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

Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 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 children’s home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to five children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in place who is in the process of registering with Ofsted

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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 outstanding

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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: 28 November 2022

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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: 2613483 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard throughout. The manager and staff have created a relaxed feel in every room. The children’s bedrooms are all individualised to their tastes and interests. The garden is a creative space, so children have areas to grow vegetables and enjoy outdoor hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making excellent progress from their starting points. They are settled and happy living at the home. Staff have built trusting relationships with children. Although some staff are relatively new, they know the children well and their experiences and aspirations for the future. Staff have built a sense of belonging that has created positive experiences and well-being for children. The care model, led by the manager and connected professionals, is effective. Children build confidence in themselves and empathy for others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in education and making progress. The manager and staff ensure that children are accessing provisions that match their needs and interests. Staff encourage children to have high aspirations for themselves. The staff bring different skills and experience to the team, and this means that children are supported to develop interests in areas like music and practical learning. They have experiences both individually and as a group. Memories are kept and treasured in the form of life-story work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop independence. Staff individualise support to each child by tailoring their plans. Children have made significant progress in this area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that children are actively involved in their care planning wherever possible. This gives them ownership and understanding of what is happening and the decisions that are made. Children’s rights, voice and input into their care are seen as important by the manager and staff. Children’s meetings are regular and well attended. The manager always responds to children’s wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is not clear in relation to one aspect of a child’s care plan. It is unclear what the child’s plan is. This impacts on the child because they do not have clarity for their future.

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outstanding

Children feel safe, loved and protected from harm. Staff’s proactive response to risk is exceptional. When significant incidents happen, staff responses are proportionate and nurturing. The manager adopts a multi-faceted approach to reflect on any learning points. The ethos of educating children about risk is embedded and highly effective. Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 4 The progress in reducing risk-taking behaviours for some children is exceptional. Staff demonstrate excellent insight into why children may suffer from drug misuse or use self-harm as a coping mechanism. Staff are incredibly well informed, and as a result, risks for children are reduced.

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outstanding

Children’s liberties are only restricted for proportionate and necessary reasons. The manager makes dynamic decisions in the best interests of children. Safety plans are always shared and agreed with professionals. Changes to plans are discussed with children. Children accept tighter boundaries during periods of increased vulnerability. This is because children understand that the rationale is to keep them safe. There is regular review of restrictions and always a clear trajectory to reduce what is in place.

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outstanding

The manager has ensured that safeguarding practice for what is a relatively new team is of a very high standard. One social worker said, ‘They were blown away by the team’s knowledge in this area and how that positively impacts on children’s safety at the home.’ Children have trusted adults in the team that they identify and can talk to. The security, nurture and support children receive from the staff mean they make positive choices.

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outstanding

Restraints in the home are rare. The manager and staff respond to restraint proportionately and effectively. Children spoken to knew why interventions were used and accepted that it was to keep them safe. They felt well supported by the team, both during restraint and afterwards. Any health concerns with children are considered and inform support plans. Reflection from staff and support offered to them, alongside oversight and learning from the manager or their senior, are excellent.

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outstanding

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans for children are of a high standard. There is effective involvement of other services such as the police and drug support organisations to safeguard children. This creates a team around the child and ensures they have done all they can to keep the child safe.

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outstanding

Children know how to make a complaint, and when they do, the manager or deputy manager both support the process with meticulous attention from start to finish. This means that children feel supported and listened to.

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outstanding

Although Ofsted was notified of one serious incident for a child, it did not receive an update.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced but new to the role. The application for the manager to become registered has been submitted. The manager has excellent oversight of the home. They are passionate about progress for the children and have high aspirations for them. The manager understands the embedded care model well. Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 5 There was a period last year where the leadership of the home was somewhat unstable. This had an impact on staff welfare and well-being. Several staff left. The new manager has worked hard to improve morale. Some staff have since returned. The staff team is new and developing. Leaders understand areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions are detailed, effective and balanced. Staff feel that the approach and structure of supervision mean that they take on praise alongside constructive criticism to develop. Training and development are a focus of the manager. They are addressed in supervision and development reviews but also present in well-planned team meetings that are detailed and effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been almost a complete turnover of the staff team during the inspection period. There is some inexperience around residential care and staff being qualified. However, plans are in place to help staff to qualify. The responsible individual is experienced and supportive. They know the home well and are clear on their goals for staff retention and developing the new manager in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a thorough understanding of children’s plans. They could not be better informed of start points, progress and aims for the future that inform how they drive this area forward. Staff are informed on how to support the children. However, the pathway plan for one child needs more clarity as this is impacting them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Quality assurance from the manager and responsible individual is thorough, regular and highly effective. It combines learning from feedback to improve the lives and experiences of children. However, the manager did not notify Ofsted of a Section 47 enquiry for one child. Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with the arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to there being confusion around the reasons for a child moving from the home. 28 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in Regulation 40 (4)(a)-(d) occurs or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home that the registered person considers to be serious (40 (4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: 2613483 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

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2613483 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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