Nurturing the Compass Culture through the years
This month marked my 25th year of working for Compass.
Naturally, it’s a milestone which has prompted me to reflect on my Compass journey and what it has meant and continues to mean to me.
I have always loved Compass because of its values; because it was rooted in being human, practical, and ambitious for the people who used our services.
Harsh realities
Working for Compass exposed me to the harsh realities of life and the judgements society can make on those less fortunate and in need. And I learnt that those judgements often get in the way of giving people the right to a future, to have hopes and dreams just like everyone else.
There have been many twists and turns along the way including my own personal experiences which have shaped me as a person and whilst they are things that I wish never to have happened, they have become a huge part of who I am and what matters most to me.
Being brave
It’s through this journey that I have learnt the art of the possible and the importance of being brave even when things seem impossible. And I’ve learnt the power of believing in and fighting for what you think is right, no matter how much of a mountain to climb it seems. And most importantly, finding others to help make it happen.
Of course, things go wrong – with many setbacks along the way – but the value I have learnt is not about the ‘win’ (although you need a few of those on the way to keep you motivated!) it’s that the experience and the journey has always taken me on a slightly different path than planned which has resulted in greater learning, opportunity and in my opinion a better outcome.
Launch pad
The one thing that has connected all these experiences, is people. Things don’t just happen; I don’t believe it is through luck or good fortune (although timing can play an important hand). Things happen because we make them happen and that comes down to mindset and determination to not give up even when facing adversity. So, in the end whilst knowledge, skills and experience are all important as it gives us our launch pad, for me it’s the quality of who we are as people that turns the impossible into possible and dreams into reality.
Compass’ values and how we do things have been safeguarded over all these years. The key driver for me wanting to take on this role was to protect the importance of how our values shape what we deliver and how we support one another.
The values still define the heart and soul of this organisation. This is the Compass Culture that we will continue to protect, nurture and develop as we move forward.
Thankyou Compass for 25 incredible years. I still consider it a privilege, here’s to many more (hopefully!).
Make your nominations for the new One Compass Awards
Our new, expanded awards are now collectively called the One Compass Awards
The deadline for nominations is 6th December
People Director Kim Jones has announced that as well as the existing Say Thanks, Everyday Hero Awards and the four CEO Values Champions Awards, we now have a further award for an individual, in the Leader of the Year Award and the biggest innovation – three awards for teams.
Innovation Team Award
Who is this award for? For a team who has developed an innovative idea to add value or to enable
Compass to make a difference through, for example:
- Enhancing children/young people/families care or experience
- Improving efficiency or effectiveness
- Reducing waiting times
- Improving quality or safety of service
- Removing a systemic gap
Anyone can nominate for this category.
Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate for this category.
What are the criteria for this award? This award celebrates innovative ideas, research, service development and quality improvement projects carried out by our colleagues. Innovative changes or
research that will shape the way we care for children/young people/families and
have a lasting impact on the sector.
Outstanding Performance Team Award
Who is this award for? For a team who has demonstrated outstanding performance in delivery of their service/department. This could be over and above the expected performance targets or it could reflect turning around significant underperformance within challenging timescales. It could also reflect delivery to performance targets despite unforeseen and difficult circumstances through the year.
Demonstrating areas of performance excellence can take many forms but could include items such as:
- Improving the quality and experience of care provided to our children, young people and their carers and families
- Developing the responsiveness and accessibility of our services
- Improving children/young people/families or colleague safety
- Improving the way we work together to deliver services more effectively
Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate for this category.
What are the criteria for this award? A team that makes significant contributions to Compass’ work, provides exceptional customer service, and always work in line with our values. We are looking for a team that is inclusive and benefits from the diverse skills of its members to achieve fantastic results. We want to celebrate teamwork that has had a positive impact on Compass’ performance and recognise when a team is outstanding at what they do.
Participation Team Award
Who is this award for? For a team that has demonstrated great practice in delivering robust and meaningful participation with their key stakeholders (either children, young people and their
families for those working in frontline services or internal customers/stakeholders for support/back office teams). Broadly, this could be achieved in the following ways:
- Promoting and championing participation
- Strategic participation of children, young people and their families / internal customers
- Promoting young people’s access to, and their voice within, services
- Supporting the collaboration of young people and their families in care and treatment
Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate for this category
What are the criteria for this award? This award celebrates championing of participation with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of services received by those who use them. We are looking for teams who prioritise participation and use the outcomes to make positive changes to the users of their service/department and their experience.
Leader of the Year Award
Who is this award for? Any people manager (that is they have direct line management responsibility)
whether on the front line or in support services.
Permanent, fixed term contract, and bank staff are all eligible.
Who can nominate? Anyone can nominate for this category.
What are the criteria for this award?
A leader who helps to inspire and motivate others, is inclusive of everyone, and
works to improve the quality of Compass services. Someone who demonstrates all
of our core values and inspires their team/and or their internal customers to do the
same. A manager or leader that you are proud to work with.
CEO Values Champion Awards
We have four CEO Values Champions Awards. These distinct awards are given annually to the four individual staff members who exemplify a particular Compass Value.
There is a Values Champion for
Integrity, Valuing Each Individual, Being Solution Focused, Consistent and Reliable Approach.
Four members of staff are chosen from nominations for their work that reflects our values.
Who are these awards for? Anyone can be nominated for these awards. Permanent, fixed term contract, and bank staff are all eligible.
Who can nominate? Line managers of the individual can nominate for these awards.
What are the criteria for this award? Line managers are encouraged to nominate their staff who are role models on our Compass values and thus display many of the exemplary category attributes for a particular value. Line managers should refer to the Compass Values guide to inform their nomination in providing a rationale as to why their member of staff has displayed exemplary values.
It is important to note that although we use Compass values as part of our assessment during the appraisal process, “CEO Values Champion” is equally intended for those staff who may not ordinarily receive the highest appraisal ratings of Exceptional and Highly Effective; it could also apply to staff who typically achieve an “Effective” rating but who are recognized for Exemplary values.
Nominations must be made using the “CEO Values Champion” nomination form; the line manager can only nominate an individual for one of the Compass values only (multiple nominations covering more than one Compass value for one individual are not permitted).
Nominations must be approved by Head of Department / Assistant Director prior to submission.
It should be noted that any nominations received where the individual has any live disciplinary sanctions in place and/or is subject to a disciplinary/probationary investigation will be discounted from the process.
Want to nominate?
Find your way on the shared drive to this folder.
U:\People Team\My Compass Awards\Nomination Forms & Every Day Hero Letter
Nominations must be made using the appropriate form and must be received by central services using MYCompassAwards@COMPASS-UK.ORG before 6th December.
Nominations received after the deadline will not be considered.
Opportunity for everyone
Kim Jones says: “Nominating for the One Compass Awards provides a fabulous opportunity for everyone to recognise those colleagues around them that really make a difference in everything that they’re doing.
“I’d really encourage people to nominate – whether it’s an individual for the Values Champions or Leader of the Year award or indeed whether it’s a nomination for a team that perhaps you’re part of or a team that you really admire.
Taking stock
And she said: “It’s really important to have these awards each year. Just to pause and take stock of everything that we are doing. We’re all super busy – we’re really committed and conscientious as a group of people doing some great things.”
“So it’s helpful for us to just pause and take that time to acknowledge the great work that is going on and say thank you for that.”
Kim added: “It’s also great to see other work going on and be able to hear about that through the awards.”
Staff get to know and assess 72 Birmingham job candidates
Compass staff invited candidates for jobs in the new Birmingham MHST to a special three day event to assess their skills and values.
In all, 72 candidates were invited to the assessment event, from over 220 applicants who had originally applied for EMHP 24 jobs.
Following the event at a hotel in Birmingham, 34 were invited for formal interview, also at the hotel.
Those successful at interview then completed a written assessment, with questions set and marked by the University of Derby.
Operations Director, Jan Smith said: “The idea of an assessment centre approach for recruiting to large numbers of staff for a new service was designed to create an opportunity for candidates to show the team their values – integrity, problem solving, valuing each individual as a way of shortlisting from not only a high number but also a high-quality cohort of applicants to Compass.”
Jan said: “This allowed the team to really get to know the people behind the application form ahead of formal interviews.
And she added: “I know it was a real team effort between Birmingham MHST and Central Services but it one that was well worth it – a huge thanks from me to all who made it happen.”
People Advisor, Triona Tootle said: “I want to say a massive thank you to the team that have supported the assessment centre for Birmingham Wave 12 TEMHP recruitment.
“Due to the volume of recruitment required for the wave 12 trainee team, we used an Assessment Centre Approach and it would not have worked without a massive team effort.
Triona explained People Team Administrator Debra Kemp supported shortlisting of the more than 220 applicants by implementing a new tactic in the on-boarding software, Eploy. Saffron Mason and Arjan Bains then took on the task of further shortlisting to 72 applicants.
Siobhan Kearney organised venues, diaries and supported throughout.
She said the assessors Rachel Haynes, Lucy Marshall, Monique Joseph, Ranjit Johal and Nasma Farooq were absolutely fantastic over the three days of scoring activities.
She said Clare Hitchen and Chris Doyle took all candidates ID checks on the days and booked in time slots liaising with candidates all throughout.
And Clare added: “Triona did an amazing job of co-ordinating the assessment centre, she attended and chaired the three days making sure everything ran smoothly.”
2024 International Day Of Persons With Disabilities (IDPD)
SEND and Disability thematic group asks for team discussions
by Laura Angel, chair of our the EDI SEND & Disability thematic working group
To support Disabilities Day next month and from our discussions in the EDI SEND & Disability thematic working group, we would like to ask all services in Compass to book a 1-hour team meeting within the week commencing 2nd December.
We hope that this time will be used to facilitate a team discussion to consider how well we support colleagues or stakeholders who have or care for those with disabilities.
We hope that you will be able to use this protected time to review your local pledge, ideas, thoughts, concerns, and plan actions for your service.
To support this discussion, we will send you a crib sheet the week before, which will include your service pledge for SEND & Disability EDI. We will supply questions to support open discussion and an action log for your team to use to plan.
We will include a small space on the crib sheet for you to document any key points of discussion and ask for you to return this afterwards so we can collate and use towards our working moving forward.
This is a great opportunity to start the conversation, understand how well we think we support colleagues and stakeholders with disabilities, and to take real action to improve the quality of our service delivery.
Any questions, please email me at laura.angel@compass.org.uk
Will you share the Mencap survey?
Compass Health and Wellbeing Trainer, Danielle Grant has offered to share with colleagues Mencap’s Big Public Transport Survey.
Danielle was informed about the survey during some training she had undertaken. She says Mencap are conducting the survey to better understand how people with learning disabilities access public transport.
Danielle says: “If you would be able to share this survey and support the work that Mencap do for the LD community, they would be incredibly grateful.”
Click the QR code in the image or just click here.
Compass supports your End of Year celebrations
People Director Kim Jones has announced that once again Compass will support this year’s staff celebrations.
Kim said: “I am delighted to confirm that we will be supporting your end of year celebrations again this year.”
In an email to managers, she said: “We are keen for teams to come together for an end of year celebratory event – Compass will cover up to £20 per head.”
Kim said: “Whilst we hope and expect your team event will be a chance to unwind and have some fun together, please do remember that as these are work events, you are still representing Compass!
The £20 per head is for food and soft drinks only. If you are returning to work the same day following the team event, you can’t have an alocholic drink. Events should be as inclusive as possible, taking into account dietary, cultural and religious considerations.
Compass Points wants your party pictures!
Send your party and event pictures, with a short write up, to compasspoints@compass-uk.org by 13th December 2024.
Staff at Compass Wakefield met ther mayor while spreading the word about their role in the community on World Mental Health Day.
Julie Godwin, pictured here with mayor Cllr Darren Byford, repesented the service in an event organised by Turning Point. She was there with Charlotte Bodnarchuk.
Team Leader Marie Raffety said Compass staff were also present at Marketplace Events showcasing the work we do to other professionals and members of the public. These took place at the Wakefield Trinity Rugby Ground, Red Roof Nursery in Kinsley and St Mary’s Community project in Pontefract.
And she addded: “Many thanks to Debbie Tolson, Clare Blackmore, Julie Godwin, Charlotte Bodnarchuk and Sadie Godwin for their support with these.”
World Mental Health Day 2024
10th October marked World Mental Health Day, and Changing Lives celebrated in a number of ways across Derby and Derbyshire. Continue reading
Freshers Fairs with Derby College Group
Compass Changing Lives attended Fresher’s Fairs across Derby College Group’s Campuses to introduce themselves to the new students. Continue reading
Grateful for the help and support you’ve received from a colleague? Tell us about it…
Shout Out
Shout out to Peter Marfleet, Ozias Smith and Rayne Issac for helping LINK colleagues when not rotored to support 😊Marissa Byng, Specialist Team Lead Birmingham MHST
Huge well done
Huge well done to Chante for settling into her new role of Healthy Peer relationship worker, She has been fantastic at delivering workshops, adapting them to suit all ages and needs of the CYP as well as engaging and fun too! Brilliant feedback and appreciation from the schools too. Well done Chante! – Yve Spray. Assistant EMHP, Birmingham MHST
Amazing
I would like to say thank you to our amazing Assistant EMHPs and all the Whole School Approach work they do. They are not only experts at delivering sessions and assemblies to schools they also adapt resources to make them more interactive for the young people. Both students and staff appreciate what you deliver in their schools. So, thank you Emily, Erin and Jadene from Compass Bloom and all the schools you support. – Deb Wheeler, Supervising Practitioner, Compass Bloom
Successful Experience
Thank you to Ranjit Johal (Birmingham SP) for organising for me to visit the Derby Gurdwara last month.
It was amazing to be able to speak with the children and Young People in the Gurdwara and in the Punjabi class about the barriers to accessing mental health services and also to promote our logo competition. Thank you also for going with me, and introducing me to everyone. Your support was amazing and made it a very successful experience. – Mel Johnson, Engagement & Equalities Practitioner, Compass Changing Lives
From all of us
A huge thank you to Sam Dunkley from all of us in Compass Shine following the implementation of IAPTUS. Sam is our superuser for the service and been a constant source of information and know-how to navigate the new system. Sam has offered each staff member within the team a 1:1 following Meydan’s training to ensure everyone feels confident and competent to use the new system. A big thank you from all of us at Compass Shine 😊 – Rich Thomas, Service Manager, Compass Shine
Huge Thankyou
A huge thank you to all who have been involved in Wave 12 recruitment – with a special thanks going to Triona, Chris and Clare for their hard work to ensure the assessment centres were a great success – well done all, a brilliant team effort! Kim Jones, People Director & Donna Wilson, People Partner
How incredible
I would like to give a shoutout of appreciation to my lovely fellow T&C Workers, Alice, and Clare. We make the dream team and although you both excel at all we do; I want to highlight our text in service BUZZ US. We never know what the inbox will hold, and even when we have young people at their lowest ebb in life, you hold space with them, make them feel safe enough to access support and ultimately keep going. It really is a privilege to work alongside you both and remind you just how incredible you are. Love, Pip. – Pip Nix, Training and Consultation Worker, Compass Phoenix.
Very helpful
Please can we thank Shareen Akthar as she was very helpful with translating a letter to Urdu whilst I was on duty and was very helpful! Renita Paul, Trainee Supervising Practitioner BABCP registered, Birmingham MHST
Welcome
Welcome to Sarah Watson Learning and Development Manager, you have seamlessly taken the reigns and are guiding the team effectively, I appreciate you, the other – Sarah Walton, PA to SOM
Jan Smith, Compass Designated Safeguarding Officer
Adhering to a solid framework for safeguarding training
This month’s safeguarding feature focusses on the purpose, value and approach for Safeguarding Training.
Every few months, as Designated Safeguarding Officer I receive information on the rate of compliance across Compass and in September I was pleased to see that across Compass compliance with Safeguarding Training was over 90% for the first time with some teams achieving 100% (well done to Bloom and Elevation).
As everyone will know, safeguarding training at a level appropriate to the role undertaken is mandatory in health, care and education settings. In Compass, our framework is built on initial induction and 3 year refreshers and we all have a personal professional responsibility to keep up-to-date.
You can find out from your My Compass record when you are next due for a refresher training and can book on by e-mailing @training before your due date.
If you are unsure on the level of training needed or when you are likely to need an update, check with your line manager or service Designated Safeguarding Lead who will be able to advise. If you are one of the 10% who is not currently compliant please book on to the next available training.
You can also participate in other safeguarding activity to increase your knowledge and understanding between formal training, including:
- E-learning Packages such as those available on Creative Education Platform.
- Private Study.
- Clinical audit relating to safeguarding.
- Review of critical/significant incidents relating to safeguarding.
- Attendance at safeguarding meetings, supervision, conferences.
- Newsletter, Briefings, Workshops, Peer Discussions, Case Discussions.
Safeguarding training and learning activity is not important simply because it is mandatory it is important because it helps us to:
- Create a positive safeguarding culture.
- Increase the likelihood of recognising signs of abuse or neglect.
- Know how to respond when concerns emerge.
- Identify risks and vulnerabilities.
- Report and record concerns.
If you have concerns about a child, young person or vulnerable adult please discuss them with your local Designated Safeguarding Lead or contact Compass Designated Safeguarding Officer jan.smith@compass-uk.org.
Budget response: Urgent action needed
Compass has responded to the Chancellor’s recent budget by issuing a statement alongside other members of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.
The statement reads… (accessible view)
The budget had some glimmers of hope but we need to see more urgent and wide scale action and investment.
Alongside the Chidlren and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, we;re calling for Government to use the next Budget in the Spring to reset and tyruly invest in the mental health system, so all babies, children and young peole can thrive.
Safeguarding L3 – remote 9.30am-4.30pm
Thurs 12th November – full, Thursday 12th December – spaces available, Tuesday 18th February – spaces available. Thurs 20th March – space available
Safeguarding L4 – remote 9.30am-4.30pm
Tuesday 3rd December – spaces available
BLS Training – Remote 9.30am-11am
Thursday 21st November, Wednesday 4th December
BLS Training – Remote 1.30pm-3pm
Thursday 21st November, Wednesday 4th December
BLS Training face to face – Warwickshire – venue tbc
Wednesday 18th December – 9.30am-11am, 11.30am-1pm, 1.30pm-3pm
BLS Training face to face – North – venue tbc
Wednesday 22nd January – 10am-11.30am, 1.30pm-3pm
BLS Training face to face – Midlands – venue tbc
Weds 19th February – 10am-11.30am, 1.30pm-3pm
BLS Training – face to face – location & venue tbc
Tuesday 11th March 10am-11.30am, 1.30pm-3pm
Please email Training to book
Progress discussed on Business Plan Priorities
In this month’s meeting, SLT reviewed progress against its remaining business plan priorities for 23/25. Firstly, the progress being made on designing the ‘look and feel’ of Compass’ staff intranet. Led by Rachel and Cliff Edwards (Digital Communications & Marketing Manager), its design and proposed functionality is nearing completion and will be presented to SLT shortly with the aim of a small cross organisational working group being formed to do the more detailed work on ensuring it is fit for purpose and mobilising it well. Details of which will be shared in Compass Points by the group over the coming months.
WSA framework
Secondly, an internal project to co-develop a Compass Whole School Approach framework which will support new and existing services to deliver WSA activities consistently across the organisation – based on our collective knowledge, experience and learning and using a set of common principles. The manual will help us protect the importance of this prevention arm to our commissioned services and to ensure we can measure the impact of these interventions. The WSA framework is expected to go live early in the new year and will be launched via the Service Managers meeting.
Participation
Thirdly, our participation steering group is progressing the development of Compass-wide standards using the Participation Wheel as the basis for the different types of activities that can be delivered across the spectrum of participation. The aim is to support all services dependent upon their stage of maturity so their participation strategies can be developed using a practical framework.
MHST model
Finally, senior operations updated on progress of commissioning Exeter University to independently evaluate the effectiveness of our Compass MHST model. The plan is for this to be done across a number of services focusing on the key elements of the Compass approach and determining what works / what needs improving using a wide range of quantitative and qualitative measures. Work will commence shortly to finalise the sites and set up the steering group with members from both organisations. The evaluation is anticipated to go live in the new year and run for 12-15 months.
Know our Senior Leadership
Click pic for more info.
People Director.
Click pic for more info.
Assistant Director (Operations). Click pic for more info.
Contacting your People department
General People Team queries: peopleteam@compass-uk.org
Recruitment and onboarding queries: recruitment@compass-uk.org
Training queries: training@compass-uk.org
2024 Awareness Calendar.
Compass head office staff have produced a new Awareness Calendar for use in services.
U:\Staff Updates\Awareness Calendar and newsletter
Compass Points email address.
You can get in touch with Compass Points via our email address. It’s compasspoints@compass-uk.org.
If you want to say thank you please remember to start the subject line with Just Say Thanks
Tell us your news…
Next deadline for Compass Points is Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024.
Please note that sometimes, we may not publish all stories in the month they are submitted. Because of the volume of Say Thanks messages, we ask that they’re as brief as possible. We may need to edit any submitted content.
Please send all submissions, including thank yous, to compasspoints@compass-uk.org“