Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 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 registered to provide care for up to eight children with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. It is owned and run by a private organisation. At the time of the inspection, seven children were living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2023.

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Information about this children's home

Most of the children living at the home attend the organisation’s school, which is located on the same site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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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 good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 2

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outstanding

Children in the home make excellent progress in all areas of their lives, regardless of their complex needs. Staff work therapeutically with the children and work closely with their therapy colleagues. This helps the children to regulate their behaviour and supports them to settle in the home when they move in. This also enables the children to make significant progress and provides them with stability and consistent care.

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outstanding

Children feel confident to speak with staff when concerned or worried, and they seek support to keep themselves safe. This highlights the depth of the relationships that the children have formed with staff and the sense of trust that has been developed.

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outstanding

Staff actively seek to involve the children in decisions about their lives. They support the children to explore their life story and to have meaningful relationships with their families and friends when this is appropriate. Managers have developed close working relationships with families and professionals. One parent told the inspector that they feel completely involved in their child’s care.

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outstanding

Children's education is a priority for the staff. Managers and staff support the children to access appropriate educational provisions that enable them to attend education regularly, which is an excellent achievement for some children. One child had been supported to find an educational setting that was more relevant to his future career aspirations.

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outstanding

Managers are careful in their consideration when supporting children to move in to the home. Sensitive planning ensures that staff are aware of the needs of the children, and any risks and vulnerabilities are managed effectively. Well-written support plans for the children enable staff to provide high-quality, individualised care.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to participate in a range of activities that support them to live healthy lives, such as cycling, visiting the local gym, and playing football with friends. They are also helped to be as independent as possible and to have fun with staff, understanding appropriate levels of risk. One child is living in a self-contained flat within the home; this supports his preparations to leave the home and live more independently.

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

Staff understand and identify risks well. When concerns arise, staff take effective action and ensure that appropriate agencies are well informed. Risk assessments are Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 3 updated regularly; this helps to inform and adjust the individual support they provide to the children in response to their changing needs.

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

Managers ensure that records of any concerns are clear and comprehensive; they demonstrate collaborative working with social workers, education colleagues and families. Reflective practice is evidenced well and shared appropriately with the staff.

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

The staff promote positive behaviour and support the children to think about positive consequences for good behaviours. When incidents involve the use of physical interventions, these are well documented and demonstrate proportionality and reflective practices. Following any incident, the children are supported to understand the impact of their behaviours through meaningful discussions, and managers follow these up with staff and professionals where needed.

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

When children go missing from the home, these incidents are well managed and clearly documented. Quick and effective action is taken to ensure that children return to the home and are safe.

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

Managers use rigorous processes when recruiting new staff in the home. These follow safer recruitment principles and ensure that children are supported by suitable staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear vision for the development of the home. They have high expectations for the children and ensure that staff share these aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers recognise the progress that the children make, such as improved behaviour and communication. They acknowledge this appropriately and celebrate these successes by praising the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home promotes a culture of respect and tolerance, where children feel safe in exploring their identity. Children are supported to explore their heritage and to learn more about their background, resulting in improved self-esteem.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children state that they feel listened to. Managers and staff work with children and listen carefully to their opinions. This has heavily influenced the ongoing redecoration of the home and the equipment available for the children to use.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work closely with professionals. Social workers were complimentary about the home, with one social worker stating that communication is clear and timely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of managers and the support that they receive to be successful in their role. Staff supervision occurs regularly and follows a clear process. Not all records demonstrate effective supervision as they lack evidence of reflective practice. Managers had already identified this issue and had started to take Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 4 appropriate action. Staff access a wide variety of training that is relevant to their roles and children’s individual needs. However, on one occasion, staff had not obtained the required qualification within the expected timeframe. Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2).

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.2)

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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: 2644927 6

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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

Jay Shekleton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2644927 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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