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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 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 registered with Ofsted in July 2019 and is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, six children were living in the home. One child spoke with the inspector as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

A new manager has very recently been appointed but has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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 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: 2523025 2

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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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and take action to ensure children’s safety. They are proactive in contacting children and liaising with known associates, as well as checking all relevant addresses. Staff share information with the professional network and family, which ensures effective multi-agency responses. These actions help to minimise risks and promote children’s safety and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff demonstrate professional curiosity when investigating serious incidents. This ensures that relevant information is gathered to safeguard children effectively. Managers take proactive steps to speak to children about where they have been and who they have spent time with. Managers explore information they gather to identify specific locations and people that children are spending time with. This approach strengthens multi-agency efforts to reduce risk and locate children promptly.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s needs are identified promptly, and referrals are made to appropriate support services. This includes specialist interventions in line with children’s specific needs. These actions help children to access the support they need to address the complex challenges they are facing and promote their emotional well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers assess children’s risks effectively and take action to reduce children’s vulnerabilities. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the individual risks faced by children and implement strategies to manage these effectively. This includes liaising with the police and requesting additional safeguarding markers being placed on the home, as well as ensuring staff receive enhanced support and training. However, there is an over-reliance on the strength of the relationships that staff share with children in maintaining contact when children are missing as a safety measure. This approach is not consistently a protective factor and does not always mitigate risk as intended.

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Findings from the inspection

Overall, staff and leaders work well with professionals. Staff are proactive in sharing relevant information through regular meetings and formal reviews. They request additional meetings when children’s risks increase, ensuring that safeguarding arrangements remain responsive and effective. However, when the local authority and wider professional network have failed to respond promptly to requests regarding education and living arrangements for a child, staff have not consistently challenged these delays. This lack of professional challenge has led to ongoing uncertainty for one child, which affects their understanding of decisions being made and compromises the effective management of associated risks. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 3 The registered manager has recently left the organisation, and the deputy manager has stepped into the role and intends to apply for registration. The home has

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Findings from the inspection

experienced some changes in leadership, resulting in a period of adjustment. This transition is being managed effectively, with senior leaders providing strong support to maintain stability and continuity of care for children. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/08/2025 Full Good 03/09/2024 Full Good 03/10/2023 Full Outstanding 14/02/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due Date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; and

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Requirement Due Date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (b)(c)) 17 February

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. While staff are often aware of children's location and share positive interactions with children when missing from the home, this does not in itself always ensure children are safe. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 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: Compass Community Ltd, 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Menaka De Silva, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2523025 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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