Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Dover

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 1 SC023637 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited 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 and provides care for up to eight children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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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: 23 January 2024

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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: SC023637 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Outstanding 16/03/2023 Full Outstanding 14/02/2022 Full Good 10/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from staff who know them well. As a result, they thrive. The manager and staff provide the children with warmth, care and nurture. Children respond to such care and develop long-lasting and trusting relationships with the staff. As a result, the children flourish and make excellent progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive highly focused support from experienced, knowledgeable staff. Staff understand each child’s needs regardless of the complexity and help others to do the same. For example, staff use a tool that shows how each child communicates. This helps others who visit the child to communicate with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A strong therapeutic ethos runs throughout all practice. Staff are child-focused and work hard to improve the outcomes for each child. Staff receive therapeutic training that helps them to meet children’s needs. Children also have access to external therapists when required. Children recognise the value of the support that they receive and encourage others to attend by giving examples of the benefits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress. The staff recognise this progress no matter how small. One child has started to attend school on their own. Another child has not been excluded for over a year and is making great progress. The value that staff place on education means that children’s progress is consistent. The children recognise the commitment of staff and understand the importance of education, recognising the positive impact that it can have on their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A significant strength of this home is the staff’s commitment to hearing children’s views. Children make choices about their home and the design and decor of their bedrooms. Staff provide children with opportunities to express their wishes and feelings. Weekly meetings and a ‘mega meeting’ every six months provide the children with an opportunity to make a difference to the home. This helps children to feel that they matter and that staff value their opinions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage the children to take part in activities that help them develop as individuals. This includes different sports, the use of scooters, photography and music. One child is an exceptional pianist, and another has a strong interest in computers. The children also like the activities that they do together. These include film nights with takeaways or ‘fakeaways’ (takeaway-style food that they make themselves and is healthier).

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The consistency of the staff team provides stability for the children. The stable staff group creates an environment where children can approach staff for help, support, or to talk. There is lots of laughter and chatter, which helps to make the home feel like a family home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 4 Children experience well-planned and individualised moves into and out of the home. Meticulous planning involves the children living in the home and the child moving in. Children are empathetic and remember how it feels to move in or out. They strive to make the experience as positive as possible for others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of continued family relationships. They go to great lengths to ensure that the children spend time with their family and those who are important to them. One parent said, ‘They manage visits amazingly, and they do their ultimate best even with the travelling.’

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

Children live in a warm, homely environment where they feel safe. They can identify adults who they trust and feel able to approach if they feel worried or upset.

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

Staff identify risks well and help children stay safe. Staff carry out risk assessments in collaboration with the children, taking account of their individual communication styles. They help children to understand what causes them to be upset. The staff use these documents to support debriefs and to open further discussions with children about risk.

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

Staff receive intensive training in behaviour management techniques. They work with children to think about their behaviours, some of which create some challenges. Staff have an excellent understanding of the children’s behaviours and the reasons for them. The strong boundaries that are in place help to improve the children’s understanding of the home’s rules. Staff address any negative behaviours in a gentle way that meets all the children’s needs.

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

Children make considerable progress towards managing their emotions. They can let staff know how they feel, and there has been a significant decrease in incidents. The use of physical intervention has also decreased because of the trusting relationships that staff have built with the children. Staff help children to become calmer and more settled. One professional praised staff for supporting children after an incident and not allowing them to go to bed upset.

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

Children receive strong support in the management of their mental health and emotional well-being. For example, staff helped one child to better identify their feelings. This helped them to reflect on how to move forward, reduced their anxieties and increased their attendance at school. Another child has become more open to speaking with their social worker.

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

Clear safeguarding procedures are in place that meet children’s needs. Staff know these procedures and are confident in their implementation. Children’s welfare is well promoted and constantly reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An exceptional manager leads this home. A strong management team supports her. There is a deep commitment to the continued care and development of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly skilled and knowledgeable manager is aspirational for the children and the home. She has a focus on the children’s needs and ensuring that staff meet them. The manager creates opportunities for the children to make progress in all areas of their lives. She models a positive approach to the care of the children. As a result, staff take the same approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an effective culture of learning and development. Staff receive exceptional training opportunities that enable them to work with the children. Supervision sessions are regular and reflective. Managers consult the children ahead of staff appraisals, which helps to strengthen practice and ensures that children feel heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager shows a strong commitment to research-informed practice. For example, there is an excellent use of research to enable improved understanding of some children’s dietary needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly skilled at escalating concerns to placing authorities and ensuring a response. As a result, children feel empowered to raise concerns of their own. For example, when a child disagreed with their plans, staff supported them in communicating their concerns to a senior person in their placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains strong and effective relationships with other professionals, including school staff, therapists and the local police community officer, to ensure the best possible care and experiences for the children. Comments from professionals and parents are extremely positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion. A range of activities helps to keep diversity and the celebration of difference at the forefront of staff practice. Culture evenings are popular with the children as well as themed months. Staff attend focused workshops on important topics, such as sexuality. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 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: SC023637 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Claudia Poienar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023637 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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