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

Assurance visit report: SC425071 1 SC425071

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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. 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 January 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 5 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:

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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: SC425071 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 staff have successfully mitigated the impact of restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. The on-site school ensured that normal routines continued, and the children said that lockdown did not make a big difference to them. However, some children said that they missed certain activities such as badminton and going to the cinema. Staff have worked hard to replicate activities in the home where possible.

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The care of children

Children have experienced a range of staffing changes and many different staff working in the home. This has affected children’s ability to build and maintain trusting and secure relationships with staff. Leaders and managers have, however, been able to maintain a small core staff team through this period, and this has provided some stability for the children.

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The care of children

The children have been quite unsettled at times during this period. However, more recently, disruptive incidents have reduced, and the home is becoming more settled. A child who has recently moved in said that the staff have been welcoming and kind and have helped them through a very difficult change in their life. The child’s social worker is very complimentary about the way in which the manager and the staff team have responded to the child’s needs.

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The care of children

The staff speak about the children with knowledge, insight and care. They show an awareness of the children’s long-term needs and prepare them for their likely next steps. Staff make skilled use of therapeutic interventions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children.

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The care of children

The children’s continued contact with their families was prioritised when lockdown was imposed, and the relevant technologies were applied to make this possible. Contact arrangements have been adjusted as restrictions have changed.

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The safety of children

The staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities associated with each child and management plans provide clear guidance to staff in how to best manage these.

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The safety of children

The significant staff changes during this period have affected the continuity of the children’s care and maintenance of clear and consistent boundaries. At times, staff have needed to make special efforts to keep all the children safe. However, most situations have been successfully managed and any significant harm prevented.

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The safety of children

More recently, staff have been more consistent in providing care and are using more effective approaches to manage children’s behaviour. This has resulted in the children becoming more settled. Assurance visit report: SC425071 3 On the rare occasions that children go missing, the response of the staff is urgent and comprehensive, and efforts are maintained until children are found and safeguarded.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have not always ensured that there is consistency and continuity of staffing. This is due to various challenges, including the loss of key staff and organisational changes. The pressures of COVID-19 have also affected how the home has been managed over the last few months.

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Leaders and managers

The holding of regular, appropriately focused team meetings has suffered and at times communication between managers and staff, as well as between staff, has been poor. Some staff have felt overly pressured and have struggled with the behaviour of the children. Some staff have regularly worked excessive hours.

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Leaders and managers

Regular supervision of the core staff team has been maintained and this has alleviated some of the pressures for individual members of staff. Additional external support for staff has also been made available.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and her team work collaboratively with external agencies and are responsive to the guidance and direction they receive. Requirements around notifications to Ofsted and specific safeguarding practice, made at the last inspection, have been met.

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Leaders and managers

There has been recent, new recruitment and further additional staff are in the process of being recruited. The current leadership team, consisting of the registered manager, the deputy manager and responsible individual, is not currently working together as an effective team. This is hindering the development of a cohesive team that is both confident and competent in providing high-quality care and maintaining consistent structure and clear boundaries for the children.

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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 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. 20 January 2021 Assurance visit report: SC425071 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(d)(e))

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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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Inspectors

John Pledger, Social Care Inspector Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC425071 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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