Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to eight children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. It is owned and run by a private organisation. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager post has been vacant since September 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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection : Following the last full inspection, the provider was issued with a compliance notice relating to the protection of children standard. This specifically related to how staff and leaders respond to children’s risks. The compliance notice was reviewed as part of this inspection and has been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Inadequate 14/05/2024 Full Good 31/08/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care from an experienced staff team that has a good understanding of children’s distinct needs. As a result of consistent care, children are making progress. Staff thoughtfully support children to identify further education placements and prepare for the transition to college. All children now attend school regularly, and two of the children have recently been supported to complete their GCSE exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain positive relationships with significant people in their lives. Staff listen to children’s requests and advocate for their preferences regarding who they see and when. This helps to ensure that children have a secure support network while they live at the home and as they move into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A dedicated therapeutic practitioner works collaboratively with staff and children to deepen their understanding of each child’s emotional needs and identify the most effective support strategies. In addition to supporting staff in the home, the practitioner also engages with external professionals, including child and adolescent mental health services, to ensure that children receive the care they need to remain healthy and safe. This approach has had a positive impact on all children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities of their own choosing, such as games of football, trips to the local town and attending music clubs and theme parks. Children also enjoyed a recent holiday to Lanzarote. They speak positively of this and the memories they made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared for their futures. Staff work with children to set clear, achievable targets to develop independence skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting. One child has started using part of the home as a self-contained flat. This allows them to experience independent living while still benefiting from the safety and support of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

No children have moved into the home since the last inspection. However, leaders have completed extensive work with staff and children to prepare for when a new child may come to live in the home. Children trust staff to make the right decisions about who will come and live with them.

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

Staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to addressing risk and responding to safeguarding concerns. Since the last inspection, staff have developed a better understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Current and relevant care plans have helped staff to provide consistent care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 4 There has been one occasion where staff had to physically hold a child to protect them and others from harm. Staff ensured that the child had an opportunity to talk about what had happened and that their views were considered. This incident was also well reviewed by the manager to identify learning, which was immediately disseminated to staff.

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

As a result of positive relationships between staff and children, there have been no recent incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff are clear as to their responsibilities if children were to go missing and intervene promptly if they notice a child is unsettled.

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

Staff recognise and respond well to signs that children may need extra help. Staff were able to recognise when a child was not feeling positive and provided support with their mental health. This included gaining support from external professionals and making sure the child had good opportunities to think about and talk about how he felt and find positive coping strategies that reduced self-injurious behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left the home in September 2024. The current manager has been in post since April 2025 and has submitted their application to register. They are supported by experienced deputy managers. The leadership team is aspirational for children and the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have responded positively to the requirements that were raised at the last full inspection and subsequent monitoring visit. As a result, all but one requirement has been met. The unmet requirement relates to the appointment of a responsible individual. Although a new responsible individual has been appointed, Ofsted was not notified of this. As a result, the regulator has been unable to assess the suitability of this individual. The changes in management, and some changes in the wider organisation, are not reflected in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In order to meet the requirements from the last inspection, leaders developed a strong safeguarding culture. This has been achieved through effective staff supervision, reflective team meetings and updated guidance to staff. Alongside this, team meetings, child-focused meetings, therapeutic supervisions and individual supervisions are used as tools to help staff better perform in their role. This comprehensive approach has helped staff to know how to care for children effectively. Staff speak positively about this and say how valued and supported they feel in their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work effectively with external professionals. Social workers report that the staff communicate well with them and that any concerns are immediately shared. Leaders advocate effectively for children to ensure that care planning is aspirational and beneficial to meet children’s individual needs and views. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 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 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

An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has notified HMCI of the name, address and position in the organisation of the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (4)(ii) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 30 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is kept under review and that it remains up to date when key staff in the home change. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2644927 6

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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

Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2644927 7 and 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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