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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 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 operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024. She is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Good 19/05/2021 Full Good 11/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

During the inspection, the inspector observed and spoke with both children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are thriving. Staff provide children with a stable, loving home, where they have been able to develop and grow in all aspects of their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive predictable, high-quality care from an established and nurturing staff team. Staff use a therapeutic parenting approach throughout their practice. This ensures that children receive creative, research-informed care, which has enhanced their life experiences. As a result, children are happy and settled and are making fantastic progress from their starting points in all areas of their development, which has had a sustained and significant effect on their lives. For example, both children are no longer isolated. They are now enjoying social interaction through communal living. This was previously not thought possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a warm, welcoming, and exceptionally nurturing home environment. They are actively encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, which enhances their sense of ownership and belonging. The home is thoughtfully decorated with photos that celebrate children’s achievements and shared experiences. Children are meaningfully involved in the upkeep of their home, including a vibrant gardening project that has resulted in an abundance of fresh salad and vegetables. These opportunities promote children’s independence, emotional security, and pride in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff value the importance of education and learning and the routine that these provide for children. Both children are in full-time education and have excellent attendance. Managers and staff communicate with education professionals daily, and there are weekly meetings that further promote partnership working and consistency. Furthermore, staff support children’s learning in the home, which helps them develop independent living skills, builds confidence and enhances their educational attainment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are in very good health, and staff promote their health needs effectively. Children are registered with local and specialist health services, as needed. Staff consistently encourage children to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and to engage in regular physical activity. This proactive approach has led to significant improvements in children’s health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a wide range of well-planned and enriching activities. These experiences enable them to develop new skills, build positive relationships, and engage meaningfully with their local community. Children enjoy trips to the seaside, attend local discos, take part in gardening projects, and have recently contributed to a local charity. These purposeful opportunities significantly enhance children’s confidence, self-esteem, and sense of social responsibility. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 4 Children’s voices are at the forefront of this home. Managers and staff proactively seek children’s views and ensure that they have opportunities to influence the running of the home. There is a culture of mutual respect, tolerance, and a feeling of genuine warmth. Staff foster excellent relationships with children through effective communication, showing empathy, and providing consistently outstanding care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote positive relationships between children and their families. They understand that these relationships are integral to supporting positive outcomes for children. Through support from staff, children have been able to develop, improve, and maintain family relationships. One professional commented, ‘Staff support, and care is incredible. It saved the family.’

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

Managers and staff demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the safety and well- being of children. A highly trained, knowledgeable, and skilled staff team provides consistent, nurturing care and works diligently to ensure that children feel safe, protected, and valued.

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

Staff demonstrate an exceptional understanding of children’s individual needs. They are highly attuned to children, any anxieties, and diverse communication styles. A ‘total communication’ approach has been thoughtfully developed and embedded across the home. Staff use a range of tools, including mood boards, body maps, and social stories, to help children express their feelings following incidents. This enables children to provide meaningful feedback and reflect on their experiences. The ability to communicate effectively contributes significantly to children’s safety and emotional well- being.

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

Staff use a therapeutic approach to help children and keep them safe. Children attend weekly therapy, which has helped them develop emotional resilience and regulation skills. A therapeutic practitioner works in the home and provides staff with training and guidance on the organisation’s model of care and children’s individual needs. Staff have gained a deeper understanding of children and how to meet their needs effectively.

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

Staff’s approach to managing children’s anxieties is excellent. Restraint has significantly reduced. This is because staff use highly effective de-escalation techniques to diffuse situations. The manager has a thorough oversight of incidents and ensures that staff and children reflect on all incidents. This creates a culture of reflection and learning for all. It supports children to feel safe, secure, and more confident in their relationships with staff.

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

Staff consistently follow children’s comprehensive behaviour support and safety plans. They provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to support children. Management oversight is highly effective in ensuring that staff always have up-to-date guidance. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an ambitious and inspirational leader. She has a positive ‘can-do’ attitude, which permeates through the staff team. She has established an open and inclusive culture that places the children at the forefront of practice. She has exceptional knowledge of the children and their accomplishments since they have been living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have robust oversight of the quality of care that children receive. There are rigorous monitoring systems in place. The manager and responsible individual carry out regular audits to scrutinise staff performance and children’s outcomes. They use these extremely well. They also use child-centred development plans to continuously develop the service and ensure that staff’s practice consistently exceeds the standard of good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership, management and staff cohesion are clear strengths of the home. Together, they ensure the safety and welfare of children. Strategic reviews of incidents at the home provide constant evaluation of staff practice and highlight children’s changing needs. Staff supervision and focused team meetings are highly effective management tools, and they address areas for development to ensure effective staff practice. Staff say that they ‘love’ working at the home and that managers are incredibly supportive and approachable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff make excellent use of research that is tailored to children’s individual needs to inform and enhance their practice. For example, the manager has drawn on research to explore the therapeutic benefits of gardening for children with learning disabilities. This strengthens staff’s understanding of the impact of their work. Additionally, it ensures that staff carry out purposeful and meaningful work with children, which enhances their experiences and enriches their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have extremely effective working relationships with external agencies and school professionals. These relationships ensure that children receive the best possible care. Professionals speak very highly of the quality of care provided and the standards of communication maintained by staff. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has come on leaps and bounds. Staff are so committed. Nothing phases them. The love and warmth they have for him comes across.’ Another professional commented, ‘It is clear that staff genuinely cherish the young people in their care and exemplify the holistic, therapeutic, and nurturing environment.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager challenges decisions in respect of children’s care plans to ensure that children’s transitions align with their needs and support long-term stability and continuation of their progress. The strong leadership of the home and the excellent quality of care create an environment where staff are proud to work and where children flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 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: 1254840 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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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1254840 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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