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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 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 home is operated by a private company and was registered in September 2020. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/08/2021 Full Good 04/05/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children live at this home. Staff use warmth, patience and humour to ensure that children feel welcome and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who move in and out of the home are supported sensitively through careful planning. Care and patience are embedded in the home’s culture, and this makes certain that children settle quickly and that they feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage with education. One child who recently moved into the home is having assessments to ensure that they are enrolled in the right school. Two children receive home tutoring. The staff are sensitive to the children’s individual needs and are aware of other influences that have an impact on the children’s ability to learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children’s time with their families and give good support to help maintain relationships that are important to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from individual therapy. This intervention helps the children to make sense of their past experiences in a safe space. Therapy helps children to process their traumatic experiences and gives them strategies to cope with difficult feelings and emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in a variety of activities. One child is part of a go-karting racing team. Another child is part of the pony club. One of the children has an interest in trains and has created his own train station. The staff were seen taking part in imaginative play with the children. Children go on day trips and holidays with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have regular one-to-one and group discussions with children about important topics. Children talk openly with staff, including about culture, identity, health and online safety. Staff help children to explore religion and faith. Children feel at ease talking to staff and are helped to understand themselves and have a sense of identity and are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with developing independence skills. The manager has a comprehensive range of AQA and online qualifications that children work through with guidance from staff. Children are developing budgeting, cooking and practical skills. One child who previously lived at the home was supported to have driving lessons. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 4

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

Staff understand and, when required, implement the home’s safeguarding procedures. The staff confidently manage safeguarding incidents, which helps keep the children safe.

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

Staff understand children’s needs and help them to develop strategies to manage their emotions safely.

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

The manager works together with other professionals when allegations are raised. This joint working safeguards the children effectively.

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

There have been a few incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff manage such incidents well and with sensitivity. This has led to a reduction in the frequency of children going missing from the home.

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

Staff use physical intervention as a last resort. On two occasions, police have been called to help manage children’s behaviours. On one of these occasions, the manager did not deem this necessary and has reminded the staff of protocols around calling the police.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and qualified. She has high aspirations for the children. She acts as a good role model for the staff, who benefit from her guidance and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the staff benefit from the support of a therapist practitioner, who provides group processing and individual supervisions to the staff. The processing helps staff to understand children’s life experiences, past trauma and behaviour. The supervisions also provide the staff with a reflective space to review and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers speak highly of the home, and are impressed with the quality of therapeutic care the staff provide to children and the effectiveness of the manager. One social worker said, ‘I could not ask for more. The staff are so attuned to the child’s needs.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are superb advocates for children. The manager has challenged professionals on behalf of children on several occasions. On one occasion, the manager and staff helped to prepare a child for legal proceedings. The child was given support to express their wishes and feelings. Consequently, the child felt listened to and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual regularly monitors the home. This monitoring contributes to good oversight. Although the manager submits her internal monitoring reports to Ofsted as required, the level of evaluation does not always evidence how continuous improvement is being achieved. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home and the experiences of children living there and evaluate the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. It should be clear what needs to be implemented to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)

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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: 2578675 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: Compass Community Ltd, 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2578675 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 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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