Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 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 registered to provide care for up to five children who have experienced trauma and family breakdown. This is one of several children’s homes managed by this private company. There is a school on site, which is run by the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025.

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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 outstanding

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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: 18 December 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: 2723842 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2024 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Two children have left the home since the last inspection. One child moved to supported accommodation in line with their pathway plan and the other child moved due to concerns relating to the suitability of children placed together. The child returned to an area they were familiar with in line with their wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was spoken with at the time of the inspection. One child did not wish to speak to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for in a therapeutic environment, underpinned by a relevant therapeutic model. Several staff have completed a one-year course to help them apply the theory in practice. A therapist works with the staff to support them in their role. Children are offered therapeutic support, should they wish, and music therapy is also available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers work hard to develop relationships with external professionals. An occupational therapist, a children and young person’s police officer and a sexual health professional all attend the home on a regular basis to ensure children are supported holistically.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported children to have many positive experiences outside of the home. For example, one child went to a summer music festival to see their favourite musician. These rich life experiences help children have positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are strong advocates regarding children’s education. Both children were struggling with school attendance for a number of reasons. For one child, a review of their education, health and care plan was required to explore alternative provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s cultural needs are well understood by the manager and the staff team. The specific cultural needs of children are regularly discussed, and creative and thoughtful ways of trying to engage with children who have specific beliefs are explored.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A children and young person’s police officer was positive about the home and said that good working relationships had been formed. An education professional felt that the home could do no more to help the child they were involved with and said that the staff work exceptionally hard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming, with personalised areas for the children to relax and spend time with staff in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 4

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

Highly effective oversight and extremely strong multi-agency working mean that risks are exceptionally well managed.

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

Risks are extremely well understood and responded to. For children new to the home, all staff and the manager seek to understand what is happening and why. They apply curiosity alongside a therapeutic approach in acceptance and commitment. Staff spend a significant amount of time working with children in relation to social media use and exploitation concerns.

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

Safeguarding arrangements remain at the forefront of the provider’s work. The manager works alongside all professionals and advocates strongly for children. Challenge to local authorities is made when appropriate, and conversations are held with professionals to tease out a hypothesis about what could be happening and why.

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

The support of the internal quality and safeguarding team has ensured that managers and leaders have felt supported in advocating for children. In addition, the manager has developed a strong working relationship with the children and young persons police officer, who has carried out individual work with children who are at risk of exploitation.

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

High-quality risk assessments are completed that show a significant understanding of the children in the home. Assessments by the internal therapist and the occupational therapist contribute significantly to an understanding of how to help children.

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

Staff encourage positive risk-taking for children, allowing them to enjoy exciting, enriching experiences. For one child, this has significantly enriched their life experiences.

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

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. Plans for when children go missing from the home are clear and staff support children who go missing exceptionally well. They ensure appropriate, quick and robust responses to ensure the safe return of the child.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour effectively. They try to avoid the use of sanctions and negative consequences. They widely and effectively use rewards, natural consequences and restorative justice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and highly experienced in working with looked-after children. He has a good understanding of the home and of both the children currently living in it and the children who have moved out. He brings a competent and confident approach, which staff value. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 5 Staff are supported through regular, reflective supervision sessions. These have a strong focus on staff welfare and individual well-being. Detailed supervision notes are made. Additional single-subject supervisions are completed to address any specific areas of development for staff. Training is generally comprehensive. All staff spoken with said that they have a good level of training. Induction for new staff provides core face-to-face and online training. Bespoke modules such as attachment and loss, internet safety and gangs are offered to the staff team. Workshops facilitated by an internal therapist on trauma-informed

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

practice and therapeutic models of care help staff to carry out their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and other agencies regard the manager as effective and efficient. This is because the manager has developed positive working relationships with other agencies that are involved in supporting the children. The manager works openly and transparently with other professionals to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time. The manager confidently provides challenge or escalates concerns to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Visits to the home by the independent visitor take place within the required time frame; however, there were delays in the reports being received by Ofsted. This undermines Ofsted’s ability to have effective oversight of the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A social worker felt some improvements could be made, particularly to the sending of weekly reports. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person carries out an on- site visit every month and that reports are submitted to Ofsted promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2723842 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

Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2723842 8 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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