Cornerstones of an empowered Compass community

by Rachel Bundock, Compass CEO

Welcome to our September edition. I know September is often one of the busiest months with the start of the new school year, so I hope everyone has settled back in well.

This edition is jam packed with lots to report from the centre as well as hearing about all the wonderful things happening out in services. What struck me in reading the articles is that real sense of community, both across Compass and within local services. They show the importance of being together and of listening and sharing experiences and ideas with each other and young people.

These are cornerstones of the valued, resilient and empowered Compass community that makes us stronger –  generating greater understanding and creating inspiration and innovation.

We’re a community that shares the same aspirations and values. We have that wonderful shared belief that if we work together combining all our talents and experiences, anything is possible.

Hearing your voice is intrinsic to our work and how we together take Compass forward together. Do please take the time to watch Kim’s video below on the launch of our new staff survey.

---

Rachel delivers her keynote Business Plan speech live to the organisation

Read a transcript of the Q&As with SLT and see the poll, which is also below. Please follow this path on the U drive. U:\Staff Updates\2023\Business Plan\Business Plan 2023-25 summary information for staff.

Your feedback on the presentation

You were able to respond to the questions with one to five star ratings.

Total responses                   99

How informative did you find today’s presentation?

5 * (46%), 4 * (38%), 3 * (10%), 2 * (6%)

How engaging did you find today’s presentation?

5 * (39%), 4 * (32%), 3 * (17%), 2 * (8%), 1 * (4%)

Do you think delivering the presentation and Q&A session ‘live’ is preferable to a pre-recorded version?

YES (91%), NO (7%), N/A (3%)

We are now seeking ideas from staff on how we can further improve for next year. If you have any ideas plea tell your line managers.

---

We are launching our first colleague opinion survey called “Your Voice” and we really need your help in encouraging your team members to complete it, writes Kim Jones, People Director.

The survey should only take five minutes to complete. You can see it here. Please complete it before Monday, 27th October.

We are very keen to hear from as many colleagues as possible and to this end we will be monitoring completion rates during the time the survey is open.

Clearly, the more colleagues who complete it, the more representative it will be of our staff teams.

Providing a baseline of data

Our first survey will provide a baseline of data. We expect the next survey to be in 12 to 18 months’ time so we can track our progress and improvements.

Becoming an employer of choice

“Your Voice” is a great opportunity for our colleagues to tell us about how they experience Compass as their employer. Staff are being asked for their views on our strategy and values and about our leaders.  We’re also asking for views on how it feels to work for Compass and how inclusive we are. “Your Voice” will be really key in helping us make Compass an ‘employer of choice’.

Processing and actioning the results

Only the People Team will have access to all survey results and we will ensure results are anonymised. We will carefully study the feedback we receive so we can action priority areas for improvement.

We in the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are excited about the survey and what we will learn from it.

Thank you for completing our important survey!

---

Saffron tells us how and why we put so much effort into our induction events for staff

Plus…

There was a plenty of fun and games – literally at the Birmingham Wave 9 induction, held at a posh hotel outside Sutton Coalfield. But perhaps these dances brought the most enjoyment of all.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Recent recruit Rachael tells us her first impressions at Phoenix

---

Safeguarding is the very top priority at Compass

by Jan Smith, Operations Director

As all Compass staff know, safeguarding is not a static or single action or activity. Safeguarding practice evolves with new policy, legal frameworks and lessons from investigations and inquiries.

With this in mind, in my role as Designated Safeguarding Officer, I’ll be writing a regular safeguarding feature here in Compass Points.

I’ll be providing updates, sharing news and information or reflecting on the simple truth that protecting children and young people and adults at risk from abuse or neglect is everybody’s responsibility.

Our commitment to safeguarding includes:

• Safer recruitment pre-employment checks for all our staff and volunteers, including checks on previous convictions and references to assess suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults.
• A thorough induction for all new staff, which includes mandatory safeguarding training to help all of our staff to recognise and appropriately report safeguarding concerns.
• Advice to children, young people and families about confidentiality and how and when we will share information in order to protect a child or adult who is vulnerable or at risk.
• Individual holistic assessment of needs and vulnerability to help us to provide the most appropriate care and support to anyone who has additional safeguarding needs.
• Regular safeguarding training and updates for all staff.
• Regular safeguarding supervision for all practitioners and managers with advice available from senior safeguarding staff when needed.
• A child and person-centred approach which recognises our duty of care to comply with statutory guidance to safeguard children.
• Keeping our policies and procedures up-to-date and in line with safeguarding best practice.

If you would like to know more about Compass Safeguarding practices or you would like to suggest a focus for the Safeguarding feature in Compass Points which will help your colleagues gain a greater insight into safeguarding practices please let me know – jan.smith@compass-uk.org

Please see the new Safeguarding page on our website. And read Rachel’s statement below.

---

It’s as though you never left, it is as though the summer holidays didn’t even happen. We know that Summer weather barely happened, that is for sure.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I feel like the break went by in a flash; I know that many other people worked through different projects in the school holidays, accessing and supporting CYP out of the normal classroom environment and more in holiday clubs and activity camps.

I had a throwback summer of supporting CYP in the classroom on a ‘Holiday and Food’ provision in Brent, London. I have been an adult trainer for a few years now, and prior to this, when I was teaching, it was in post 16 education. So engaging a classroom full of 30 Primary, or secondary aged children was a huge shock to the system and as I dragged myself home each night like I had been hit by an ASDA delivery truck (other supermarket delivery options available) I did a silent salute to the teachers and support staff that teach CYP all day every day! Disputes over pay? Spend a day in their shoes and come back to me.

Academia has always been a large focus for Positive Effect; recently I spent a Day in Nottingham Trent University where I was invited to deliver a seminar on ‘Promoting Wellbeing and Resilience’ to the new cohort on the ‘Teacher Training’ course. Having spent a lot of time supporting academic staff who have suffered burnout, stress, and anxiety over the last few years, it felt like a very important piece to get right. The “stop people falling in” idea – rather than keep fishing them out of the river. Big pressure, but imagine if one or two of the tools I discussed actually make a difference to a trainee teacher!

One tool I would like to mention this month, is the idea of a ‘job list matrix’. It might be new to some, or a reminder. But it’s something that I have brought back into my life recently. See the video on the Eisenhower’s Matrix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT89OZ7TNwc

---

Just Say Thanks…

I would like to say a warm welcome to our new staff members Lilly Hatcher and Regina Forteza-Diez, Welcome to the Tower Hamlets team!! A massive Thank you for your valued input over the summer period. Thanks Vic 😊 x

Thank you to the amazing team at Tower Hamlets Nicole, Mariam, Diane, David and Natalie, Your support and dedication to ensure the young people of Tower Hamlets get the best care does not go noticed. Thanks Vic 😊x – Victoria Jones – Compass Safe East –  Service Manager

---

Thankyou to Jenni Cave, Acting Team Leader at Central hub, for looking after the team and supporting us all as individuals.  You are great for morale, just keep being you, we are here for you too.  All the Rugby team. – Clare Holley – School Nursing Healthcare Support Worker – C4H

---

Please can I put a big Thank You in for the Compass Time to Shine Team in Coventry. They have made me feel very welcome and are really supporting my transition into what is a new organisation for me. Also a shout out and thank you, to Compass Phoenix who have inspired me with their amazing online Group work. Thank you. – Abi Dean – Emotional Health Practitioner – Compass Coventry CYP Mental Health Service

---

I would like to thank Laura and Lisa from the People team, as well as Clare, Emma and Sue from HO Admin team for going over and above to support on boarding of the new Birmingham Team. – Donna Wilson – People Partner – Central Services

---

Can I give a huge thankyou to Team Birmingham for their enthusiasm and during the induction period. A particular thankyou to Lisa Moore who has worked so hard in setting up the office – it is really appreciated and I know you will get off to a great start – Sue Berry – Assistant Director – Operations

---

A big thank you to Davinder for providing a safe and supportive space within clinical supervision – always going above and beyond to support me in my professional development and even loaning me her own books. Much appreciated 😊 – Hayley Spies – Supervising Practitioner – Compass Changing Lives

---

Thank you to Chantelle Ross, Sam Bowman, Christina Mary Wilford, Lauren Taylor, Molly Lewin Runacres, Myra Yassir, Hayley Spies, Preanka Tailor, Lucy Dormer and Clive Bentley for all their support in developing content and/or delivering aspects of the CPD over the last few month. It is much appreciated and demonstrates the wealth and breadth of experience within the team. – Davinder Kaur Sahota – Clinical Operations Manager – Compass Changing Lives

---

I would like to thank Niki Sullivan in NEL for advocating and raising awareness around the symptoms of the menopause within our team. Niki has shared relevant information relating to perimenopause/menopause symptoms, as well as highlighting the Compass Menopause Policy and has shared ways to apply for a reduction in prescription prices which has been extremely valuable. – Vicky Triffitt – Team Leader – Compass GO!

---

Thank you to all the MHST staff in Barnsley for your hard work over the summer break. You have worked tirelessly to reduce the number of children and young people awaiting assessment from 228 to 63. This is an outstanding effort and puts us is a great position to start the new academic year. With thanks from Vick, Michelle, Louise and Laura 😊 – Victoria Hanley – Services Manager – Compass Be

---

I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to Jade Sievewright for her fantastic support and supervision during my time in the south team. I really appreciate all your support and motivation and I endeavour to replicate this in the central team! – Tracy Collins – Mental Health Practitioner – Compass Be

---

I would like to say I really Value my Colleague James Brook for always supporting me with any IT issues and Michelle Allen  for supporting me as and when I needed it during my Probation period . Ranjit Johal – Supervising Practitioner -Compass Changing Lives

---

I wanted to say a huge thank you to the whole Senior Leadership Team and a very well done on the deliverance of a strong and comprehensive induction programme.  It is, by far, one of the best induction programmes I have ever received in my whole career, and the fact that there were elements of the programme which were tailored to be very passionate, heart-felt and within the scope of the vision, values and objectives of the organisation really helped me to understand my own personal vision and values.  I feel that Compass has something very special, and I am so happy to be a part of a company which resonates health and wellbeing – not just for our children and young people, but for our staff as well.  Thank you SLT for all that you have done and continue to do. – Lisa Moore – Senior Administrator – Compass Birmingham MHST

---

Thank you Andrea Leach for being an EMIS data expert!  The data reports you have been producing about Connect for Health have been fantastic.  They are beautifully produced and extremely helpful.  Brilliant stuff – thank you – Karen Cornick – Service Manager – C4H

---

We’ve just started working for Compass Bloom, joined the team in September and would like to thank the Compass Bloom team for making us feel so welcome 😊 Hayley & Lisa – Hayley Moran & Lisa Bradley – Supervising Practitioners – Compass Bloom

---

Can I say a huge thank you to Lisa Moore for all her hard work in setting up the office for Team Birmingham – really appreciated – Sue Berry – Assistant Director – Operations

---

“Cautiously ambitious” Compass leaders consider next steps

The Senior Leadership Team spent the whole day reviewing our current organisational position and the external environment that we work in –  including the direction of national policy – in order to determine our next steps.

We reflected on the enormous strides we’ve made and the significant contribution everyone has made to getting us to a position in which Compass is now thriving.

We considered our growth ambitions, taking into account the recommendations from national policies and strategies which have a strong emphasis on early intervention. Whilst remaining cautiously ambitious, we discussed the importance of tendering for contracts that help us achieve our strategic aims and make geographic sense. We also reflected on recurring challenges and learnings from mobilising and implementing new services and what else we can put in place to strengthen those areas.

We spent time discussing organisational development and the resources we think we need in order to develop our central infrastructure which would increase the level of support given to services and teams.

A priority list of resources was agreed with a proposed phasing of when we would look to bring them in. We also considered our plans for developing career progression pathways which would increase the opportunities available to staff to develop within Compass.

All of these proposals will form part of our strategy planning day with the Board in November with the aim of finalising our strategy including organisational development for the next few years.

Senior Leadership Team

Rachel Bundock	Chief Executive
Mark Roberts	Director of Finance
Kim Jones	People Director
Jan Smith	Operations Director
Lisa Gale	Assistant Director (Operations)
Sue Berry	Assistant Director (Operations)
Jane Wright	Assistant Director (Operations)
Rose Kearns	Assistant Director – Business Development
Richard Thomas	Operations Manager
Sue Cody	Quality Assurance Lead

Discounts are available to charity workers and volunteers. All you need is your name, postcode and the charity you work for.

Click the image to learn more.

---

Compass Awareness Days Calendar for 2023

The Compass Awareness Calendar for 2023 is our most comprehensive yet and has new sources including the NHS. Please take a look to see what’s coming up in the next month or two and through the year.

Tell us your news…

Please send all submissions, including thank yous, to compasspoints@compass-uk.org