Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 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 is a privately owned children’s home that is registered to provide care for up to five children who have complex social and emotional needs. Children who live in this home receive a specific therapeutic programme to support them with their existing difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in May 2022 and this was the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are two children currently living at the home. Prior to this inspection, the managers and staff successfully supported one child to move on to the care of a family member. This child went on to receive three additional months of support from staff, fully supporting his transition to his family member’s care. This is excellent practice, which enabled the success of this transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience extremely positive moves into the home. This is because managers and the in-house psychologist, alongside staff, provide each child with a planned introduction to the home, with a high level of individualised support. Before children move in, the manager and psychologist assess full information about children, including their likes and dislikes. Staff use this information to creatively welcome children and to consider in advance therapeutic parenting styles specific to children’s life experiences. As a result, both children living at the home have settled in very well and consistently receive a high standard of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making fantastic progress from their starting points. They told the inspector the difference that living in the home and the support they receive has made to their lives. This includes how regular therapeutic sessions contribute to developing their emotional literacy and understanding their emotions, to be able to manage these better. One child said attending therapy sessions had given him strategies to manage his anger, and he was getting better at using these to calm down and then be able to interact calmly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for children and believe that they can achieve their potential. This motivates children to achieve. Managers’ and the psychologists’ monthly meeting with school supports children to access an education programme tailored to their needs. As a result, children’s attendance at school is excellent, they have made significant progress from their starting points and are on track to achieve the GCSE grades needed for the college courses they have secured.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are extremely positive and meaningful relationships between staff and children, due to the home’s ethos of ‘connection before correction’. Children know that staff genuinely care about them, and staff sensitively support children using the home’s therapeutic approach. This approach assists children to significantly improve their self- confidence and self-worth and to move forward in their lives. Consequently, children are thriving physically, emotionally and socially, and feel that staff understand them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children participate in a range of activities, such as days out to theme parks, go-karting and zip-lining and have enjoyed many positive experiences. Special occasions such as Christmas and birthdays are celebrated. One member of staff spoke fondly of children enjoying Christmas Day and one child commenting how ‘Christmas was amazing’, and he felt good about being given the best time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 4 Consequently, children are making positive memories while living at the home, which they are happy to recall and share.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a large house with ample space for children to spend time together and alone. The decor throughout the home is of a high standard. The large kitchen and connected dining area means children and staff share meals together daily. The photos of both staff and children in the home add to the warm, relaxed, family feel to the home. Children’s bedrooms are spacious, and children have personalised their rooms. As a result, children feel a strong sense of belonging. They said they like the home and there is nothing they would want to change.

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

The safety of children is the manager’s and staff’s top priority. They are fully aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff know children extremely well. They understand their needs and have well-written plans to support them should a risk arise. This supports them to help keep children safe.

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

The positive relationships that staff have with children mean that they recognise and respond quickly to changes in behaviour and offer additional support. Children appreciate the care and support they receive from staff and are invested in these relationships, which reduces the likelihood of them going missing from the home. The home has had one missing-from-care incident. Otherwise, children do not go missing from the home. One child who frequently went missing for periods of up to 11 days before living at this home, no longer goes missing. This child’s social worker acknowledged how well he has settled, with the support of managers and staff, and commented on how well they have managed the child’s behaviour. Consequently, risks have reduced for children while living at this home.

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

The registered manager and psychologist use research-based, trauma-informed practice to support staff to develop therapeutic knowledge and skills to inform their interactions with children. This approach ensures that staff use supportive language and their interactions with children are therapeutic, warm, safe and child-focused.

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

Staff help children to work towards accredited modules to develop their independent skills in a way that is tailored to their individual needs. The modules studied raise children’s awareness of a range of risks, equipping them to keep themselves safe online and when using social media. They develop skills in cooking and many other areas required for independence. As a result of completing these modules, children have a sense of achievement from gaining an accredited qualification. These qualifications enable staff to monitor children’s progress and assess where further support is required.

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

Children say they feel safe. Staff support children to take age-appropriate risks, in line with their progress. They are supported to go out without staff, with full knowledge of risks associated with the home’s location and how to manage these. As a result, children successfully keep themselves safe when they are out in the community as they increase their independence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 5 Leaders and managers respond to allegations made against staff immediately, in line with their protocols. If allegations are made, the manager liaises appropriately with external professionals such as social workers or the local authority designated officer. This ensures that there is external scrutiny of safeguarding measures in the home. Managers take action to safeguard children and staff while concerns are reviewed and after a conclusion is reached, staff and children are supported to repair their

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been in post since May 2022. He is suitably qualified and experienced. He has robust support from the responsible individual and in-house psychologist. He provides excellent leadership, is highly committed and motivated and is respected by the staff, children and external professionals. The manager has high expectations for the quality of therapeutic care provided to children. This is delivered by a developing, empathic yet resilient team, who are committed to the children they care for. As a result, children are making excellent progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate about developing staff to understand children’s behaviour, in particular, how this links to children’s development and their experiences of trauma. The manager believes this is essential for staff in their role. Staff receive regular training from the manager and psychologist. Staff are supported to evidence their learning through their practice and in team meeting discussions and supervision sessions, alongside quarterly reviews undertaken with the psychologist. The availability of continued training to build and develop practice is excellent and ensures that children receive care from staff members who are continuously improving their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an in-depth understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. He uses several monitoring tools to assist in the review of the quality of care. The manager works through any areas of weakness with staff, and he challenges any practice which is not in children’s best interests. The manager also encourages good practice. Staff say they feel supported, encouraged and motivated by managers and are supportive of each other. As a result, the manager and staff work well together and focus on achieving the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers track the progress of children during their time living in the home. They review children’s plans to identify the progress made by children. As a result, the excellent progress made by children is clearly evidenced, and staff can support children to make further progress in areas identified for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent relationships with all the relevant professionals, including social workers, parents and independent reviewing officers. External professionals provided positive feedback about the home, highlighting that on the rare occasion when things have not progressed well, the manager has been open to working together to achieve a positive outcome. As a result, there is good Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 6 communication between the home and external professionals, which promotes children’s welfare.

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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: 2664035 7

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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

Sharon Bourne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2664035 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 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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