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

Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 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

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to six children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager, who has been in post since the home was registered in May 2022.

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2022

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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: 2666161 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 3

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress from their starting points when moving to the home. This is attributable to the excellent care and support they receive from staff and managers. Staff speak highly of the children and are proud of their achievements. One child said, ‘The reason they are proud of me is because I’ve been in therapy for many years and never engaged. Since being here I have fully engaged.’ Children recognise the progress they make. Children learn about themselves and what works best for them. This exceptional personal growth helps children develop their self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children receive highly individualised care that meets their specific needs. The preferred therapeutic model is consistently applied throughout all the care that children receive. The company psychologist is an integral part of the staff team and fully involved in care plans for children. She has positive relationships with staff and children, and they speak very highly of her. The psychologist and staff team fully understand the holistic approach that children need to feel safe and secure. The staff team has worked collaboratively to successfully promote a research-informed approach. Children understand this intervention and speak about the benefits of this for them and their lives.

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outstanding

Children who have previously disengaged from education are now making excellent progress. Children are achieving qualifications, learning life skills, planning to complete GCSEs and aspiring for their future. The manager has introduced celebration evenings for children, to recognise their educational achievements. Where appropriate, people who matter to children are invited and supported to take part in the celebrations. One parent said, ‘I have been able to attend my son’s parents’ evening, which has been a special moment for me as I have never experienced this before with him. The home and especially the manager go above and beyond.’

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outstanding

Staff are excellent advocates for children. A strong ethos of the home is listening to children and developing trusted relationships with them. The manager advocated exceptionally well for for one child in relation to their experiences with the police. The high level of commitment from staff ensures that staff know children very well. Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s needs, wishes and feelings.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of meeting children’s health needs. One child has been helped to undertake a timely assessment of a previously undiagnosed health condition. This was completed following staff thoroughly getting to know the child. As a result of staff’s prompt action, advocacy and therapeutic intervention the child is sleeping better and engaging better in daily activities and education. Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 4 Children are truly at the centre of practice in the home. They are involved in a variety of planning and reviews of the service. Their views are captured in numerous ways and children are listened to and respected in all aspects of their day-to-day lives. Complaints from children are rare. If an issue is raised, this is sensitively and appropriately responded to.

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outstanding

Children are supported to engage in a wealth of activities, both inside the home and in the community. One child was very excited about a planned trip to see his favourite football team. There is a sense of excitement for all children about up-and- coming activities and trips. Children have things to look forward to and feel invested in by staff.

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outstanding

Significant incidents have reduced dramatically for the children since moving into the home. Staff’s knowledge of children’s historical risks and behaviours helps them to implement plans in a timely manner. Children and the organisation’s psychologist are involved in the formulation of these plans. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted by staff, through respectful care for the children.

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outstanding

Through planned interventions, staff extensively encourage and support children to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. This work is supported by staff carrying out regular and productive key-work sessions. The approach of staff is highly collaborative and effective.

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outstanding

Children have been exceptionally well supported to understand online risks. When incidents have occurred, children are holistically and individually supported and helped to understand and reduce these risks. There is a high level of understanding from staff around online risks and appropriate and safe checks are regularly completed. Children know and understand why this level of support and guidance is provided. This helps children and others to keep safe.

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outstanding

Risk assessments are detailed and clear. Staff talk with confidence about what they do to keep children safe. Managers ensure that risk assessments are updated promptly following incidents. Children are involved in discussions around risks and all relevant professionals and carers are also included in these discussions. Children’s individual risk assessments are tracked by the manager and staff to ensure they remain up to date and accurate. There is evidence of children’s risks and vulnerabilities reducing over time. For example, one child with a history of self-harm has been supported in reducing this risk of harm.

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outstanding

Due to diligent staff providing excellent care, children do not go missing from care. The staff are proactive and ensure plans prevent incidents from occurring.

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outstanding

Recruitment checks for new staff are robust. Staff who work at the home undergo appropriate vetting to ensure that they are safe to work with children. Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and committed to ensuring outstanding outcomes for children. He speaks with passion about children in his care. He can articulate and evidence the progress each child has made. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has made amazing progress. He is our success story; with the right support he is in the best place that he has been. He went through so much. He has realised he is amazing, and staff are telling him this.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training and development are a real strength in this home. The staff complete mandatory training during their induction period. All staff are enrolled on the relevant qualification for residential care staff during their induction period. Most staff are qualified, and several staff have completed or are completing a management qualification. Staff are fully trained in a therapeutic approach and mentored to ensure this is fully embedded in the day-to-day care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The environment is maintained to a high standard, and the home is nicely decorated and homely. Despite the home being spacious, it remains homely, and children are at the centre of planning the environment they live in. The home is well organised in a way that helps the ethos of the home, for example, there is a homework corner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are well led by the manager and they all have high aspirations for the children. Staff speak highly of the manager and deputy managers. Staff understand the importance of having capacity to manage whatever the day brings. Staff are supported and cared for by leaders and each other. One staff member described the staff team as the biggest asset to the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has worked creatively to ensure that children’s start at the home is very positive. This begins at the process of referral, with detailed and comprehensive pre-admission planning. For one child, the manager went above and beyond to coordinate working with a foster carer, education services and the psychologist to engage the child before they moved into the home. This practice is worthy of wider dissemination and the provider has shared this with good practice with other homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are exceptionally well supported when they come to leave the home. This includes detailed planning and coordination with local services, education planning and developing a team around the child. Children are helped to maintain important connections with people who matter to them. One child who has left the home said, ‘I still feel connected to staff, especially the manager. The best thing about the home is the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has sought to develop the home by applying to register to a recognised therapeutic programme. They are in the process of undertaking a peer review to gain registration. This demonstrates the leader’s commitment to the development of the home and ensuring that children receive the best possible care that is available to them. This team is committed to ongoing learning and development of the service, to ensure it does not stand still. Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 6 Management monitoring systems and processes are excellent. Systems for tracking progress for children are impressive.

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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: 2666161 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

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2666161 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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