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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, specific language/communication difficulties and/or sensory integration difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, five children were living in the home. Four children were seen as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently without a registered manager. Two service managers are overseeing the day-to-day management of the home, with support from three deputy managers and the responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 21 May 2024. Significant shortfalls were identified in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued requirements under regulations 12, 13, 35, 20 and 7.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the safety and well-being of children and to review the provider’s progress in relation to the requirements raised at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken appropriate action to improve systems that help to keep children safe. For example, clear risk assessments are now in place to provide adults with effective guidance to minimise the risks for children. Staff have also received extra training, and there is ongoing consultation with external trainers on physical Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 2 intervention. Staff are now more confident and effective in managing children’s behaviours. As a result, there have been no further incidents of staff using unauthorised floor holds with any of the children. Overall, the need for staff to use physical intervention has significantly reduced since the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ oversight of children’s case records and incidents has improved. Managers ensure that children and staff are involved in post-incident reflections. In addition, managers review the effectiveness of any physical interventions used. These measures ensure that, when used, interventions are necessary and proportionate and that managers can identify any learning or revisions needed to children’s plans.

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This monitoring visit

There has been work undertaken on staff’s understanding of children’s preferred communication styles. Staff have implemented communication passports for children and each child now has their own bespoke communication pack. This has enabled children to share their wishes and feelings and make choices around activities and food.

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This monitoring visit

The home has a clear management structure in place to support the day-to-day running of the home. Managers are clear on their roles and responsibilities. There is robust management monitoring in place, with daily, weekly and monthly audits, as well as quality assurance of children’s records to ensure that records are factual and completed in line with regulation.

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This monitoring visit

There are extensive development plans in place to address the shortfalls found at the last inspection and improve the quality of care for children. These are regularly reviewed by senior leaders. There is an extensive refurbishment plan in place. Improvements are being made to the home environment. Remedial action has been taken to ensure that fire doors are all compliant and fully close. There is further work planned to improve fire safety in the home. These plans demonstrate commitment to the continual development of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed the staff rota and ensured that there is additional staff support from other homes in the region, as well as an ongoing recruitment drive. Managers are continuing to use agency staff that are familiar with the children. Three of these agency staff have recently been recruited to the core staff team. As a result, there has been a reduction in the use of ad hoc agency staff, which will improve the consistency of care children receive.

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This monitoring visit

Training has improved. All staff, including regular agency staff, are trained in the use of behaviour management, physical intervention and medication. Managers are in the process of completing a skills audit to identify any gaps in staff’s knowledge and skills to ensure that staff are skilled and equipped to meet each child’s needs. In addition, senior leaders have ensured that the entire management team has had further management training to develop its leadership and management skills. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 3 As a result of this inspection, all the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. No further requirements or recommendations have been raised. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Inadequate 06/06/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good 23/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 6

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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: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2620678 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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