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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC023637 1 SC023637

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Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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

There has been no registered manager at the home since 2 December 2020.

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This monitoring visit

In accordance with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely. The inspector held telephone conversations with the registered manager, the responsible individual, the staff and a parent. Professionals provided their views by email of how well children are cared for by staff. The inspector had a short video meeting with children and a virtual tour of the home. Relevant documents were emailed to the inspector and these were also considered. The inspector also considered issues from a recently received complaint.

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This monitoring visit

The staff assist children to make good progress. Children generally speak positively about how the staff care for them. One parent was pleased about how the staff had supported her child to develop; she can see the difference it has made for him in a short time.

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This monitoring visit

Nevertheless, managers’ decision to admit a child last autumn put inappropriate levels of strain on the staff team to meet all children’s needs. The completed impact assessment report took account of the needs of the other children living at the home. The impact assessment did not consider how the range of difficulties and changes that the home was facing at that time might impact on the staff’s overall ability to meet children’s needs. As a result, the staff say that they were very tired and demoralised at that time, finding it difficult to cope. It is a credit to the staff that they persevered, got through the difficult period last autumn, and successfully kept Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC023637 2 their focus appropriately on children’s safety and welfare. They have shown resilience and commitment to the children they care for.

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This monitoring visit

The numbers of staff on duty during the autumn of 2020 did not match children’s needs. Leaders and managers assessed that four of the five children living at the home required one-to-one staffing. They did not provide this level of staffing on many occasions between September 2020 and January 2021. Since 1 February 2021, appropriate staffing levels have been in place. During the monitoring visit, leaders and managers have committed to maintaining appropriate staffing levels from now on. Consequently, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that leaders and managers will consistently maintain appropriate staffing levels that meet children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have introduced positive changes since January 2021. The changes made to working patterns, recruitment of additional staffing and new management arrangements, have reduced pressure on staffing. Staff like the new working patterns and managerial arrangements. The staff say that they are well supported. Staff said that they can easily talk to the home’s leaders and managers, who make themselves readily available to staff and take their views into account appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

The new working patterns introduced in February 2021 are one example of how leaders and managers have listened to the staff and made changes appropriately. One staff said that the new working patterns are ‘revolutionary’ and that she has a better work/life balance since the new rotas have been introduced. The staff are positive about the changes the organisation is implementing at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff know how to safeguard children. They help children find more positive ways of managing their emotions, taking account of their views. The local authority designated officer reported that leaders and managers work with them effectively to protect children. A professional also stated in their email that:

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This monitoring visit

‘the staff are working closely with [name of child] to understand the triggers for his behaviours in order to predict incidents and keep him safe.’

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This monitoring visit

There is a wide staff training programme available, which staff say helps them to understand children’s needs. Most training has been completed online during the COVID-19 pandemic and, where possible, through face-to-face training, such as training about the home’s physical intervention programme and the therapeutic models which underpin the care provided. However, some long-serving staff have not completed training in acceptable timescales.

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This monitoring visit

The premises have been reorganised to provide a range of relevant spaces for children’s needs. Managers and staff noted the poor condition of the property prior to the refurbishment and how much better the changes meet children’s needs. The safety plan in place, while the home is being refurbished, has worked effectively and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC023637 3 safely. The plan has kept children and the staff well informed about the changes being made. For example, the ‘Make a house a home’ guide for children is a helpful visual aid for children to see how their home is improving.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment practice has improved since the last inspection. The two records reviewed showed that all checks are completed appropriately. The records, however, contained no evidence that the organisation providing the reference agreed for a member of their staff to provide the reference on their behalf. This may invalidate the reference provided.

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This monitoring visit

Some children’s records are well written and clear. However, some staff use language which is not helpful for children to understand what has occurred. For example, one record states a child was ‘heightened’.

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This monitoring visit

Four of the five requirements made at the last inspection are met in full. The requirement regarding leadership and management is mainly met. A new requirement is made asking managers to ensure that there are always enough staff on duty at the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/09/2019 Full Good 04/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/10/2018 Full Good 27/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that —

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to —

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d) 23 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children —

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure —

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all relevant issues are considered when deciding if a new child can come to live at the home. 23 March 2021

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC023637 5  The registered person should regularly check that all staff complete their training within acceptable timescales. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should, where appropriate, ensure that they obtain written confirmation that a person is providing a reference is doing so on behalf of the organisation that they work for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should review and develop the staff’s use of language in children’s records. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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

Ruth Coler, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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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Inspector

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