Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 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 privately run home provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/04/2021 Full Good 05/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 3

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outstanding

Children receive highly individualised support. The staff and managers consistently exceed the standards of good care. Children make substantial progress from their individual starting points, and they flourish. Children’s quality of life and future opportunities are enhanced because of their experiences at the home.

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outstanding

The experienced, dedicated and skilled staff forge strong relationships with children. Interactions between the staff and children are filled with genuine compassion. The managers consistently model this approach. Consequently, children develop the sense of security and stability that they need to thrive.

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outstanding

The staff’s therapeutic approach, combined with support from the home’s psychologist, provides targeted interventions. The managers and staff understand the importance of supporting children’s mental health to improve their well-being.

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outstanding

The manager and the home’s psychologist consider the combined group of children carefully. Detailed moving-in plans and group risk assessments are undertaken before children move to the home. The introduction of new children can affect the group dynamics. However, staff ensure that children continue to receive high-quality care and reassurance so that any disruptions are minimised.

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outstanding

Staff help children to prepare for moving on and involve the children in decision- making and planning as much as possible. Children’s independence skills are encouraged. They are involved in cooking and domestic tasks and learn to use public transport. All these activities prepare children for their adult lives.

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outstanding

Children who have moved on from the home since the last inspection said the support they received was ‘really good’. One child who now lives semi- independently and is studying at college said, ‘They helped me build up my confidence. I’m now where I should be in life.’ A parent said, ‘I found the support amazing, and the staff were lovely.’

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outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress with their education. For some children, there have been considerable improvements in their attendance and engagement. Some children who had previously not attended school are now attending. One child has passed her GCSEs and has had several poems published. The staff support the children to work towards and achieve qualifications. A headteacher said, ‘The school’s relationship with the staff is positive. Partnership working has led to real success for the children. In school, the children talk positively about their home.’

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outstanding

Children enjoy a diverse range of meaningful activities. The staff are committed to furthering children’s social experiences. Children benefit from planned holidays, horse riding, activities at the home and a range of community-based activities. Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 4 These help widen children’s experience of the world around them and give them new opportunities.

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outstanding

The home is welcoming and spacious. A thoughtful approach to the interior and layout creates a calm and nurturing environment. Children are encouraged to decorate their own bedrooms and this gives the children a sense of belonging and makes them feel at home.

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outstanding

Staff provide high levels of care and guidance to children and, as a result, children are increasingly safer. The implementation of highly effective risk assessments and exceptional safeguarding practices actively ensure that children are safer. Staff are well informed and consistently support the children. The managers and staff have a comprehensive understanding of the children’s needs. The staff provide effective and skilful support that enables children to understand how to become safer.

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outstanding

The staff are not risk averse and use a risk-assessment process to enable children to take balanced and appropriate risks. Staff plan activities and recognise achievements. The staff’s consistent approach increases children’s self-esteem. The staff help children learn how to manage and take responsibility for their personal safety.

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outstanding

The staff understand trauma and the behaviours that are associated with traumatic experiences. Children are actively encouraged to think about their safety. The staff use creative one-to-one sessions with children to improve their understanding of risk. The staff’s nurturing approach and reassurance have helped the children to considerably reduce the number of missing-from-home incidents and self-harming behaviours. When there have been incidents of children going missing from the home, the staff have responded in line with the missing-from-care protocols to help find and return the child as soon as possible. Managers work proactively and effectively with external agencies. This multi-agency response helps to reduce these risks.

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outstanding

Professionals provided consistently strong feedback about the home’s quality of care, excellent communication and the positive impact on children’s lives.

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outstanding

Children spend time with the in-house psychologist. These individualised therapy sessions help children to make sense of previous experiences and reduce negative coping strategies. Children have developed their ability to manage emotional circumstances. This has helped children to deal with difficult situations in a more positive and productive way. Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A highly dynamic, experienced and suitably qualified manager is supported by an equally dynamic management team. The management team and the staff have extremely high aspirations for the children. The impact on the children and their families is profound. The children’s lives are enriched because of the support of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective training equips the staff extremely well to meet the children’s needs. This training continuously updates their knowledge and skills. The staff implement this knowledge in their daily practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have a clear understanding of the progress that children are making. They are a highly visible presence. The managers are available on shift to support staff. They act as positive role models to the staff and have established trusting relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers have established a stable and committed staff team. The staff cover additional shifts and support each other to make sure that the required number of staff are always available. Children benefit from consistent and familiar staff each day. This helps them to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff value the manager’s commitment, skills and knowledge. The ethos of the home stems from the management team and results in the staff having high aspirations for the children. The staff are caring and enthusiastic about their work. They are proud of the difference that they make to children’s lives. A staff member said, ‘I feel happy to come to work, knowing that I make a difference.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Safe recruitment processes are carried out comprehensively to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. New staff receive a thorough induction, which includes a range of training and shadow shifts with experienced staff. Good induction, support and training help staff to meet children’s needs and provide continuity of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 6

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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: 2528516 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

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2528516 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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