Compass Fostering South East

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 1 Compass Fostering South East Compass Fostering South Limited Pean Hill Park, Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3BJ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This privately owned independent fostering agency registered with Ofsted in March 2021. The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 September 2024.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster carers provide long-term, respite and permanent care placements. The fostering service also provides placements for children with disabilities, as well as parent and child placements. The fostering service provides care that is based on a therapeutic approach. At the time of this inspection, there were 51 approved fostering households, providing care for a total of 54 children.

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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 independent fostering agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 10 January 2022

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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 independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have meaningful and nurturing relationships with their foster carers. Carers demonstrate a strong understanding of the children in their care and ensure that their voices are heard. One child said, ‘I love them [foster parents], and they love me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported when they move into their foster homes. They receive accessible and informative children’s guides, which help them understand their care arrangements. Foster carers provide a warm and sensitive welcome, helping children to settle well and feel safe in their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children leave a foster home, the transition is handled with careful planning and sensitivity. If a child needs to leave earlier than expected, the agency prioritises children’s welfare and well-being, always ensuring a child-centred approach. The impact on other children in the home is also considered. Children have a positive experience when moving on from their foster homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel a sense of stability and connection. They are supported to remain in their foster homes for as long as they need care, with most children staying with their carers for more than a year. Children are fully included in family life and often enjoy holidays with their carers. One child said, ‘We have dinner together, we talk about everything, we feel like family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of social and recreational activities. Events organised by the agency promote connections with the local community. Children say they enjoy the opportunity to make friends with others who have shared experiences. These activities provide enjoyment while helping children develop important social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly consulted about their care. There is clear evidence that children’s views influence service development. The children’s council and youth panel provide valuable opportunities for children to share their opinions. As a result, children feel included and empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and foster carers receive specialist support tailored to their individual needs. Therapeutic provision is a key strength of the agency, ensuring that children have access to the right support to promote their well-being. One foster parent said, ‘If you’ve got a problem they [the agency] support you, we were struggling, but because of [the therapeutic practitioner] we’re doing great now.’ Foster carers develop a meaningful understanding of children’s behaviours and what they communicate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their foster placements. Supervising social workers and foster carers have a thorough understanding of each child’s development and identify ways to support further progress. Children with complex health needs Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 3 receive well-planned support. The agency ensures that care is well-coordinated and responsive to individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of foster carer records has improved. Staff and carers have undertaken training to help them understand the importance of accurate record-keeping. Daily logs are now generally written to the child and provide valuable insight into their experiences. However, in two cases, carers’ logs were significantly out of date. This is a missed opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of children’s daily experiences.

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

Children feel safe. They say their foster carers are trusted adults whom they can turn to with concerns or worries. Children know that their carers and the fostering agency listen to them, take their concerns seriously, and prioritise their well-being. As a result, children have confidence in their carers.

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

Risk assessments and safety plans are generally of good quality. They are typically written in clear, accessible language that remains sensitive to the possibility of the child reading them in the future. Foster carers are provided with proportionate strategies to manage identified risks.

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

Children receive effective support to help them manage their emotions and behaviour. Carers demonstrate creativity in finding personalised strategies that meet children’s individual needs. Foster carers consistently promote positive behaviour, and as a result, the use of physical restraint is rare. Children develop essential social skills and behaviours that prepare them for later life.

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

Children who go missing benefit from a well-coordinated response. There is a clear and immediate plan of action to protect them and prevent further incidents. Risks are well understood, and effective measures are implemented to keep children safe.

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

Allegations or concerns regarding foster carers’ practice are generally well managed. Information is shared with all appropriate agencies, and investigations are conducted fairly and promptly. However, on some occasions, social work analysis within allegation reports has lacked a sufficiently child-centred perspective. Learning and guidance have already been provided to staff to ensure greater consistency in future.

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

Children are supported to take appropriate risks in line with their age and level of understanding. One child has been effectively encouraged to develop greater independence, preparing him well for the transition to adulthood.

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

Foster carers engage in a range of training related to children’s safety. This includes specialised training tailored to the specific needs of the children they care for. One foster carer said, ‘When you’ve been doing this a long time the training can get a bit repetitive, but not here, there’s always something interesting to learn.’ Carers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been multiple changes in the agency’s management since the last inspection. The current manager has been leading the team for 18 months; however, she is due to leave imminently. The manager has a strong understanding of both the children and foster carers and is committed to achieving positive outcomes. Foster carers and staff have valued her effective and caring approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment processes are robust. The agency is appropriately staffed to meet the needs of foster carers and children. Staff and panel members receive appropriate training and possess the necessary skills to deliver high-quality services. Thorough vetting processes ensure that only suitable individuals are appointed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers carefully consider children’s individual needs when placing them with foster carers. Placement decisions are child-focused, ensuring that the needs of both the child and any existing children in the household are thoroughly assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers proactively monitor the quality of care. They use feedback from a range of sources to inform practice and drive improvements. Strengths and areas for development are identified, and shortfalls are usually addressed via effective action plans. However, case recording is inconsistent, and some children’s local authority, health, and education documentation is significantly out of date. The agency’s escalation policy has not been followed in these cases, meaning carers may not always have the information they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers closely track the progress of individual children and can demonstrate the positive impact that foster care has had on their development and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff receive regular, structured supervision that is focused on children’s experiences, needs, and plans. Supervision is well-documented and contributes to effective practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency provides effective training, development, and induction processes that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the children in its care. Training is regularly reviewed to ensure it enhances practice and supports continuous improvement. Leaders, managers, and staff stay well-informed about current best practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work together effectively to ensure consistency and stability for children. Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, promoting a sense of shared accountability. Staff benefit from a positive and supportive workplace culture. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 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 Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that, in relation to any child placed or to be placed with a foster parent, the foster parent is given such information, which is kept up to date, as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child, and in particular that each foster parent is provided with a copy of the most recent version of the child’s care plan provided to the fostering service provider under regulation 6(3)(d) of the Care Planning Regulations. (Regulation 17 (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the fostering agency must effectively challenge partner agencies when important information and documentation relating to care planning is not being shared. 30 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff, volunteers, panel members and fostering households understand the nature of records maintained and follow the service’s policy for the keeping and retention of files, managing confidential information and access to files (including files removed from the premises). There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. In particular, the fostering agency should make sure that foster carer logs are kept up to date. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 26.2, page 52)

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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 Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Compass Fostering South Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: diane.dennis@compassfostering.com

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Inspectors

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Compass Fostering South East 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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