Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

Unique reference number SC481152 Inspector Denise Jolly Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Hexagon Care Services Limited Registered person address 2nd Floor, Unit 1 Tustin Court Riversway PRESTON PR2 2YQ Responsible individual Stuart Brown Shaw Registered manager Robert William Bassett Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 12 Inspection date 03/02/2015

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

The setting has been through a period of significant change in the last six months. The provision been relocated to the property from another address, and the home has been re-registered due to a change in the provider. This is the first full inspection for the home. The Registered Manager and staff have moved with young people. They have worked hard to support young people with highly complex needs to regain stability and maintain the progress they have previously made.

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Overall effectiveness

The progress young people make has also been affected by the impact of emergency admissions that proved incompatible to the smooth operation of the home. Although young people now feel safe in the home, some expressed anxiety about the behaviour of some young people who no longer live there. A requirement is made, to ensure that all future admissions to the home are appropriately matched.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people build strong and positive relationships with staff that are based on consistency, and this helps them to develop trust and affection for the adults that care for them. Staff promote positive relationships, and use their extensive knowledge and understanding of safe practice to enhance young people’s safety and welfare. Staff support young people extremely well because they understand their needs in great depth. Two recommendations are made to ensure young people are 3 of 12 effectively supported in all areas of their plans.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well led by a qualified and experienced Registered Manager. Effective monitoring by managers ensures they have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. This is supplemented by sound external monitoring from suitably experienced visitors. However, a shortfall in staff training and supervision has not been effectively addressed, and a requirement is made to rectify the shortfalls.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers are keen to address shortfalls to limit their impact on the generally very good quality of service provided to young people. They develop the service in partnership with all stakeholders such as specialist therapists and this enables young people to access the support they need. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This is a specialist provision for up to six males who have previously demonstrated sexually harmful behaviour. Their care plans include programmes of work undertaken with CCATS

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

4 (2001) ensure that the home's criteria for the admission of children in an emergency is implemented as set out in the home's statement of purpose so that their placement remains compatible with the needs of others in the home (Regulation 4 (1), Schedule 1 (11)) 20/03/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all staff receive appropriate training in the therapeutic approaches used by the home, and appropriate supervision and appraisal, including staff on probation. (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 20/03/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure young people have access to independent advice and support, and that they know how to access an advocate and Ofsted about any problems or concerns (NMS 1.5)  ensure young people are supported to develop practical skills to prepare 5 of 12 them for independent living, particularly in how to maintain clean and homely accommodation. (NMS 12.1e) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have begun to overcome setbacks to their stability and security created by moving house, and living with a minority of young people whose needs were not compatible. They are making progress towards meeting their individual goals at the home, particularly in relation to developing trusting relationships; improving social skills; attending school and college and growing in self-esteem and confidence. One young person said, ‘It’s good living here, even though the staff are stricter than my last place, I get to go out on lots of activities.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged to think about the impact of their choices and are increasingly helped to manage their feelings safely. Although at times they are reluctant to engage, due to the persistence of staff, they do complete important work. This helps them to improve their understanding and awareness of the risks associated with their previous, offending behaviour. This builds their knowledge and self-esteem. This means that even when young people are experiencing difficulties, they are continuing to show progress in other areas that contribute to their overall development.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people attend the on-site school full time, while others attend college courses to pursue their educational goals. Their achievements are related to their specific educational needs. Therefore some young people achieve entry level exams to enable them to attend college, and others acquire practical qualifications that demonstrate their skills and knowledge in life and living. Some young people work as volunteers in local community shops. Young people experience increasing levels of independence dependent upon the progress they make through carefully agreed specialised programmes.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people participate well in their formal planning meetings. They attend them and share their views and expectations with others. This helps them to think about their futures and contributes to their successful participation in day-to-day decision- making and formal planning activities. However, when professionals change agreed plans for their futures, young people are not always aware that they can seek support through advocacy services to representtheir views and wishes. This delays the opportunities they may have, to influence their plans and futures.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

When appropriate, young people have well organised contact with their families. They telephone the important people in their lives, and staff support them to enjoy safe and positive contact. One young person said, ‘I go out and spend time with my friends. Staff support me, and don’t get in the way. It makes me really happy to be with my friends.’ Young people develop their sense of belonging and identity, and this helps them to aim for positive change in their outlook and prospects. 7 of 12 Young people are aware of the health support services that are available to them. All are registered with community health professionals. Young people visit doctors to ensure they get treatment they need to remedy their ailments. All young people engage with specialist therapists who support them. When necessary, some young people also cooperate with local mental health teams, to participate in specialised assessments of need, such as managing low mood. All who live in the home are

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Outcomes for children and young people good

supported by staff who are confident practitioners that work in partnership with specialist therapists. This ensures that young people have their complex emotional and developmental health needs identified and well supported.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people aim to move forwards into semi-independent accommodation. They use an attached apartment in the home to practice essential skills in living alone, while being supported by staff. They work with keyworkers to identify their skills and development needs so that they can become equipped to manage their adult lives successfully. They take carefully planned steps towards achieving independence. They learn about money management; shopping; cooking and taking responsibility for their health care. Generally, they work well with staff to identify the further learning they need in order to progress, although in some cases, they struggle to organise their living environment, to keep it homely and hygienic.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are receiving an outstanding quality of care. A knowledgeable and highly dedicated staff team help young people work towards achieving their potential. Social workers and independent review officers recognise the progress young people make and say ‘staff are on the ball. They work well with families and other professionals, to track the ups and downs young people experience.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff have the quality of relationships in the home at the heart of all they do. They have worked consistently to overcome the disruption created by young people who were inappropriately matched to the home, leading to their eventual transition to services better able to meet their needs. They voice high expectations for young people, and operate as highly effective role models. A key feature of staff support is the mindfulness with which they approach the needs of young people. Staff understand the unique needs and vulnerabilities of young people, and do their best to provide a safe and nurturing environment where young people can explore their thoughts and feelings, and identify positive strategies to overcome past difficulties and trauma. Consequently, they make progress in self-expression and self-esteem that they may not otherwise do.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff consult with young people about daily decisions such as when they do their homework or what meal they will cook. They ensure that young people are routinely involved in local community activities and experiences. They knowledgably support them to access clubs and community venues successfully and safely. Staff use young people’s meetings to consider a range of information before making choices, such as 8 of 12 how to consider the feelings of others. This is enhanced by key worker sessions that they regularly hold with young people. They cover a wide range of developmental topics, such as plans for therapy and education and the content of individual placement plans. They also respond to immediately presenting issues such as requests for family contact. Staff work alongside young people when they wish to change or redecorate their bedrooms, so that young people enjoy their own space that is appropriately personalised to their tastes and preferences. One young person

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Quality of care outstanding

proudly showed off his pet lizard that was housed in a carefully constructed vivarium. This helped him to learn about taking responsibility for caring for a pet.

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Quality of care outstanding

Independent reviewing officers say that staff successfully encourage young people to participate in thinking about their hopes and goals for the future: as a result, their plans reflect their views and wishes. They are adept at encouraging young people to accept the ethos of the home, and as a result most young people work productively to address significant issues in their lives. Because staff foster effective communication with families, and work in partnership with therapists and other professionals, young people’s plans are realistic, inclusive and address their needs.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff actively promote young people’s education, learning and development. Theyensure that the daily routine supports young people’s participation in education and school attendance. They have good links with the education team and work effectively to support and further improve educational outcomes for young people living at the home. Staff lead group meetings for young people, to help them improve their knowledge and understanding of appropriate social behaviour. They encourage young people to learn about, and contribute to discussions about important issues such as redirecting inappropriate thoughts and impulses. The breadth of academic and social education young people participate in helps to improve their chances of rehabilitation into the community.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff support young people to improve their self-image and social behaviour. They ensure young people’s basic health needs are met by enabling them to attend community doctors. Staff ensure that young people access specialist intervention services such as special educational needs assessment. Specialist therapists work in the home in a planned and individual way, to help young people to address themes and patterns of poor impulse control and trauma. Parents say, ‘I could not be happier, staff help me to understand the way they work with my child, and this helps me to help my child more effectively.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Professionals say that staff provide safe and nurturing care, and promote transparency in their relationships. This instils confidence in the ability of staff to keep young people protected from harm. Because the home provides good information about incidents and difficulties experienced by young people, external professionals are confident about the quality of safe practice in the home. 9 of 12 Staff are highly effective role models. They demonstrate considerable skill in helping young people address conflict and poor judgement in their relationships. Because of this, young people improve and sustain safe relationships with important people in their lives. Young people say that despite recent difficulties, they now get on well with others who live in the home, and feel safe. Staff are vigilant in the way they oversee how young people live alongside each other. Clear and effective rules and boundaries ensure that highly complex young people learn how to interact

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Keeping children and young people safe good

appropriately and safely with each other.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Most young people quickly learn that staff reinforce routines and structure for their security and wellbeing. Through direct work sessions, they explore and accept the expectations of the home. For example, when young people misuse the internet connections on their phones, and access inappropriate sites, staff work with them to understand the risks involved. This ensures they explore and understand their safety needs are before they have further use of their phones.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The Registered Manager employs staff by using safer recruitment processes that help prevent unsuitable adults from working in the home. All staff participate in training in child protection, to ensure they know what to do in the event of a concern or allegation. They demonstrate highly effective practice in this area, and as a result, young people have been enabled to disclose past events that have caused them harm. This means that young people are supported to get the help they need to overcome past abuse and trauma.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff use a highly consistent and non-judgemental approach to challenge negative behaviour. They are trained to address the anxieties and stresses that underlie damaging behaviour. This helps young people to respond, over time, to identify less harmful ways of expressing their emotions. Staff praise and reward young people for demonstrating helpful and positive behaviour and relationships. This helps young people to learn and adopt strategies that increase their range of acceptable behaviour. The safety and welfare of young people is a priority.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Incidents of restraint are carefully reported and monitored, to ensure that when young people feel they have been poorly managed by staff, their views are reported to appropriate external professionals. This enables transparency in the activity of the home, so that independent professionals can assess staff practice as suitable. A social worker praised the efforts of staff, to respond to disruptive and unsafe behaviour of a young person that included the targeting of individual staff. The impact of this unsuitable placement created insecurity for other young people, and a more suitable placement was identified.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home works in partnership with the therapy team, to ensure that young people’s breadth of vulnerability and need is identified and assessed. Staff maintain detailed, relevant and up-to-date support plans that young people participate in reviewing and developing. Staff are skilled at identifying and managing a range of vulnerabilities 10 of 12 that include inappropriate sexual behaviour, to ensure young people and those they interact with stay safe. Staff work with therapists, to provide thoughtful and supportive challenge to young people who demonstrate unhealthy impulses and behaviour. This enables them to make progress towards their goal of community reintegration and independence.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do not go missing from the home. However, each young person has an identified plan to be used should the need arise. The plan is regularly reviewed and is in line with local police and protection professionals’ protocols. The manager liaises effectively with the local police, to review potential admissions to the home in the light of shared intelligence and risk assessment. This approach improves the compatibility of new placements to protect the safety and welfare of those in the home, and the local community.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager is suitably qualified, and very experienced in his role. He has provided effective leadership through a period of substantial change in the service. This has included a move of house, changes to staff, and disrupted placements for some young people. Throughout, he has endeavoured to work with staff to minimise the impact of the disruption for young people. By ensuring that the home continues to focus on young people’s security and development, staff have sustained highly effective care practice. Despite the efforts of managers, some shortfalls have emerged in the operation of the home. Managers are energetic in identifying areas for improvement, and lead staff to make positive change that supports the good progress young people are making.

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Leadership and management good

The manager carefully analyses staff performance; daily records; incident reports; care plans and keyworker sessions. He effectively consults with young people, their families and the professionals supporting them. He promotes a wide range of approaches to ensure young people express their views, including records of individual sessions conducted by keyworkers. Staff encourage young people to contribute to reviews of their plans. Consequently, all plans are amended in line with their expressed views when it is appropriate to do so. If necessary, the manager raises concerns about changes to multi-professional care plans, if he believes the changes do not reflect the best interests of the young person.

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Leadership and management good

Feedback from all stakeholders is extremely complimentary about the impact the home has on the lives of young people. They recognise that despite the very challenging circumstances that bring them into the home, all young people make progress from their starting points. In particular, they benefit from the development of safe and sound relationships that underpin their recovery from setbacks.

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Leadership and management good

The home has clearly defined policies for the supervision of staff, and a comprehensive induction programme designed to ensure all staff have the skills and 11 of 12 qualities necessary for effective childcare practice. Due to the increased focus on settling the home and young people into a new environment, and mitigating the impact of an unsuccessful placement, the frequency of supervision has diminished, and staff who are still on probation have not received sufficient opportunity for appraisal and reflection. In addition, staff training requires refreshment in areas such as understanding the therapeutic approaches used by the home. Although this has not affected the welfare of young people, it inhibits the overall development of the service provided.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager conducts thorough and transparently recorded monitoring of the home. He works constructively with independent visitors, who visit on behalf of the provider, to assess the quality of care provided and to identify any development need required to continue to progress. Many actions that are identified are absorbed into improvements in the conduct of the home. For example, parents have recently received guidance about how to complain about the home, because the independent visitor identified a gap in their knowledge about those processes. However, parents say that although they now have that information, they have had no cause to use it, because staff promote open and productive communication with them. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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