Children's Home run by Compass Children‟s Homes Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2740402 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to six children who have experienced childhood trauma and display emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in June 2024 and a new manager was appointed. The new manager left their post earlier than anticipated. The previous registered manager maintained oversight throughout this period and was present during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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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 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: 23 January 2024

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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: 2740402 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2740402 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children present during the inspection. The inspector saw all of the children and spent time playing and speaking with two of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed good relationships with adults. Children are confident and relaxed in the presence of adults and they talk to them about their needs, wishes and aspirations. Children have the confidence to voice when they need support from adults, for example asking for help to manage their relationships with peers, friends and family. One child said that they liked living in the home because adults were kind.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults have supported children to create individual communication tools to help them express themselves when they feel overwhelmed. One child uses one-word codes and coloured wrist bands. This creative approach is mirrored by the programme psychologist, who supports children to process their feelings using play and music.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education has been a top priority for managers. They are mindful of children’s individual needs and strengths when considering the suitability of schools. One child has been supported to acquire qualifications that enable them to participate in an apprenticeship. Another child is making good progress at mainstream school. When children experience exclusions, adults work with schools to achieve favourable outcomes for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults implement age-appropriate boundaries and expectations for children. They support children to understand the rationale for rules: to keep them safe and aid their healthy development. One child struggled to adjust to these expectations. After a few months, managers realised they were unable to meet the child’s needs and the child moved to a new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their friends and family, providing experiences are positive and safe. The manager has raised concerns with social workers when family and friendship ties are putting children at risk of harm.

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

Adults have a good understanding of children’s lived experiences and how this impacts their emotional well-being and behaviours. They are alert to children’s individual vulnerabilities. They use this knowledge to inform their practice and to help children, for example through reflective conversations about their behaviour and associated risks.

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

Children’s relationships are carefully monitored, and this enables staff to promote healthy boundaries between them. Staff take appropriate steps to minimise the risk of children harming each other or encouraging each other to participate in unsafe behaviours, for example intervening to reduce the likelihood of children spending unsupervised time together. Staff respond with care when children go missing from home or self-harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740402 4 Some serious incidents have occurred in the home and outcomes have not always aligned with the home’s therapeutic approach. However, managers and staff have engaged in reflective discussions and appropriate actions have followed, for example liaising with the police, challenging them and making agreements about how any future interactions should be managed.

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

In most instances, managers respond appropriately when children raise concerns about adults, demonstrating that they listen to children. Managers follow established safeguarding procedures and consult with children’s social workers and other local authority professionals. They conduct internal investigations and share the outcomes with external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors children’s progress effectively and ensures that adults are aware of their ongoing or emerging needs. Adults share updates and ideas during team meetings, which include input from the programme psychologist. This has resulted in adults using some creative strategies to support children and to overcome barriers to their engagement. When the new manager briefly joined the home, the former registered manager continued to be present, ensuring consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses within the team. Many adults are working towards their level 3 qualification, but they receive a thorough induction, and they are supported through regular supervision sessions and team meetings. They also benefit from working alongside the programme psychologist, who reinforces the home’s trauma-informed approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the manager identifies shortfalls in practice, he explores them with adults during supervision and reminds them of the home’s ethos and expectations. The manager holds the children in mind throughout these conversations and challenges adults’ suitability for the role, if this need becomes apparent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been an isolated incident where the manager’s response to safeguarding concerns was insufficient. While he correctly followed safeguarding procedures immediately, there was a lack of challenge directed towards the local authority to ensure the child’s needs were met and to promote the child’s rights. Inspection report for children’s home: 2740402 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must direct challenge to other agencies when their actions fall short of what is required. 25 October 2024

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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: 2740402 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: Chalford House, 114 Warminster Road, Westbury BA13 3PR

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Inspectors:

Tara Webb, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Nicola Lownds, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2740402 7 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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Inspectors:

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