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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 1 Registered provider: Compass Childrens Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to six children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. It is owned and run by a private organisation. The home strives towards functioning as therapeutic community. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since March 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 2 November 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2023 Full Outstanding 15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 20/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children report being very happy living in the home, and have made excellent progress in all areas of their lives. They have exceptional relationships with staff, who provide unconditional love and nurture, which has encouraged the children to develop ‘brotherly affection’ for each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress, and external professionals are very positive about the care provided. A reviewing officer described a child as being ‘transformed’ due to the support received from staff. When children move on from the home, they continue to have positive contact with the children still at the home and the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to participate in decisions that affect them. They routinely contribute to their care plans, and this ensures that they are supported in the areas that are important to them. One child was able to identify that he did not feel ready to move to a semi-independent placement. Staff are exploring more-supportive placement options as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to spend time with their families when this is appropriate. One child moved in recently and the team are working closely with the local authority to ensure that he has contact with his brothers and mother.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s identity and diversity needs are sensitively managed in a way that enables them to develop confidence and self-worth. Staff provided exceptional support and nurture for one child to help him explore his gender identity. This has helped him to feel comfortable about his identity and have a better sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are healthy. They attend routine medical appointments and are supported to make healthy choices. Children go out on trips to wildlife farms, explore the countryside and have healthy routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to attend and engage in education. Those who have moved back into their home communities are now successfully progressing in their chosen career path. One child, who left the home in a planned way, continues to visit the home and staff stay in touch and support him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views are sought and listened to. They have been central to deciding how their home looks and what pets they should have at the home. They have gerbils and a fish tank. The manager goes over and above her role to ensure that the children are loved and receive genuine care and nurture, ensuring that their progress is to a high standard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 4 Some children have left the home at relatively short notice. Staff worked hard to avoid this and supported children to move positively to placements that could meet their needs.

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

Children are helped to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, one child who was at risk of exploitation is now able to spend time in the community safely.

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

The staff remain highly motivated to improve their practice. They use handover meetings, team meetings and therapeutic support to continually reflect on and consider how best to help children to thrive.

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

There is an emphasis on promoting positive behaviours that is linked to meaningful reward systems. Children are on board with this and use these incentives as a way of motivating them to behave well.

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

Staff know the children well, and children respond positively to staff because of the strength of their relationships. Children feel listened to and genuinely cared about. Staff talk to children to help them develop coping strategies. In one example, a child was able to identify the support he needed from staff to help him be safe.

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

When children feel distressed, staff are skilled in helping to keep them safe. They are well trained and utilise strategies to effectively deescalate the situation. When children experience strong emotions and staff need to use physical restraint, they do so for the shortest time needed to keep children and others safe.

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

The staff are guided by exceptionally clear and concise plans that are specific to each child’s needs. One child was supported to write his own safety plan, enabling him to understand the cause and effect of his behaviour. Through this effective work, the child was able to identify his own placement needs and was supported to move into a solo placement.

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

Records of incidents are very clear and reviewed by managers. Managers identify and share any learning with staff and children. Plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and adjusted if circumstances change. When working with children who present with high risk, staff remain vigilant and maintain effective communication to ensure that safety plans are followed.

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

When children experience difficult feelings that lead to self-injurious behaviours, staff respond diligently. They seek support from outside agencies to make sure that the child receives the help they need. Following these incidents, staff work with children to understand their feelings and identify safe ways for them to cope if they feel in crisis.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, staff respond promptly and take appropriate action. They work with the police and search for children to try to help them return quickly and safely. Information is shared effectively with outside agencies. Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 5 Staff speak to children to understand their reasons for going missing so that they can work to find ways to prevent this from happening in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly creative and ambitious and sets high standards for the children. She has created a culture where staff, new and old, feel valued and respected within the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high aspirations for the children and knows them well. She continues to support the children who have moved into community placements, providing ongoing support with education and guidance to help them to manage a budget and develop living skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children who have moved on from the home provided admirable feedback about their care at the home. They have continued to maintain remarkable relationships with the manager and staff, and often return to celebrate special occasions at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak highly of the managers. They receive regular, reflective supervisions, and training is offered to enhance their practice. New staff receive excellent induction training, and all staff receive appropriate training to reflect their therapeutic approach to working with children. Staff are offered reflective supervision and encouraged to draw on their professional curiosity in order to focus on ways to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Relationships with external professionals are excellent. Children’s social workers have said that the communication with the staff and management team is excellent, and that they always ensure that the needs of children are central to care planning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 6

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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: 2570071 7

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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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Inspectors

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Jay Shekleton, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2570071 8 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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