationships with the young people.

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The care of children

The young people have had and continue to enjoy many activities, including beach trips, movie night, canoeing and a holiday to Suffolk where they saw different wildlife, including seals. All activities have been in accordance with the COVID-19 recommendations and Public Health England (PHE) guidance on social distancing. One young person said, `They [the staff] know what we like to do and give us new experiences.’

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The care of children

Access to health services has in the main been satisfactory. Access to specialist hospital appointments has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but the staff continuously follow up appointments. Access to and support from the children’s and adolescent mental health services has been mainly via telephone. In-house therapy provided by the two psychologists has enabled the young people to continue receiving one group and one individual therapy session each week. The on-site access to therapy is integral to the progress that the young people make.

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The safety of children

Significant work has been undertaken since the last visit to continue to improve and develop safeguarding measures at the home. In November and December 2019, the management team worked diligently to address a period of serious staff conduct concerns which they had uncovered. This resulted in child protection procedures being instigated and an independent safeguarding review being commissioned by Assurance visit report: 1263129 3 the responsible individual. Recommendations were made, and the independent reviewer returned in August 2020. Their report from the August 2020 visit showed that, in their opinion, there had been improvements made in the last few months.

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The safety of children

Significant changes seen during this assurance visit also include a decrease in the number of physical interventions and missing-from-home incidents. When they do occur, staff use the home’s chosen intervention methods appropriately, with scrutiny from managers. The staff follow appropriate protocols for the reporting of young people being missing.

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The safety of children

The staff’s improved safeguarding knowledge, identification of concerns and the management of safeguarding matters has ensured that the young people’s safety has remained a priority during the COVID-19 period.

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The safety of children

The registered manager has learned from the events of last year and the findings of the independent review. As a result, the registered manager has enhanced his knowledge in relation to partnership working with other agencies, action planning and escalation of concerns. In addition, he has gained an increased understanding of safeguarding procedures. There has been considerable reflection and learning from the incident in 2019 and this has brought about a shift in how staff and managers interact and operate with one another. Overall, the organisation has taken the findings of the review and subsequent learning from this incident across to other provisions it has.

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The safety of children

Much time and work has gone into ensuring staff understand, practice and uphold safe professional boundaries. The staff spoken to at this visit were very aware of what would be inappropriate behaviour by colleagues and were clear what action they would take should this occur. The reporting, recording and follow up when dealing with allegations against staff are sound. The registered manager and senior leaders will challenge external professionals when needed.

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The safety of children

The young people present with challenging behaviours. Over time, there has been a decrease in the number of missing-from-home and self-harm incidents. High levels of staffing enable close supervision, and this prevents any difficulties between individual young people, such as bullying and sexualised behaviours, from escalating. Self-harming and episodes of going missing from home increased following two new young people being admitted

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has managed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic well. Robust procedures are in place that meet the guidance from PHE.

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Leaders and managers

Requirements set at the last inspection have been positively addressed. Written accounts of child protection concerns are an accurate reflection of the incident, and staff act in accordance with the home’s child protection policy and report safeguarding concerns in a timely way. Staff have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to, involving and Assurance visit report: 1263129 4 responding to the young people they care for. Staff understand that they have a responsibility to observe, notice and respond to the young people who are expressing their views, acknowledging that it is not the sole responsibility of the child to ‘tell’.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has developed his knowledge and skills considerably in recent months. He is better able to identify risk and areas of contextualised safeguarding. He is a more confident leader.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager, with support from the deputy manager and responsible individual, has successfully managed the 50% turnover of the staff team. Half the staff team are qualified, and the rest are currently undertaking the appropriate qualification.

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Leaders and managers

The rapid period of change that the home has experienced has been well managed. The effectiveness of monitoring systems has improved significantly in recent months and this is reflective of the change that the home has experienced. Improved systems include tighter oversight and review by senior management, supported by the employment of a senior compliance and support services co-ordinator, who oversees data and provides an additional critical eye.

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Leaders and managers

All the staff receive the support of the manager and deputy manager. This has especially been the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff have been supportive of each other during the pandemic and ensured that all shifts have been covered. Training has been affected by COVID-19, although the staff have accessed in-house and online training and resources. The in-house psychologists add to the training for both young people and staff. They have introduced personal development meetings and training sessions where areas such as equalities, toxic masculinity, feminism, LGBTQ and human rights are discussed. In addition, new ‘process meetings’ are being introduced where individual staff behaviours are addressed. Supervision has taken place regularly and the registered manager ensures that he samples records to ensure consistency of delivery from all senior staff who undertake supervising duties.

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Leaders and managers

There are no requirements or recommendations made at this visit. Assurance visit report: 1263129 5

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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, Off Squirrel Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3GE

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Inspector

Liz Driver, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1263129 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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