Children's home run by Compass Children‟s Homes Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 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 is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the 23 April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were six children living at the home. Four of the children were spoken to by the inspector. Since the last inspection, four children have left the home. These moves were all well planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is warm and welcoming and they are encouraged to style their bedrooms in a manner that reflects their interests. A child who recently moved in said they are looking forward to decorating their bedroom, and were happy that the mirror they chose had been purchased. Generally, bedrooms are well maintained. However, there was evidence of damage to the door frame of a child’s bedroom, and another child’s bedroom wall needs repainting. The manager was aware of these repairs and had planned for these to be addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have the chance to build trusted relationships with people who care for them. Staff know children well and aspire for them to reach their full potential. They understand children’s communication needs, and put measures in place to address any barriers. For example, a child who struggles to speak about their mental health has the option to express their feelings over the phone. This provides staff with greater scope to meet children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in activities and encouraged to try new ones. They have lots of positive experiences in and out of the home, which include partaking in cultural events organised by staff. This increases children’s social skills and their awareness of cultural diversity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make measured progress from their starting points. Staff encourage children to attend school and teach them the importance of obtaining an education when they are reluctant to attend. This improves children’s academic success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to take part in decisions about their lives. They are given opportunities to make decisions about their day-to-day care, such as what food they want to eat, activities they would like to take part in, and how they want to dress. Staff are nonjudgmental and accept children’s life choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to remain in contact with people who are important to them. Staff travel long distances to take children to see their family. This commitment helps children to maintain and build on significant relationships in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared for independence. They engage in an independence programme, which includes routinely taking part in activities such as cooking, shopping and budgeting, until they can confidently complete these tasks. A child who left the home during the inspection period was supported to take driving lessons and passed their driving test. This planning supported the child with their transition into adulthood. Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 4

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

The home’s safeguarding culture provides children with a sense of security in the home. Children say they are safe and can identify a trusted adult they can speak to openly about living in the home and anything they are worried about.

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

Allegations made by children are responded to promptly. In accordance with statutory guidance, information is shared with the relevant safeguarding agencies to ensure that there is independent oversight and scrutiny. Investigations are thorough, and the outcome shared with professionals. However, children are not consistently informed of the outcome.

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

Records show that restraint practice is used as a last resort, after various de-escalation techniques have been used. Follow-up practice is good. There are debriefs with the staff and child, and the manager reviews the incident to ensure that the restraint was necessary and proportionate.

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

Staff are aware of children’s associated risks and the various approaches they can adopt to manage these. For example, they work jointly with the home’s therapeutic practitioner, to learn about children’s emotional health and strategies they can use to help children manage their feelings and emotions safely.

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

Staff understand their role and responsibilities when a safeguarding incident occurs. For example, there is a swift, coordinated response from leaders, managers and staff when children go missing. Staff search for children during the day and night to locate them, and enlist the support of the police and those connected to the child to broaden the search.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about the children and their welfare. He speaks proudly of their achievements and the staff who support them. Records demonstrate that the manager’s oversight of the home is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive from the manager. As well as supervision with a member of the care management team, staff routinely meet with the therapeutic practitioner to gain therapeutic input to support children with their well-being. Team meetings take place regularly and staff have access to a wide variety of training. These support systems help staff to provide effective care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that children are cared for in accordance with their placing authority plans. Plans are comprehensive and ensure that children receive targeted support so that their progress is not hindered. Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 5 Leaders, managers and staff have formed positive working relationships with professionals. They routinely consult professionals such as the psychotherapist and therapeutic practitioner for guidance and support on how to work with children. Children are supported to access therapy sessions for their mental health. Social workers speak positively about partnership working with the staff team. A child’s social worker talked positively about the approach of staff in managing a child’s mental health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is established. Staff understand their individual and shared responsibilities around caring for children and provide care that is consistent. Newly recruited staff are suitably vetted to ensure that the quality of care children receive from all staff is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning arrangements are good. Children’s moves into the home are carefully assessed to reduce the risk of disruption for children already living in the home. Community meetings take place daily so that children’s views about the home are regularly captured. In readiness of children leaving the home, staff work closely with professionals and complete direct work to reduce any anxieties that children may have about moving on. Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 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 registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that the outcome of any allegation made by the child is shared with them. 14 November 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: 2616605 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Bowker

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2616605 8 and inspects 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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