Children's home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 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 is a privately owned home that provides care for up to four children who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2023.

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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 outstanding

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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: 29 January 2025

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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: 2630796 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/01/2025 Full Good 26/03/2024 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value and care for the children. Staff routinely check in with children and ask about their day. They show a keen interest in what children have been up to and how they are feeling. Children have good relationships with staff and describe them as being kind and helpful. One child shared, ‘They don’t just make you do things; they put things in place to help you.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities that reflect their individual interests. In addition to outings and hobbies, children enjoy spending time together in the home, and staff make a conscious effort to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries. Children and staff share daily mealtimes and take part in activities that reflect aspects of family life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are making good progress from their individual starting points. Staff understand and support each child’s health needs, ensuring that they attend regular health and therapy appointments to promote their overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s therapeutic approach is well understood and consistently applied by all staff. This is supported by the therapeutic lead, who provides training, guidance and regular observations to ensure that good practice is maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children are attending school or alternative education provisions. For those not attending regularly, staff maintain close communication with education professionals to develop and review plans that support the child’s return to education. Clear expectations and routines are in place in the home around school times to promote consistency and a focus on learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to providing a welcoming environment. They ensure the children’s bedrooms are decorated to reflect each child’s individuality. An exception to this, however, is the presence of some staff wearing lanyards and carrying bunches of keys, which slightly detracts from the homely feel the staff are seeking to provide.

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

All staff are aware of the risks that exist for children and keep these in mind, taking appropriate action to safeguard each child according to their individual needs.

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

Children have positive relationships with staff and feel able to share concerns with them. This provides opportunities for children to seek advice and guidance, which subsequently helps to reduce risks and promote their safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 4 Children do not go missing from the home. Despite this, staff remain clear about their responsibilities should a child be missing. Safeguarding scenarios are regularly used to keep staff alert to the risks and protocols associated with missing incidents.

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

Staff use physical intervention only as a last resort, and only after de-escalation techniques have been attempted. When intervention is necessary, it is used to safeguard children, with the least restrictive method used. Following any use of physical intervention, staff speak to children offering medical and emotional support. The manager conducts timely and thorough reviews of all incidents, identifying learning with staff to promote improvement in practice.

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

Allegations made by children are treated with seriousness and responded to promptly and thoroughly. Each concern is subject to a detailed investigation, ensuring that all relevant individuals are appropriately informed and involved.

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

Staff consistently attend and contribute to children’s statutory meetings, working in partnership with other professionals involved in their care. However, some confusion regarding the frequency of care plan updates has led to staff not always requesting or retaining the most recent version on the child’s file.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a committed and inspirational leader who sets high expectations for the quality of care provided to children. She is driven to ensure that children have positive experiences home and continually strives to support children in achieving their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an in-depth understanding of each child’s background and individual needs, and she takes an active lead role in their care planning. Her consistent and visible presence in the home ensures that children see her as approachable, encouraging them to share their views. Children trust that the manager will listen and respond appropriately should they have any concerns to raise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a proactive and tenacious advocate for children. She confidently challenges decisions and escalates concerns when necessary to safeguard children’s welfare. Her actions ensure that children’s voices are heard and that decisions are made based on what is in children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff describe the manager as knowledgeable and supportive. They benefit from regular, high-quality supervision that offers opportunities to reflect on both the children’s needs and their own professional development. One staff member said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

She is very empathetic, and that’s what makes her a good manager. She’s great with both the adults and the children, and consistently reliable and a container for the group. Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 5 There is a strong focus on continuous improvement in the home, supported by regular audits and reflective practice that help strengthen the quality of care. This includes the manager’s own ongoing reflection on her leadership, ensuring that she actively promotes and models a culture of development

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

In addition to natural, day-to-day conversations, children’s views are gathered through planned methods. This includes weekly children’s meetings, which are chaired and agenda-led by the children themselves. These meetings provide a platform for children to express their preferences around meals and activities, and to discuss what is working well and what could be improved about living in the home. Other systems include surveys and ‘jumbo meetings’, which encourage children’s participation in more specific decisions, such as holiday planning. Children consistently report that their views are listened to and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and family members recognise the manager as a significant figure in the home and value her efforts to keep them informed and involved in the children’s lives. One child’s parent commented, ‘She is very friendly and helpful.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 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 must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the home has a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority, and of the placement plan. 31 October 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. In doing so, staff should seek to ensure the home provides a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2630796 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: Compass Community Ltd, 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Kerry Howarth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2630796 8 regulates 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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