Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 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

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 6 children who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since January 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

One of the children living in the home attends one of the organisation’s schools, which is located on the same site. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 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: 1263129 3

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Findings from the inspection

There were no serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children identified at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have been ineffective in driving improvement and maintaining oversight of care. Since the last inspection, there have been several changes of manager. A new responsible individual and manager have been appointed and have applied to register with Ofsted. The instability of management and the poor oversight of leadership have resulted in a lack of progress in the areas identified at the previous inspection. As a result, 3 requirements have been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have failed to implement systems to ensure that managers and staff receive appropriate supervision, probationary support and induction. Leaders failed to follow their own internal probation policies in supervising the practice of an interim manager. Managers’ monitoring systems failed to identify staff were not receiving adequate support or supervision. When required, leaders and managers have effectively used capability and disciplinary procedures to address practice concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that staff receive the support and training they need to implement the homes statement of purpose effectively. Although staff are now able to identify the models of care in the home, they have not received sufficient training to consistently apply them. Managers have not ensured that training is prioritised, planned, delivered and monitored, so that staff can provide care and help children to meet the outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been delays in undertaking appropriate maintenance of the home. Maintenance tasks identified at the previous inspection remain outstanding and challenges with wider organisational maintenance teams is resulting in delayed action. Children are encouraged to undertake household chores to build their independence, however, staff have not ensured that regular cleaning is undertaken of communal and bedroom areas to assist with this. As such, there has been no improvement in the physical environment and cleanliness of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are receiving support to engage in regular health checks, including dentist, optician and health assessments. However, information and guidance from these appointments are not adequately reflected in the home’s health care planning. As such, managers are not ensuring that identified actions are being monitored and appropriately followed up.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have not reviewed systems in place for surveillance and monitoring. Assessments in place do not adequately reflect children’s views and feelings on the use of monitoring in the home. There has been no review of the door alarm system in use at the last inspection. A child expressed that this creates anxiety and impacts on their ability to move freely and independently around the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 4 There is a suitable staffing level in the home for the number of children living there. The use of agency staffing has reduced and, as such, relationships with staff are improving. When agency staff are used, managers undertake appropriate checks to ensure they have been safely recruited and are suitably trained to work with children. Managers have not implemented systems created by the organisation to complete checks of staff moving across from other services. However, recruitment

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Findings from the inspection

files checked evidenced that staff have been safely recruited.

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Findings from the inspection

Children can identify adults they can trust. They have stated they are happy and enjoy living in the home. Children can identify how they can make complaints and, when they do, their concerns are investigated. Staff do not always feed this back to children in a way that helps them to understand they have been heard. Complaints raised by external professionals have been dealt with appropriately and where necessary referrals have been made to external professionals, including the LADO.

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Findings from the inspection

Relationships with professionals and families are improving. There has been an increase in joint working to ensure a shared response to safeguarding concerns, care planning and educational outcomes. As a result, children are making progress in their education and family relationships. One child is starting re-integration back into a mainstream school setting and another has started to visit family for overnight stays.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a range of opportunities to have fun and enjoy themselves. There are structures and routines to their days that promote opportunities for peer interactions and fun. Children are supported to engage in youth clubs, support groups and football practice. Children have taken ownership on developing theme nights in the home, and this has also included exploring other cultures.

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Recent inspection history

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/08/2024 Full Good 09/11/2023 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 6

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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, 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 7 May 2026

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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. 7 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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 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

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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 7 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 8

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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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Inspectors

Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Emma Blake, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1263129 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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