Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large national provider. It opened in February 2021. The statement of purpose states that the aim of the service is to provide substitute parenting for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since the home opened in February 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This setting shows a positive start. Children have been making good progress in the first few months since the home opened. The staff are supporting the children to find more productive ways to cope with their feelings of conflict and anger. In previous homes, some of the children caused considerable damage to their environments. On arriving here, the children are flooded with positivity and encouragement from the staff. Children can spend unsupervised time in the community safely and use their smartphones maturely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Staff support them to keep routine appointments and explain when and why specialist help is required. Staff follow the medication procedures so that children have the right medication at the right time. Staff encourage the children to engage with therapy that is best suited to their needs, such as art therapy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A particular strength of the staff is their approach to education. All children are in school. Children enjoy their learning and have plans for what they would like to do in the future. They demonstrate a commitment to realise their dreams, having excellent attendance at school. The registered manager advocates for additional learning experiences, including accredited qualifications outside the school curriculum.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy seeing others who are important to them, such as their parents and siblings. The registered manager ensures that staff are suitably trained in supervised contact so that such visits are a positive experience for all involved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a voice. They have a regular meeting at which staff listen to their views. As well as daily dialogue with staff, they have regular meetings with their key worker, which they find helpful. They can ask questions and explore issues such as their underlying feelings. In one case, a child realised the impact of his behaviour on staff and gave a written apology.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have started to form positive attachments to the staff. Children and staff alike enjoy warm and constructive relationships. A professional said that (name of child) has built a warm bond with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a wide range of activities such as rugby, ice-skating and going to the gym. They are highly motivated to look after their health and appearance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff introduce children to other cultures by using, for example, an interactive ‘culture map’ and holding themed cultural evenings. Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a good safeguarding culture in the home. Staff have a sound knowledge and understanding of each child’s history. Children have a trusted adult whom they can speak to. The open and transparent culture provides every opportunity for safeguarding children daily.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff support children to understand the impact of their behaviour on others. Keyworkers help children understand their associated feelings that led up to an incident. Children make appropriate reparation, and relationships are mended. The approach means that there are no repeat episodes.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments describe known areas of risk. They are succinct with clear control measures. Staff are diligent at applying the strategies in practice. In this way, they keep children as safe as possible.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children know what risks are involved when they use the internet. There are clear guidelines provided for children and staff. The effective implementation of these means that children can use smartphones and do online gaming safely. A placing social worker said, ‘Staff keep (name of child) safe online. They carry out phone checks, which is an achievement in itself.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They understand the risks affecting children and their role in keeping them safe. The registered manager keeps a clear safeguarding chronology for any concerns. These records show that the registered manager works effectively with other professionals to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Although staff know of a child’s possible health condition, they have not documented this in the placement plan. They are committed to supporting the child to attend the planned health appointment for diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff observed a new behaviour that could indicate a child’s inner emotional disturbance. They have engaged with the organisation’s psychologist to understand the behaviour so that they can provide the best possible support. However, it is unclear what has been discussed with the placing social worker. Staff have not documented the behaviour in the placement plan.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Despite some of the children’s previous pull factors in going missing from care, misusing substances or committing offences in the community, no such incidents have occurred. The children are safer as a result, and the staff do not have to use any form of physical intervention. The recent introduction of a therapeutic coordinator adds another layer to supporting children to manage any difficult and painful feelings. Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is qualified to the correct level and very experienced. She shows exceptional leadership. She has put into place a staff structure that works extremely well in supporting and mentoring less experienced staff. A competent and experienced deputy manager supports her in keeping close oversight of practice. The registered manager is an outstanding role model to the children and the staff. She holds high expectations and aspirations for the children, and this permeates throughout the culture in the home. Staff hold her in the highest regard and speak in the most positive terms about her leadership. Consequently, high standards are achieved, and the children benefit greatly from living in a well-organised home, which is strongly led. For example, placement matching has been successful, and there is a strategic decision for no further children to move in, while the staff team gains further experience and staff complete their probation periods.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The monitoring of the service is of great importance to the registered manager. She is a visible presence in the home, available to staff and children. She makes a daily assessment of the quality of care. In addition, she carefully considers the views of an independent visitor, who comes to the home every month. This is a manager who is open to constructive criticism and professional dialogue as she strives to continually improve the quality of care. She is aware of the need to keep the use of door alarms on bedroom doors under regular review. Staff morale is high. The staff described the registered manager as ‘amazing’, ‘child focused’ and with incredible vision. The open and supportive culture means that staff feel motivated to provide the best possible care for children. Staff spoke in the most positive terms of the wider senior leadership team and the organisation. A staff member said, ‘I have found the organisation really positive, and the training offered

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

has been informative and relevant. Higher management are always there for support, and I feel confident that I can call them with any issues and that I would receive the help I needed.’ Leaders and managers support staff exceptionally well and especially through the supervision process. Staff value the structure and opportunity to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of milestones in children’s lives. They go the extra mile, such as baking a cake in their own time, to ensure that special days are memorable. A child was delighted to have a birthday cake designed like his football kit.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Individual placement plans are excellent. They give a clear picture of how to care for each child and the child’s individual goals. Effective systems are in place for communication between staff on different shifts. Pertinent information is readily available to staff, minimising the time they spend reading documents and maximising the time they spend with children. The registered manager chases other important plans, such as pathway plans, that have been delayed due to COVID-19. Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 6 The home environment remains at a very high standard. Children who have previously damaged their environment respect the pleasant, homely, domestic environment and warm company. A child said, ‘I feel more at home here than anywhere before.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well-being of each child are agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 34, paragraph 7.7)

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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, 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: 2613849 8

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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

Keith Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2613849 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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