How my journey began

Andy Pearsall - Director of Compass Care and Consultancy Limited

Starting a career in secure children's services in 2008 was a pivotal moment that shaped my professional journey and commitment to supporting vulnerable children. In those early days, I took on the challenge of leading a dedicated team, focused on providing a safe and nurturing environment for young individuals who often faced significant trauma and adversity.

As I stepped into this role, I quickly learned the complexities of working within children's social services. It required not only compassion and empathy but also a strong understanding of the legal and policy frameworks that govern child welfare. I collaborated closely with various stakeholders, including social workers, educators, and healthcare providers, ensuring that we delivered holistic care tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.

Transitioning into the private sector allowed me to work with national providers, expanding my insights into the diverse strategies utilized in different settings. I witnessed firsthand the difference that effective leadership, teamwork, and innovative practices can make in the lives of vulnerable children. Our focus was always on creating supportive and therapeutic environments that fostered growth and healing.

Throughout my career, I remained committed to advocating for the needs of the children and families we served, continually seeking to improve the quality of care and support offered. The experience gained over the years not only enhanced my skills as a leader but also deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by children in care. This journey has reinforced my belief in the importance of resilience and hope, both for the children we serve and for the professionals dedicated to their care.

My journey continued as I transitioned into the public sector, where I had the privilege of working alongside local authorities to enhance outcomes for children in care. This role was both challenging and rewarding, as it involved addressing systemic issues and developing strategies that would lead to improved support and services for these vulnerable young individuals. By collaborating with local councils, we made strides in fostering better placements, ensuring that children not only received the care they needed but also the opportunities to thrive.

As I progressed in my career, I took on the role of a responsible individual in a regional capacity, which allowed me to oversee several children's homes. This position deepened my understanding of the operational complexities involved in running care facilities and the significance of ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. I worked diligently to promote best practices among staff and foster a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring our homes were not just a place of residence but a nurturing environment that empowered children to rebuild their lives.

The next stage of my career involved supporting the incorporation of new service providers and organisations looking to establish or enhance children's care homes. This role was instrumental in allowing me to share my expertise and insights with emerging providers, guiding them through the intricacies of setting up effective care operations. I found great satisfaction in mentoring these organisations, helping them to understand the pivotal role they would play in the lives of children in care and the importance of adhering to best practices and regulatory requirements.

I developed Compass Care and Consultancy Limited with a view to providing expertise and guidance to both new and existing providers of care for children. My goal is to foster the highest standards of care and compliance in the industry, ensuring that every child receives the support they deserve. By leveraging my extensive experience, I create support programs and offer resources that empower providers to deliver exceptional care, maintain regulatory compliance, and cultivate environments where children can heal and flourish. My commitment to this cause is unwavering, as I believe that with the right support, every child has the potential to thrive and succeed.

What People Are Saying

  • REGISTERED MANAGER

    “

    I just wanted to say I have truly appreciated Andy’s help, guidance, knowledge and support over the last 2 days and I couldn't have done it without him. Thank you Andy! We did it, through tough challenging complex understaffed times we still achieved a great outcome.”

    ”

  • OFSTED

    “

    “Andy’s monitoring systems are excellent and demonstrate that he has clear managerial oversight. He is reflective, focused, and highly driven in delivering a person-centred approach to care. The staff say that the Andy is a clear leader, approachable and listens to the children and the staff. Andy is a strong advocate for the children and understands the benefits of working collaboratively and within a multi-agency approach. For example, he is working with a provider to deliver an education and health care plan for one child . This is to make sure that the child’s needs can be understood collectively and approached consistently”

    ”

  • PARENT

    “

    “We have found Andy to be absolutely brilliant. He communicates brilliantly; he's obviously very knowledgeable and is very compassionate and understanding. When we talk to him about our history with our child and how worried we are about them and what we feel their needs are, he understands all of that and also he offers other strategies and other ways of supporting them. I feel like the Andy is offering a plan to support us and I feel confident in him”

    ”

  • PARENT

    “

    “You made a huge difference to us all through the care you showed and the way you heard us as parents. We know that you worked hard amongst other professionals to ensure that our child received the care and support they desperately needed. You showed so much compassion to our child even in her darkest moments and we will never forget that. You are a kind man Andy and an excellent advocate, we are blessed to have you in our lives”

    ”

  • NATIONAL ADVOCACY BODY

    "

    “Andy is confident and ambitious for the service. Andy has created a culture of high aspiration across the service. Andy continues to generate creative ideas and is consistently finding ways to improve practice derived from tools he has developed for evaluation. He will seek out agencies that will support young people's needs and providers of care.”

    "

  • LOCAL AUTHORITY COMMISSIONER

    "

    “Andy has developed the service since his appointment to a very high and consistent standard. Andy’s calm and methodical approach to supporting services has enabled high levels of supported care offering outstanding levels of safeguarding. Hence the homes successful registration supporting young people with a wide range of diverse needs, Andy has needed to manage challenging periods and importantly developed the whole team, young people alongside these tests. Andy has utilised his own data that indicates increases in outcomes and standards, this has allowed Andy to support others to counteract potential issues across the service. Upon each placement leaving the service Andy applies a case study review, this has allowed Andy and the service to commit to learning objectives. The case studies are shared with senior management including the Director of Children’s Services. Andy’s practice is unique to the service and Andy drives safeguarding and strategies to the forefront of the practice”

    "

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