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

Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It was newly registered on 13 August 2021. Staff provide care and accommodation for up to 4 children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 13 August 2021

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 2

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inadequate

Serious and widespread failures mean that children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. Their care and experiences are poor, and they are not making, or not likely to make, sufficient progress.

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inadequate

Serious failings in safeguarding practice at the home led to one child being placed at risk of harm, and therefore, overall progress is limited to an inadequate judgement.

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inadequate

While these failings are serious, they are limited to a specific set of circumstances involving only one child. The inspector did not have safeguarding concerns about the safety of other children living in the home.

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inadequate

Children are positive about their experiences in the home. They describe supportive and caring relationships with staff. Staff display a lot of warmth and affection for children.

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inadequate

Staff have achieved some positive outcomes for children, including re-engagement in mainstream education, access to employment and reductions in their risk-taking behaviours.

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inadequate

Children live in a well-maintained and modern home. Children spoke about having lots of say in the way the home looks and in adding personal touches in their rooms. Children spoke animatedly about future plans, for example building a summer house in the garden.

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inadequate

Children placed at a distance from their home area are well supported to maintain contact with their friends and family. Children also spoke about the positive welcome they received both from staff and other children when they first arrived.

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inadequate

Staff spoke reflectively about the recent challenges they have faced at the home, and they remain optimistic for the future. Staff are constantly striving to improve practice and give children the best experience possible.

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

There are serious and widespread failures that leave children harmed, at risk of harm or their welfare not being safeguarded.

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

Managers failed to develop effective risk management plans and strategies for a child, despite clear indicators of vulnerability in their referral documentation. Managers failed to make the necessary enquiries to clarify important information in referral documents before a child came to live in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 3 Managers failed to produce strategies for staff, particularly around lone working, and this led to staff and a child being placed at risk.

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

Leaders made the appropriate amendments to the child’s risk management strategies. However, this was in response to allegations about staff and not as a pre- emptive risk management measure. This was despite available information indicating that this could have helped to reduce risk.

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

The inspector identified serious concerns about the registered manager’s failure to share safeguarding concerns with senior leaders. Following a serious allegation, senior leaders received information from staff that they had previously shared their concerns with the registered manager. The registered manager failed to take any action following these concerns being identified. Staff did not follow up on any concerns raised with the manager and delayed escalating their concerns to senior leaders when they perceived no action was taken by the registered manager.

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

Senior staff reported having informal conversations about these safeguarding concerns, but these were not recorded or reported.

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

Staff failed to understand or carry out their safeguarding responsibilities, and measures were not promptly put in place to safeguard both the child and staff. These failings directly contributed to the situation that left children and staff vulnerable to harm.

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

Senior leaders, particularly the responsible individual, have undertaken effective remedial work following the recent disclosure. Children say they feel safe and well supported at the home. Staff have dealt with other incidents well, demonstrating prompt reporting, close working with partner agencies and effective record keeping.

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

Staff are engaged in good, reflective work around safeguarding processes in the home. They are able to identify where things went wrong before. Staff are also able to identify recent positive changes to safeguarding practice.

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

Staff use restrictive practices on children sparingly and only when necessary to prevent harm. Children said staff are good at managing challenging incidents at the home. Children also said that staff manage behaviours safely, fairly and proportionately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager did not identify serious weaknesses in practice at the home. The registered manager has not been effective enough in prioritising, challenging and making improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to support and guide his team to deliver acceptable standards of safeguarding practice. The registered manager failed to identify a risk, which led to children and staff at the home being at risk of harm. Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 4 Staff have received effective support from the input of the responsible individual and a temporary manager in recent weeks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the disclosure of harm to a child, the work done by the responsible individual has been decisive and effective in driving up standards. Some uncertainty remains about the longer-term management arrangements at the home and the outcomes of ongoing disciplinary processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff report that levels of supervision, support and training are very good. Staff were complimentary about the recent strong leadership displayed by the responsible individual. Staff also talked about the added value of the therapeutic practitioner support team in promoting their professional and personal development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders demonstrate good examples of interagency working. This has led to some effective work, reducing risks of exploitation for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have ambitious plans for the continuous improvement of the home and development of the staff team. Plans are child-focused and aim to provide good outcomes and experiences for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 2 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)) 2 May 2022

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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

promotes their welfare. 2 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 6 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b))

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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 for children's home: 2629861 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Peter Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 8 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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