Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 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 is a privately owned home, provides care for up to four children who may experience social, emotional and mental health needs. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2023.

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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 outstanding

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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: 24 January 2023

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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: 2630796 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming home that is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Children’s photos are on the walls, and their bedrooms are personalised when they move in. Communal areas, including a spacious lounge, kitchen and dining area, enable the children and staff to spend time together. A ‘snug’ room offers a comfortable area for children to have quiet time while also providing a safe space for therapy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. Detailed assessments of risk are completed, with appropriate actions identified to support children when they move into the home. The needs of current children living at the home are carefully considered, ensuring suitable compatibility of the children’s needs. As a result, children experience positive moves into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved on from the home. Staff recognise the individual needs and anxieties of children when they move on from the home and identify ways to support them. One child who has recently moved out is receiving ongoing support and advocacy from the registered manager. This ensures that the child continues to feel loved and cared for as they settle into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access education. Children are provided with resources and structure to undertake home learning and revision. They have access to extra- curricular activities to further encourage learning opportunities. One education professional described communication with the registered manager as very good and has regular meetings with them. Children are reported to be making good progress at school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families and friends. One family member is happy with the progress their child is making at the home and feels that staff understand their child’s needs well. Positive relationships are encouraged, and children often have friends over to visit them. However, arrangements to ensure that children do not view other children’s personal information displayed in the staff office are ineffective. Consequently, children’s right to privacy is not fully protected.

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

Managers and senior leaders take prompt and effective action following safeguarding concerns. Relevant authorities are notified, and swift action is taken to safeguard children. The registered manager works closely with partner agencies to educate children on how to keep themselves safe. Staff support children to further embed learning through regular key-working discussions. For example, staff have supported children to understand safe relationships and consent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 4 Children rarely go missing from home. When they do, staff are proactive in their response and implement procedures to support children to safely return. Safety plans are followed, and relevant agencies and professionals are informed. Children are warmly welcomed home and offered time to reflect with staff on the reasons why they went missing from home.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour through appropriate praise and recognition when children are doing well. Positive and negative consequences are implemented to support children’s behaviour. The use of any negative consequence is always discussed with children to seek their views. Furthermore, the registered manager will actively challenge any consequences deemed inappropriate and provide further reflection with staff in team meetings.

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

On occasions, staff undertake physical intervention to keep children safe. Any interventions used are reasonable and proportionate and only implemented as a last resort when de-escalation strategies have been ineffective. The registered manager maintains oversight of incidents and ensures that children are spoken to following any use of physical intervention.

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

There are suitable processes in place to ensure internal staff are safely recruited. However, these processes are not yet effective when agency staff are used. Additionally, records do not consistently demonstrate that original Disclosure and Barring Service certificates have been verified for newly appointed staff. This increases the risk of unsuitable individuals working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a passionate and ambitious manager. She has very high expectations of staff and puts children at the centre of decisions. She has a clear vision and strives to ensure children have positive experiences and happy memories of their time living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures highly effective oversight of the children’s care by using a range of monitoring systems. She recognises the home’s strengths and areas for development. A robust action plan is reviewed and updated regularly, enabling the registered manager to promptly respond to any shortfalls identified. This informs ongoing service development and improving experiences for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager meets regularly with children on an individual basis. This provides a valuable opportunity to directly gather their views, wishes and feelings. Any complaints made are fully explored and responded to by the registered manager. This ensures children feel valued and that their voices are listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are skilled and undertake a thorough induction programme when they join the home. Staff receive ongoing training and development opportunities, including a package of specialist training to deliver the home’s therapeutic model of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 5 Staff receive regular and effective supervision. Children’s needs are central to their conversations. Reflective discussions enable staff and managers to identify ways to improve practice. One staff member commented that the support they receive from managers is excellent and they feel appreciated in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager maintains highly effective working relationships with external professionals and partner agencies. Social workers are promptly informed of incidents, with relevant information shared appropriately. The registered manager demonstrates outstanding practice in advocating for children. She persistently challenges professionals to ensure that the children’s rights and entitlements are met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 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, The 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected (Regulation 21 (a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to children accessing personal information regarding other children that is displayed in the staff office. 10 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

safer recruitment processes for agency staff and Disclosure and Barring Service certificates . 10 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 7

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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: 2630796 8

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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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Inspectors

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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