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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 1 Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home and home’s manager have been registered with Ofsted since December 2025. This was the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns and manages the home. It provides care for up to six children who may have difficulties in managing their emotions and behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 2

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from care where they feel safe, valued and supported to make progress.

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Summary of findings

Staff build strong, trusting relationships with children and take a proactive, therapeutic approach to their care, promoting positive outcomes in education, independence and emotional wellbeing.

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Summary of findings

Management oversight is highly effective, with strong leadership, reflective practice and a clear commitment to continuous improvement. This ensures that consistently good care is provided to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are thoroughly considered prior to moving into the home, with careful thought given to the dynamics between children and the staff’s ability to meet their needs. Children report that staff were welcoming when they moved in and took time to help them settle. This includes supporting them to personalise their bedrooms and purchase items of their choice. Staff ensure early understanding of what is important to each child, including their preferences and routines. Where possible the manager meets with children before moving into the home. Children report that this approach helped to alleviate some of their initial worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate genuine care for the children, which is recognised by children, families and professionals. One child shared, ‘You can tell they care. It’s obvious. They are nosy, but in a good way.’ A parent commented, ‘They care about them, not just for them’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children consistently describe positive experiences of living in the home. They say that staff are approachable and interested in their lives, which helps them feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a safe, spacious, and well-maintained environment that is decorated to a high standard and promotes a homely feel. Children benefit from both communal and quiet spaces. Bedrooms are personalised and children are actively involved in decisions about their rooms, promoting a sense of pride and ownership.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently take a proactive role in supporting and arranging family time. Families are welcomed into the home, and children feel that staff understand the importance of maintaining these relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers are quick to identify appropriate school placements or alternative learning provisions for children. Children who had not engaged in education for a significant Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 3 period prior to moving into the home, are now engaging in learning and making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a strong understanding of behaviour being a form of communication. This is supported by the home’s therapeutic model, which is embedded in the approaches used by staff in their day-to-day practice.

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

Safeguarding concerns are responded to promptly and appropriately, with clear evidence of effective information sharing and multi-agency working. Staff ensure a safe environment for children to share any concerns, and actions taken following are timely, including notification to managers and external professionals. Management oversight is evident in all safeguarding incidents, with reflection reinforcing strengths and identifying areas for continued learning.

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

Physical intervention is rarely used. This reflects the focus on de-escalation strategies and relational approaches to managing behaviour. On the one occasion where physical intervention was required, it was proportionate and only used as a last resort to prevent immediate harm to the child. Following the incident, the manager ensured reflection and learning, with risk assessments updated and an improved understanding of triggers to inform future support for the child.

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

Staff consistently demonstrate appropriate curiosity. This ensures they remain alert to any emerging concerns and are able to take preventive action to reduce risks for children.

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

Children rarely go missing. On the two occasions this has occurred, incidents have been for short periods of time and have taken place when the child was at school. For those with a previous history of going missing, there has been a significant reduction in missing incidents, with one child recognising their progress and reporting they no longer feel a need to go missing since living at the home. Despite the limited number of missing incidents, staff demonstrate a clear understanding of procedures, and each child has an individualised missing plan. The manager maintains effective oversight by actively following up and chasing external return home interviews to ensure that any triggers are understood and used to inform care planning.

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

Clear rules and boundaries are in place for children. Children understand the expectations within the home and have contributed to the development of some of the house rules. Children report that the rules are fair and understand the reasons for them. Some children were able to describe what would happen if rules were not in place and the impact this could have on their safety.

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

Staff ensure that children have consistent routines and as a result, children receive predictable and reliable care. Children speak positively about the benefits of these routines and the progress they are making made as a result. Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 4 The response to allegations has not been consistent. While one allegation was managed appropriately, with clear evidence of immediate safeguarding action and consultation with relevant professionals, a second allegation was incorrectly recorded and managed as a complaint. Although appropriate safeguarding measures were implemented and the matter was investigated, the failure to recognise this as an allegation meant that not all relevant professionals were notified. Despite this, the child was safeguarded throughout, and learning has since been identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious and sets high expectations for both staff and the quality of care provided to children. They are focused on ensuring that children have the best possible experiences while living in the home. As a result, staff share these values and ambitions, demonstrating strong commitment and dedication to meeting the individual needs of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an in-depth understanding of the progress children are making and ensures this is closely monitored and regularly reviewed. This enables the manager and staff to adapt care in response to children’s changing needs, with a clear focus on identifying and implementing the most effective approach to support positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates ownership and takes pride in the home, the children and the staff, consistently championing their strengths. They also have good insight into areas for development and use continued reflection to sustain a focus on ongoing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have developed strong relationships with partnering agencies. This contributes to a joined-up approach to supporting children and meeting their needs. Professionals consistently praise the communication they receive from staff, sharing how they would wish to replicate this level of care for all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Families speak highly of the efforts staff make to build relationships and trust with them. They describe being welcomed into the home and treated with kindness and respect. They are able to contact staff to share concerns and feel confident that follow up action is taken. One parent shared, ‘I just wish more places like this were around. We felt a sense of relief when we found it and believe this is the right setting for them and they are getting the care they need’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported. They describe a positive work environment promoted by visible and approachable managers. All staff receive regular supervision, which provides a space to reflect on their practice as well as to develop their understanding of safeguarding, ensuring this remains an ongoing area of focus. Staff feel valued and describe how their views are encouraged and considered when agreeing plans and approaches taken to care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong focus on promoting children’s voices. Planned meetings and informal discussions take place regularly, providing children with meaningful opportunities to Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 5 contribute to decisions about their meals, activities and daily routines. These forums also support children to raise any concerns and help develop their resolution skills. As a result, children feel listened to and can identify changes that have been made because of their views. Most children also have access to external advocacy services, offering additional opportunities for them to have a say in their care planning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any allegation of harm or abuse is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy and reported to all relevant professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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: 2862898 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Children’s Homes

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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

Kerry Howarth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2862898 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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