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 Ltd 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. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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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 good

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are receiving good, individualised care from passionate, knowledgeable and caring staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff genuinely care about the children and take pride in children’s achievements. This positive affirmation encourages children to achieve their goals. As a result, all children are making good progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to enable children to stay in touch with people who are important to them. This positive support has been instrumental in children re-establishing and maintaining significant relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good support for children’s therapeutic needs. A therapeutic practitioner provides excellent oversight for all children, through weekly sessions with the children and regular observations of staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good educational progress. Through extra support from staff, one child has managed to pass their hairdressing qualification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are aware of the support that is available to them through one-to-one sessions and the use of the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) awards and behaviour support plans. Children are really invested in these processes and regularly have time with trusted adults to be able to talk about things that concern them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Weekly ‘get-together’ meetings take place. However, there is little follow-up when children raise a concern. This does not allow children’s views to be reflected in how the home is run.

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

Staff are given clear guidance on how to manage children’s presenting needs. Care plans are kept updated to ensure that staff have the latest guidance.

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

The manager has introduced a new boundaries and expectations strategy. Initially, children struggled with this and voiced their concerns. However, the children are now confident about the positive impact this has had in the home.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. This is a significant achievement for some of the children living at the home.

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

Safeguarding procedures are, in the main, responded to well. There is good evidence of multi-agency working and advocating for children. However, on one occasion, a member of staff did not report a concern swiftly. While there was Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 4 excellent follow-up to this from leaders to avoid a repeat, this lack of professional curiosity and failing to promptly report a concern left a child at unnecessary risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have acknowledged the journey the home has been on and the progress made since the last inspection. Despite the manager only being in post for a short period of time, she has already made a clear impact. She has a clear vision of how she is hoping to continue to develop the staff to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been significant impact in how the culture in the home has improved. This is acknowledged by children and staff, who have been clear how positive the environment has become. As a result, staff are motivated to give children positive experiences and to support them to meet their full potential in all aspects of their lives. This is evidenced in the progress children have made physically, socially, emotionally and educationally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive structured induction and training to support them to care for children. They benefit from regular supervision. These regular one-to-one meetings enable them to reflect on their practice and children’s progress. Staff meetings are also facilitated by the therapeutic practitioner, to help staff in meeting children’s presenting needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are positive about the impact staff are having on children’s progress. One social worker commented, ‘With the introduction of the new manager and the presence of the operating manager, incidents are dealt with effectively.’ 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)) 31 August 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to children’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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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 6

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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: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2629861 7 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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