Children's Home run by Compass Children‟s Homes Limited in Calderdale

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 1 SC483220

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Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. 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

Five children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. All five children were spoken with as part of the inspection process.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was unavailable at the time of the inspection. The inspection was supported by the responsible individual and other senior leaders and managers from the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection date: 30 September and 1 October 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 3

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Senior leaders have identified significant concerns regarding safeguarding practice within the home and have taken decisive action in response to this.  Children do not receive individualised care that meets their needs.  Children’s bedrooms are not maintained to a standard that ensures they are safe and hazard free.  Children’s views, wishes and feelings are not listened to or acted on.  Medication practice is poor. The administration of the children’s medication is not managed effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out to review the provider’s response to serious incidents that have been notified to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do not receive individualised care that meets their needs. Children experience restrictions in their day-to-day care that causes them confusion and upset, resulting in incidents. There is no rationale or understanding for the implementation of these restrictions.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not listen to the views, wishes and feelings of children. Children were taken on holiday to a destination they had said they did not want to go to. Children went missing from the holiday accommodation. Staff did not respond to this missing episode and the children remained at risk of significant harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health care needs are not fully known or understood by staff. Staff have not ensured that children’s medication is reviewed by an appropriate specialist health professional. The lack of professional curiosity and follow-up action resulted in staff uncertainty regarding their support for a child’s health needs and with their controlled medication.

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Findings from the inspection

The administration of the children’s medication is not effectively managed by staff. Staff are unaware if children are taking their medication, specifically when they are staying with their families. They do not ensure that medication amounts are checked in order to enable a timely response to any discrepancies. There is no management oversight of medication.

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Findings from the inspection

The communal areas of the home are tidy, with modern decoration, and they reflect that of a family home. Children’s bedrooms do not reflect the standard in the rest of the home. These rooms are not personalised, and there is evident damage to furniture and fixtures that pose a hazard to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 4 Children are supported to develop and maintain relationships with their families. This is done in a manner that keeps children safe. Staff talk about children’s families with them and take an interest in encouraging children to identify positive relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged to go to school. Some children do not have an educational placement due to circumstances outside of the children’s and staff’s remit. Staff escalate their concerns regularly, and they help children to maintain focused on returning to school at the earliest opportunity.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are detailed. They provide clear information regarding each child’s individual risks and clear action to be taken by staff to reduce these risks. They also include input from the assistant psychologist, which helps staff to understand the effect and presentation of children’s trauma, emotions, and behaviours. However, staff do not read risk assessments in order to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Children know their own risks. They can identify these risks and know ways to help keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is currently not in work. The day-to-day running of the home is being carried out by the deputy manager. Senior management has implemented a support system to help the deputy manager to fulfil this role.

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Findings from the inspection

The home operates in a culture of control. Staff have not been allowed to complete tasks in line with their job description. Staff are restricted in their actions regarding day-to-day care of children and their management of incidents. Staff do not feel trusted to fulfil their roles and responsibilities and have not been supported to develop their knowledge and skills regarding their care for children. Recent changes have made staff feel more supported. They are receiving learning opportunities to develop their skills and are now carrying out tasks that are relevant to their specific roles.

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Findings from the inspection

Concerns regarding staff practice are taken seriously when they are identified. Thorough investigations are carried out by other internal managers, independent to this home. Appropriate action is taken to address the concerns, and additional action is taken to mitigate the risk of reoccurrence. However, on one occasion, an implemented risk assessment, which was vital to addressing staff concerns, was not available to those leaders and managers currently running the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Records and documents are inaccurate. This has not been identified by leaders and managers. This has resulted in inaccurate recording of incidents and unclear oversight of the children’s care.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders and managers have identified that there are significant concerns regarding the care of children and the leadership and management of the home. Leaders and managers have started to implement changes to improve the quality of care for children. The responsible individual has provided a clear action plan to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 5 address the concerns identified. They have also given assurance that no more children will move into the home until they are satisfied with the improvements. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 6

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/07/2025 Full Good 19/03/2025 Full Outstanding 06/02/2024 Full Outstanding 16/08/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 7

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(ix)) 9 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 9 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 8 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 9 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 9 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(e)) 5 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration, and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 5 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Bowker

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Inspector

Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483220 11 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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