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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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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: 2629861 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/04/2023 Full Good 13/07/2022 Full Good 09/03/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff take pride in the home. The house is well maintained and decorated in line with children’s wishes, and children’s bedrooms are personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between children and staff are warm. Children are comfortable with the staff and are treated with respect and dignity. They feel cared for and recognise who they can talk to if they have any concerns. As a result, children feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s support plans are detailed and child friendly. They are updated regularly and provide clear information to staff on how best to provide care and support in a range of situations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s healthcare needs are met. The manager works with medical professionals to provide staff with health-related training. This means that staff have the required skills to provide appropriate care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in relation to their individual starting points. They learn important life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene. Some children are more safely accessing the community independently, using public transport. For other children, progress while limited, remains important.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite proactive and persistent work from the home, some children are not in education or employment or not consistently engaging. Staff continue to encourage them to engage and achieve. One child is undertaking mock exams and is supported to revise in the home and attend additional after-school classes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff understand children’s needs before they move into the home. Moves into and on from the home are planned thoroughly and sensitively according to the emotional needs of the children. This has resulted in positive endings for children with complex needs. When children move on, they stay in contact with the home. This reflects the strong relationships they have built with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individuality is celebrated. Staff help the children to understand and explore their cultural backgrounds in a way that is sensitive to their own wishes and beliefs. Children participate in regular activities and social events away from the home. The children enjoyed a holiday abroad together, and one child attended a festival with friends. This means that children have new experiences which build their confidence.

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

Staff appropriately share any concerns about children’s safety and welfare with the wider safeguarding network, including social workers, to ensure that children get the help that they need to be safe. Records of actions taken are clear and demonstrate how managers Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 4 work with others to develop safety plans and how they work with children to teach them how to become safer. This has meant that concerns about possible exploitation for some children have reduced, and residual risks are being managed effectively.

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

Children who go missing from home experience a well-coordinated response. Staff respond quickly to help make sure that the children return safely. They take action to locate children and work with other agencies, such as the police, to bring them home safely. When children return, staff seek to understand the child’s motivations for going missing so that they can try to prevent reoccurrence. For one child, there has been a reduction in the frequency of going missing during their time in the home. As a result, they are safer.

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

Staff respond with care to help children feel safe and to get them the support they need. When children experience difficult feelings that lead them to harm themselves, they work effectively with other specialist agencies, such as mental health services. This helps to ensure children’s their needs are better understood, and they receive care that is planned effectively.

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

Children who experience feelings of distress receive help from skilled staff to become safer and find more positive strategies to express themselves. The staff explore the child’s feelings and work with them to understand any factors that may be contributing to how they are feeling. They respond with care and nurture. When staff use physical intervention, this is used appropriately for the shortest length of time needed to keep everybody safe.

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

Processes to manage safe recruitment are effective. This means that potential risks to children are minimised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are ambitious and committed to delivering positive outcomes for children. They recognise the progress that children make and celebrate this appropriately. Managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. When areas for further development are identified, they create clear plans to address these and take action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The newly registered manager is currently working towards attaining the relevant qualification. They are supported in their development by available and present senior managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the children’s needs well. Monitoring systems in the home are comprehensive and help the manager to have effective oversight. This means that children receive suitable high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and speak warmly of the support that they receive from leaders and managers. They benefit from regular supervision sessions and appraisals that help them to reflect on and adapt their practice. They receive in-depth induction training and Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 5 further learning that is specific to children’s needs. This helps staff to feel more confident in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have positive relationships with other professionals, such as social workers, and they work collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for children. One social worker said that they feel well informed of any concerns and assured by the actions of managers to resolve any issues identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were set at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 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: 2629861 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

Glen Strowbridge, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Jay Shekleton, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2629861 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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