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

Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 1 SC425071 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to six children who have social and emotional difficulties. There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2016 and is suitably qualified.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Good 05/09/2019 Full Good 27/02/2019 Full Good 21/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are built on mutual respect and develop gradually over time. As a result, the children learn to accept the care and support that staff offer them. Staff interactions with children are warm and nurturing. This supports children to make progress towards goals which are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move to the home in a thoughtful and considered way. Managers review the needs of the children living in the home and work with parents and professionals to ensure that children’s moves are sensitively managed. This includes visits to the child and the child having overnight stays before moving into the home. Consequently, children benefit from careful and effective care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children’s engagement in education. All children have excellent attendance at school and are making progress. The staff have formed close links with each child’s school to ensure the children have the best opportunities. One child said, ‘I am looking forward to going to secondary school and really enjoyed looking round on a visit.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek children’s views in a variety of ways, including individual and group meetings and focused time with staff. These different forums allow the children to have regular input into decisions about the environment, activities, menu planning, cultural events and celebrating their successes. This approach demonstrates that the children are empowered to make decisions about their care and daily lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical, emotional and psychological needs are met by staff who receive guidance from qualified practitioners. Staff advocate for specialist support when necessary and work closely with all health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are dealt with effectively and promptly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand risks when accessing the internet. This includes holding workshops to develop the children’s knowledge, as well as staff receiving training. Therefore, children are kept safe when playing and working online.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move on from the home in a planned way, and receive a memory book of their experiences and significant events. Children who have left are encouraged to remain in contact with the home. Consequently, children understand their journey and feel valued and respected. This also means that they continue to benefit from the relationships that they have formed.

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

Leaders and managers respond well to safeguarding concerns and allegations. Staff understand the children’s vulnerabilities and are responsive to the risks for the Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 4 children, individually and as a group. Staff demonstrate good safeguarding practice by following clear procedures when incidents occur. The registered manager works with other professionals to keep children safe.

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

Incidents involving children are well managed, with clear recording systems in place. The registered manager reviews each incident. Through these reviews, the registered manager works with staff to developed strategies and reduction plans to manage any emerging concerns.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted through incentives and rewards. Staff consult with children about managing their behaviour and developing behaviour strategy plans, including on house rules and boundaries. However, this is undermined by consequences that are not always proportionate to the children’s behaviour. Therefore, children are not supported to develop resilience when they experience difficulties.

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

Staff are responsive to children on the rare occasions they may go missing from home. This includes following their risk plans to look for them to locate them quickly. Staff talk to the children when they return, to help them understand risks and make safer choices.

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

Children have been supported to understand how to make complaints. When children make a complaint, clear action is taken by the registered manager and children are informed throughout the process. This means children feel heard and their views are valued.

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

Safer recruitment is understood and implemented by staff responsible for this area of practice. All necessary checks are in place to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is warm and nurturing towards the children. She has an in- depth understanding of the children’s needs. Staff and other professionals recognise the strength and passion the registered manager brings to the home. She has a vision for the home and understands the areas that require development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide a comprehensive range of training opportunities for the staff, which includes specific training related to the individual needs of the children. The staff also complete training in therapeutic practice. This further enhances their skills and knowledge. This demonstrates the registered manager recognises the importance of skilled and trained staff. However, the registered manager has failed to ensure that ancillary staff who have regular contact with children are trained in safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 5 Staff speak positively about their experiences of working in the home. They say that the training, team meetings, reflective groups and regular supervisions support their work. Staff are well informed and supported to provide the best care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has undergone some change since the last inspection. However, the registered manager has carefully selected new staff members to add experience to the core team. The use of agency staff is kept to a minimum and, when possible, the same staff are used, to reduce the impact on the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Working closely with other professionals is prioritised by the registered manager. Feedback from external professionals, such as social workers, was very positive regarding communication and partnership working. Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 6

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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; 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that all staff, including ancillary staff, receive training in safeguarding practice. 24 March 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 7 behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: SC425071 8

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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: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC425071 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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