Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited in Gateshead

Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes North East 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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with two of the five children who live in his home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 24 September 2024

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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: 1232649 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2024 Full Good 14/08/2023 Full Good 07/09/2022 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The property is furnished to a good standard and is warm and welcoming. Children have personalised bedrooms and there are photos of the children displayed in the home. When damage occurs, staff ensure that it is promptly repaired. This demonstrates to children that this is their home, and they deserve it to live in nice environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to ensure that they can participate fully in their daily lives. For children learning English as a second language, staff translate important documents and use an interpreter for sharing important information. Staff provide tools to aid communication and encourage positive relationships in the home. The progress one child has made in learning English and building relationships in the home is remarkable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff liaise effectively with schools and the virtual school head, so that children can access appropriate education. Staff work creatively with children who are new to the home, so that they can continue to learn while they wait for an education placement. Staff have supported one child to significantly increase their attendance at school. Another child is expected to achieve their GCSEs and take up their chosen college course. Children are making good progress with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop a positive sense of self. Staff support children to take part in their chosen cultural and religious practices and to communicate and socialise in the child’s first language. This helps children to remain connected to their heritage and feel valued by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and supported to attend their routine appointments. Staff encourage children to lead an active lifestyle and to follow a healthy diet. The impact of children’s earlier experiences is assessed by a therapeutic professional. This helps staff to understand the children’s emotional well-being and informs how staff meet children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager does not always consider the impact on all children when new children move into the home. Staff plan for children moving in and prepare for their arrival. This helps to make the move as smooth as possible. However, staff do not anticipate how this will affect children already living in the home. This means that staff are not always able to manage the children’s competing needs effectively.

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

Children have good relationships with the adults who care for them. Staff invest their time in getting to know the children, and children can identify a trusted adult they will turn to with their worries or concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 4 Staff know and understand the risks associated with each child and how they can keep children safer. Children are supported to understand their own risk and staff help them to make safer decisions. Direct work is regularly completed with children to help them to explore risk in a safe environment. Children are encouraged to be reflective in this process and look at how they can make better decisions in the future.

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

When a child goes missing from home, staff know how to respond. Staff actively look for the child and attempt to keep in regular contact with them. Staff liaise with relevant agencies to contribute to the child’s safe return.

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

Children are helped to manage their own behaviour and feelings. Staff understand the impact of a child’s experience, and support the child to understand how this affects their behaviour. Staff efforts help children to understand the link between their behaviour and consequences. Sometimes, children are held when they become angry or upset. Staff provide consistent rules and boundaries and are skilled at de-escalation techniques. This contributes to a low level of holds in the home.

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

Concerns about staff practice are dealt with quickly by the manager. Investigations are thorough. The manager considers the evidence and ensures that the protection of children is their primary focus. The actions taken following an investigation are robust and identify learning to improve practice .

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

Alarms are fitted to the children’s bedroom doors to monitor when children are entering or leaving their rooms. There is no assessment to demonstrate why this is necessary to safeguard children. Therefore, this is an unnecessary intrusion into children’s right to privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an experienced and enthusiastic leader. She leads a stable staff team that has high expectations and aspirations for the children. Staff are complimentary of the manager’s leadership and feel supported in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has systems in place to review the progress of children and the level of care being provided. The information gathered is used to implement change effectively, identify themes and inform future care in the home. The registered manager is striving to achieve the best for each child living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A particular strength of the staff is their ability to build relationships with partner agencies. Staff have open and honest lines of communication and share relevant information to assist decision-making. This is echoed by professionals working with the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Those working in the home are suitably vetted and have undergone a robust recruitment process. Most staff are either qualified or have been enrolled on the required Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 5 qualification. This helps to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Staff can talk about their role and any organisational issues. They reflect as a group on practice and agree a consistent approach with the children. This does not include the opportunity for staff to reflect on their individual practice with the manager, to drive forward the quality of practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 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 may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(d)) 30 June 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 1232649 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes North East Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1232649 8 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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