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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 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 home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 4 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 19 November 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/11/2024 Full Good 14/11/2023 Full Good 08/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There were 4 children living in the home at the time of the inspection. All of the children have lived at the home for over 2 years. This long-term stability offers children a sense of belonging. All of the children spoke with the inspector and were positive about their experiences. The security and stability at this home are helping children to thrive and to make exceptional progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a warm, nurturing and therapeutic environment where staff consistently place relationships at the centre of their care. Children confidently approach staff for reassurance, conversation and comfort. Children speak openly about their day and their worries. Children trust the adults caring for them and this helps them to feel safe and happy, building a strong foundation they can grow from.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are succeeding in education. Staff work proactively with schools and tutors to ensure that the children remain engaged in education. Managers go above and beyond to ensure that children’s individual needs are met, working closely with virtual schools and local authorities. This consistent support and encouragement builds children’s confidence and raises their aspirations. Children make excellent progress emotionally, socially and educationally, which has also been noted by professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children feel listened to and valued. They said that they feel heard, which is reflected in key-work sessions and house meetings. Their achievements are recorded and celebrated. Heritage and culture are celebrated. Children explore their background through food and shared traditions. This supports identity and emotional wellbeing. This builds self-esteem and further enhances their strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children take part in a wide range of activities that reflect their interests. They spoke excitedly about holidays, shared meals and social outings. All 4 children have been away abroad together on 2 occasions, which they spoke fondly about. It was also clear that leaders and managers were very proud of this and motivated to give children opportunities like this. These experiences strengthen friendships, develop social skills and create positive childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff also support the children to maintain relationships with their families, by providing transport as well as supervising family time if needed. This helps children to stay in touch with key people in their lives. Family and professionals provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about the care and support provided to the children. One professional said that the home provides ‘exceptional care’. Another said: ‘If l could replicate this home in other homes, that would make me happy.’ This reflects the consistently high quality experiences the children receive. Children benefit from a service that professionals trust and respect. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 4 The home is modern, well decorated and furnished to a high standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. Children are encouraged to make changes to their rooms and shared spaces. This gives them ownership of their home and strengthens their

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are prepared thoughtfully for adulthood. Staff recognise how disruptive moves can be. One child is being supported to remain in the home after turning 18 years old so they can complete their education. This shows a deep commitment to long-term outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience a home that is both safe and nurturing and is helping them to achieve exceptional outcomes. At the time of inspection, children could not access the utility room without staff unlocking the door. This may prevent children further building their independent life skills. The manager took this on board during the inspection and the door was unlocked.

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

The staff know the children extremely well. They use clear, individualised plans to guide practice. These plans are continuously reviewed and updated with the support of the therapeutic practitioner. Children have excelled from their starting points due to the effective and safe care provided. One child who was vulnerable to exploitation no longer has these concerns. They are contributing positively to society, enjoying education and have a positive network of people around them. This is due to the security and care they have experienced.

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

The home has its own therapeutic practitioner who spends several days a week at the home. They build positive relationships with the children and also offer staff support and advice. The therapeutic practitioner provides reflective sessions for staff. These sessions help staff understand children’s emotional needs and their own responses. This strengthens relationships and improves care. As a result, children are calmer, more emotionally aware and better able to manage their feelings. The home’s therapeutic model is strongly embedded in staff practice.

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

There have been no incidents of self-harm or missing-from-home episodes since the last inspection. This reflects the stability and emotional security children experience in the home. Physical intervention is rarely used. However, on 2 occasions, staff did not follow the correct guidance when using a physical intervention. The manager quickly acted on this and prompt action was taken to protect children and strengthen practice.

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

The manager is robust in her challenge to staff if any shortfalls in practice are identified. All incidents are reviewed effectively and any learning is shared with staff to prevent reoccurrence. This demonstrates a consistent and proactive safeguarding culture that helps to build an informed team. The manager’s decisive and transparent leadership ensures that concerns are addressed promptly, learning is embedded and children’s safety remains the highest priority. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A long-standing, experienced and qualified manager leads the team confidently. She is well supported by a deputy manager. Leaders create a culture of care, reflection and ambition for the children. The registered manager speaks passionately about the children. This has a positive impact on the whole staff team. Children respond positively and continue to grow emotionally because they feel genuinely loved and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are visible and available. Supervision is meaningful and reflective. Staff say they feel guided and cared for. This enables them to provide consistent, emotionally warm care to children. The support provided by the managers not only upskills staff but also promotes wellbeing. The therapeutic practitioner provides supervision and group sessions to allow staff to reflect on their practice as well as their own wellbeing. This strengthens leadership oversight. Staff wellbeing supports stability for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers, together with the therapeutic practitioner, ensure that the staff receive high- quality training to enable them to support the children in their care effectively. An exceptionally high number of staff have completed their relevant level 3 qualification in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers address poor practice confidently and fairly. They support staff to improve through monthly supervision. This creates a strong, reflective workforce focused on children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professional development is encouraged. Staff are supported to grow in confidence and skill. This results in an experienced, stable staff team. Children benefit from continuity and trusting relationships. There is a high level of staff retention as most of the staff have worked in the home for years. Consequently, children experience a strong sense of stability and continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager undertakes highly robust reviews of the children’s experiences and staff’s practice. Feedback from children is regularly obtained and actioned regarding any further improvements needed in the care they receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home are only made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: 2692653 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: 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspectors

Thembie Mzila, Social Care Inspector Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692653 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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