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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to five children. It specialises in offering a therapeutic environment for those with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 4 children were living at the home, and all spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently on maternity leave, and interim leadership arrangements have been implemented to ensure continuity of care.

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Information about this children’s home

The home shares a site with the organisation’s own school. The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this site.

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Inspection date: 18 December 2025

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: 1247764 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: 1247764 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children living in the home speak positively about their experiences and benefit from warm, nurturing interactions with staff. They feel confident and comfortable seeking guidance, reassurance and support, which demonstrates the trusting relationships they have with those who care for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children understand how to raise complaints and can express their views, wishes and feelings with adults in the home. Although there have been some delays in leaders formally responding to complaints, staff consistently engage with children to ensure that their views are captured and their rights are promoted and upheld.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide effective support to children during challenging situations. They respond promptly to significant safeguarding incidents and ensure that children receive the care they need. Leaders review staff practice following incidents and have identified that some consequences given to children are not always restorative and do not fully align with the home’s therapeutic parenting approach.

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Findings from the inspection

For most children, care plans are clear and supported by effective systems that ensure that their views are sought and considered in decisions about their care. However, for some children, plans lack clarity, leading to confusion and instability regarding their long-term arrangements. Leaders missed opportunities to escalate concerns earlier, which meant these children did not have a clear understanding of, or the chance to question, expectations for their future.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s health and educational needs and provide effective support for most children. All children attend the on-site school, where staff consistently promote learning and engagement. For one child, gaps in recording meant leaders did not have full oversight of the actions taken to monitor and respond to health needs. Leaders have since reviewed staff practice, provided specialist training and additional support, and worked in partnership with health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are met safely and appropriately in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision and feel well supported in their roles. Despite changes to the leadership team since the last full inspection, they have maintained consistent access to senior staff for guidance and support. Communication is clear, and staff understand the systems in place to raise any worries or concerns. This promotes staff’s confidence and helps sustain a nurturing, supportive environment for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2025 Full Good 11/11/2024 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Good 30/01/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 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

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—

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff who are supervising children have the required relevant and up-to-date training to help them identify any potential risks.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that staff follow the home’s policies and procedures in respect of the supervision of children in their care. 30 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date, stored securely in the home, and signed and dated by the author of each entry. This requirement specifically applies to the recording of all health appointments attended by children and any use of consequences. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the care planning process for looked-after children and assist them in preparing for related meetings. This specifically includes supporting children to understand their care Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 6 plans and, where they are unclear about expectations for their future, raising concerns promptly with the identified local authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.14)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them, and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 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

Charlotte Tippett, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1247764 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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