Children's Home run by Compass Social Care Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 1 Registered provider: Compass Social Care Limited

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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 privately owned home provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional needs or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2024. The manager has been in post since July 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were no children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/05/2026 Full Inadequate 04/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 3

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Summary of findings

The provider has completed substantial improvements to the home in response to the requirement raised at the last inspection. These changes have improved the condition and presentation of the environment. Leaders have made changes to templates that staff and the manager use to record and review practice. A training programme and reinduction process for staff are also planned. Some actions identified within the improvement plan had not yet been fully implemented. The evidence available to the inspector was limited as no children had lived in the home since the last inspection. As a result, there were no opportunities for the inspector to evaluate the impact of these changes on children’s experiences and outcomes.

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improvement to be good

No children have lived at the home since the last full inspection.

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improvement to be good

All rooms have been redecorated. New flooring and carpets have been laid and new kitchen cabinets installed. The bedrooms have a clean and fresh feel to them. These changes will assist in creating an environment where a child feels welcomed and valued. The home lacks personalisation, games and books. However, the plan is for the home to be further furnished with these items following the input and interests of the child who comes to live at the home. This approach could lead to the child feeling more comfortable and familiar with the home and confident about how their voice, wishes and feelings are responded to.

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improvement to be good

Leaders have reviewed and changed the admissions process. These changes include a consultation with staff, the skillset and training of staff. However, the proposed changes have not been fully updated in all relevant documents and need to be included within the admission policy document.

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improvement to be good

Policies relating to recording and responding to children in therapeutic ways have been revised and training is due to be delivered in the forthcoming months.

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improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose and children’s guide have been updated. However, the children’s guide needs to be edited to ensure that it is clear. The local authority risk assessment was recently reviewed, but is not based on the most up-to-date information and would benefit from liaison with the police and considering the home’s relationship with direct neighbours. Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 4

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improvement to be good

The responsible individual completed an internal learning review following the outcome of a local authority investigation into concerns about staff practice at the home, which were not proved. The review identifies measures intended to strengthen future practice. These measures include strengthening recording and reporting processes and providing clearer guidance for staff on identifying, responding to and escalating concerns. However, the review does not demonstrate reflective or critical enquiry into staff practice. It does not consider whether there were any shortcomings in practice or whether the concerns formed part of any wider patterns or themes in the home. This is relevant given the number of past concerns raised by the local authority.

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improvement to be good

Leaders have developed an action plan in response to the last Ofsted inspection. Changes have been made to the electronic case management system that the home utilises, which will assist staff in completing accurate records and keeping children safe. Leaders have invested in a fob system for the front entrance of the home, which has the potential to improve recording and oversight. The fob system and how it will be used is still in development and further work is required to consider the impact on children. A training schedule has been developed to address past concerns raised as to staff practice. Not all members of staff appeared aware of the training schedule. It is also relevant to highlight that a number of new staff are currently being recruited who may miss or not be fully part of this training.

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improvement to be good

Leaders commissioned a fire risk assessment, which identified further actions to be completed to reduce fire risks. These actions have not been fully completed and are ongoing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been in post since July 2026 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. He currently holds registration for another children’s home operated by the same provider and has applied to be registered to manage both homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has limited experience in the role of registered manager. Given the challenges currently facing the home, including the need to improve aspects of practice, robust leadership and oversight will be important to securing sustained improvement. Senior leaders have plans to reduce the number of children living in each of the two homes, which should assist management capacity and oversight across both settings

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

However, the home’s most significant challenges relate to the quality of staff practice and the development and support of both new and established staff. In addition, the inspector found that some policies had not been fully reviewed, updated or completed. These factors increase the importance of strong and effective management oversight. Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 5 The responsible individual informed the inspector that they are in the process of recruiting a registered manager and deputy manager for the home. At the time of the inspection, these arrangements had not been finalised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The majority of staff spoken to during the inspection were positive about the support they receive from senior leaders and managers. However, not all staff felt that senior leaders were receptive to suggestions or feedback about changes that could be made within the home. This may limit opportunities for leaders to benefit from the views and experiences of staff when seeking to improve practice and develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External monitoring and quality assurance activity during the inspection period was limited. As a result, opportunities for independent scrutiny, reflection and evaluation of progress against the improvement plan were reduced. Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 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, 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that risk management plans are followed by staff;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that advice given by the local authority designated officer for safeguarding is followed;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that risk assessments are based on the protection of children; 20 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 7 leaders and managers must review their own and staff’s knowledge and training to ensure staff act in accordance with the home’s safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures.

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 November 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that fire safety arrangements are regularly reviewed and that any actions identified through fire safety advice or assessment are implemented to promote children’s safety and welfare. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that feedback and suggestions from children, staff and stakeholders are systematically reviewed and used to inform service development and continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 54 and 55, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should ensure that the location risk assessment is reviewed and revised as necessary to identify and evaluate any risks to children and that strategies are in place to manage those risks effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 8

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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: 2779719 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Compass Social Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Business Centre, 8 Madeira Avenue, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 3EB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Wendy Edward-Tsuro

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Inspector

Daniel Sancto, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2779719 10 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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